Frequently Asked Questions
Why take Mass Communications?
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We have access to more information than ever before but less time to make sense of it. Information and opinions are widely available through media such as newspapers, television, radio, film, and the Internet, yet unless we know how to process this information accurately and personally, we are in danger of never developing a true sense of self, losing our voice, and perhaps even sacrificing our dignity. In this class, you will learn media literacy, a series of strategies for seeing beyond the bias and manipulation to form your own opinions. You will also learn to create media and communicate orally in an intelligent and convincing way in any situation, with or without time for preparation.
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What will I learn in this course?
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Throughout the semester, you will be expected to show evidence of mastery of the following 21st Century skills. Students will be able to
The course is divided into several units, four of which will be studied in detail: 1. Consumer Culture 2. TV News 3. Television and Values 4. Print and Online Journalism 5. The Internet and Social Networking 6. Talk Radio 7. The Music Industry |
What does a typical day in Mass Comm look like?
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Most units will be introduced with a lecture of explanation or an example to clarify the concepts and requirements of the activity or medium to be studied. Students will then be given time in class to practice and/or apply the skills. Students will generally have a few days to research, prepare, and rehearse their scripts and projects, but on-the-spot speaking and reporting is also required at times. Handouts for each of the units can be found here.
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How will my work be graded ?
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Class participation (see below) counts for 30 percent of your quarter grade. Additionally, each project, test, and homework assignment is assigned a point value and counts in total as 70 percent of the quarter grade. All work
Please do not ask me to print an essay or PowerPoint that you emailed to yourself-- I won't do it. Do not ask me for a pass to the library or computer lab to print out your work-- I won't give you one. Do not arrive late to class to print out your work-- I won't accept it. It is your personal responsibility to have your work in hand, otherwise it will be counted late. Late essay and projects' grades will be reduced by ten points for each day they are submitted after the due date. Just as deadlines are non-negotiable in the world of journalism, there is no credit for late homework in this class. Homework is graded using a six-point system as follows: 6= "Far Above and Beyond" (A) These responses are well proofread and contain consistently thoughtful elaboration, personal connections, and textual support. As such, they are typically longer than those of a 5 response and exhibit a significant investment of extended time, effort and thought. 5= "Well Done" (B) These responses are also well proofread and contain thoughtful elaboration, personal connections, and specific textual support but do not go above and beyond what the teacher asked for. They exhibit a significant investment of time, effort, and thought. 4= "Meh..." (D) Frequently, these are poorly proofread or underdeveloped responses. For example, questions are answered in one or two sentences and lack elaboration, personal connections with the text, or specific textual support. If you are receiving 4s on your homework, you can do much better if you simply allow yourself adequate time to think, respond, reread, rethink, and elaborate more fully. UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE, ALL HOMEWORK IS TO BE TYPED AND PROOFREAD CAREFULLY. Please do not be surprised if your homework is returned to you with a zero for shoddy proofreading or poor grammar. Take your time, and always do your best work. Do not accept average performance from yourself. Reading or copying another student's work is strictly forbidden. Students doing so will face consequences in accordance with the school's academic integrity policy. You are responsible for reading this policy within the first week of school. |
How will my class participation be graded?
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Class participation counts for about 30 percent of your quarter grade and will be measured through regular observation of your willingness to take personal responsibility your behaviors and contributions.
Participation includes speaking and listening appropriately. Especially...
Simply showing up to class on time, sitting quietly, and taking notes does not meet the expectation and will earn you no more than a "C" for class participation. Participation also includes these standards. |
What kinds of projects will I be expected to make?
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Time will be provided to complete all major essays and projects. A calendar of due dates can be found here. Extemporaneous or impromptu interviews and on-camera reporting are always a possibility at any time. Some possible projects include the writing, editing, and production of following:
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Students are expected to come to class dressed appropriately for the type of project they are presenting. Some are more formal than others. Your teacher will inform you of any expectations for special attire in advance of the project's deadline. |
What textbook
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The handouts contained on this website, various articles, and student research are the texts for this course. There is no hard-copy textbook.
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What is on
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To be announced
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What should I do if I am feeling overwhelmed?
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If you are ever unclear or frustrated with an assignment, do not hesitate to schedule some time with me so we can work through your problem. I AM HAPPY TO MEET WITH STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTRA HELP. Be sure not to wait until the last minute, however, as rushing through an assignment can seriously limit the quality of your work. I wish you the best of luck throughout this course and your entire academic career. I am sincerely looking forward to working with you.
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When is the teacher available to meet with me?
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Please feel free to drop by my classroom between classes unannounced if you have a quick question. To arrange a meeting for extra help, book an appointment here. I am typically available Mondays and Fridays before and after school and during advisory periods.
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How do I stay up-to-date on current events?
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At any time, you may be expected to be able to speak extemporaneously about the news. The main page for my Speech class contains daily news stories from Fox News and MSNBC. Review the news daily.
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What is the
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According to the EGHS Program of Studies...
In this elective for juniors and seniors, students will examine the media and its influence on our daily lives. While most of the focus of the course will be on the print medium, the media of television, radio, and the Internet will also be studied. Students will be expected to learn and perform the different forms of writing in all four media. The course will focus primarily on the following: traditional and contemporary journalism; media ethics and responsibility; what makes news; the process of gathering news information; interviewing and reporting skills; the characteristics of news writing; editing and layout skills; copy reading, headlining and broadcasting skills; and production. Core skills center on information gathering and critique; research and its role in solving problems; and working effectively under deadline constraints will be learned. To this end, students will design a class newspaper to distribute throughout the school community. The entire paper will be student-created, from raising funds through advertisements to the final printing and distribution of the paper. Students will be expected to display a mastery of all skills by displaying their work in a mock- media setting. |
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