Course Syllabus

HUM/176 Version 3
1
Course Syllabus
Axia College/College of Humanities
HUM/176 Version 3
Media and American Culture
Coyrig!t " #$11% #$1$% #$$& by Uni'ersity of (!oenix) All rig!ts reser'ed)
Course Description
*!e course ro'ides an introduction to t!e most rominent forms of media t!at influence and imact social%
business% olitical% and oular culture in contemorary America) +t exlores t!e uni,ue asects of eac!
medium as -ell as interactions across 'arious media t!at combine to create ric! en'ironments for information
s!aring% entertainment% business% and social interaction in t!e U)S) and around t!e -orld)
Policies
.aculty and students/learners -ill be !eld resonsible for understanding and ad!ering to all olicies contained
-it!in t!e follo-ing t-o documents/
Uni'ersity olicies/ 0ou must be logged into t!e student -ebsite to 'ie- t!is document)
+nstructor olicies/ *!is document is osted in t!e Course Materials forum)
Uni'ersity olicies are sub1ect to c!ange) 2e sure to read t!e olicies at t!e beginning of eac! class) (olicies
may be slig!tly different deending on t!e modality in -!ic! you attend class) +f you !a'e recently c!anged
modalities% read t!e olicies go'erning your current class modality)
Course Materials
Cambell% 3)% Martin% C)% 4 .abos% 2) 5#$1$6) Media and culture: An introduction to mass communications 57t!
ed)6) 2oston% MA/ 2edford/St) Martin7s)
All electronic materials are a'ailable on t!e student -ebsite)
Week One: The Internet: Social Media
Details Due Points
Objectives 1.1 +dentify forms of social media)
1.2 3ecogni8e t!e benefits of social media)
1.3 3ecogni8e t!e roblems of social media)
1.4 9xlain !o- social media !as affected commerce)
Course
Preparation
ea! t!e course descrition and ob1ecti'es)
ea! t!e instructor7s biogra!y and ost your o-n)
ea!in" ea! C!) # of Media and Culture.
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
3. %&e 'nternet &as provi!e! (an) *or(s o* social
(e!ia an! ne+ *or(s are continuousl) e(er"in".
,&ic& *or(s o* social (e!ia !o )ou use on a re"ular
:ngoing 1$
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
#
basis an! +&)- .re t&ere an) social (e!ia t&at )ou
previousl) use! but no lon"er use- '* so/ e0plain
+&).
;) Man) businesses no+ &ave a %+itter account/
M)1pace account/ or anot&er social (e!ia tool t&e)
use to attract an! (aintain business. ,&at value !o
social (e!ia o**er *or pro*essional use- Ho+ &as
)our co((ercial be&avior been a**ecte! b) social
(e!ia- .s a class/ brainstor( so(e i!eas on &o+
social (e!ia &as a**ecte! co((erce.
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
Critical *!in<ing
Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on Critical *!in<ing)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
.ssi"n(ent
*ool-ire
?

@earnscae/
9xamining t!e Use
of Social Media and
its +mact on
Cororate
Commerce
.ccess t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae/ 9xamining t!e Use of Social
Media and its +mact on Cororate Commerce t!roug! t!e lin<
located on t!e student -ebsite)
Co(plete t!e @earnscae Acti'ities)
Co(plete t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae Assessment (art A and (art 2)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
;$
Week Two: The Internet: Information and Online Concepts
Details Due Points
Objectives 2.1 9xlain t!e 'alue and imortance of t!e a'ailability of
information on t!e +nternet)
2.2 =escribe credibility issues -it! information on t!e +nternet)
2.3 Summari8e t!e imact of t!e +nternet on olitics)
ea!in" ea! C!) 1 of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 11 of Media and Culture.
ea!in" evie+ C!) # of Media and Culture.
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
3. %&in3 about &o+ o*ten )ou use t&e 'nternet an! t&e
various tas3s )ou use it *or. Ho+ +oul! )our !a)4to4
:ngoing 1$
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
3
!a) li*e !i**er i* )ou trie! to co(plete t&ose sa(e
tas3s +it&out t&e use o* t&e 'nternet- 1&are )our
t&ou"&ts +it& )our class(ates.
A) #o )ou &ave as (uc& con*i!ence in t&e accurac)
o* an online stor) as )ou !o in one *oun! in a
ne+spaper or (a"a5ine- 60plain )our reasonin".
#) 'n t&e ,ee3 %+o 7earnscape/ )ou create an
intro!uctor) para"rap& *or 1en. 8o&nson *or a
speec& &e is "ivin" on t&e e**ect o* t&e 'nternet on
politics. .*ter scannin" t&e sites )ou &ave been
"iven/ &o+ co(*ortable are )ou +it& t&e cre!ibilit) o*
t&e in*or(ation )ou *oun! on t&e 'nternet- ,&at/ i*
an)t&in"/ (a3es )ou unco(*ortable about t&e
cre!ibilit) o* t&ese sources- '* )ou t&in3 t&e
in*or(ation is cre!ible/ e0plain +&).
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
.amily =ynamics
Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on t!e .amily =ynamics)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< Ho- is your moti'ation !olding uB
Ho- can t!e content of t!is course boost your moti'ationB
.ssi"n(ent
*ool-ire
?

@earnscae/
Credibility and
+mact/ 9xloring
t!e +nternet and
(olitics
.ccess t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae/ Credibility and +mact/ 9xloring
t!e +nternet and (olitics t!roug! t!e lin< located on t!e student
-ebsite)
Co(plete t!e @earnscae Acti'ities)
Co(plete t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae Assessment (art A and (art 2)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week Three: The Major Intersections of American Culture and Media
Details Due Points
Objectives 3.1 Summari8e t!e e'olution of media in t!e last century)
3.2 =efine media con'ergence)
3.3 9xlain !o- media con'ergence !as c!anged American culture)
ea!in" ea! C!) 1$ of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 1A of Media and Culture.
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
A
ea!in" evie+ C!) # of Media and Culture.
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
2. Ha'e you e'er -atc!ed a mo'ie or tele'ision s!o- on
a comuter or ortable de'iceB +n addition to t!e ,uality
of t!e icture and sound% did you find t!at it affected your
ability to s!are t!e exerience -it! ot!ersB 9xlain)
A) Has t!e exlosion of a'ailable information made media
co'erage better or -orseB 9xlain your ans-er)
;) Huge cororations o-n e'ery tele'ision net-or< and
most ot!er media outlets) Ho- does t!is affect t!eir ne-s
co'erageB Ho- muc! influence do you t!in< t!ese
cororations !a'e on t!e ublicB =o you t!in< t!e ublic
is a-are of t!e comments made by you and your
classmatesB +f so% -!ic! ones and -!y or -!y notB
:ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
S!ared 3esonse
Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on S!ared 3esonse)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< Ho- are your time management
strategies -or<ing for youB C!ic! strategies !a'e been most
effecti'eB C!at time management c!allenges remainB C!at can be
done about t!oseB
.ssi"n(ent
*rac<ing t!e
+ntersection of
Culture and Media
C&oose a form of oular media t!at you are assionate about) *!e
media may be music% a boo<% or a mo'ie)
,rite a t!esis sentence stating !o- and -!y it is more t!an 1ust a
iece of entertainment) *!e t!esis must include -!y it is a legitimate
form of oular culture) Dee in mind factors suc! as influence and
contro'ersy)
,rite a #;$E to 3;$E-ord introductory aragra! t!at includes oints
t!at -ill be used in a aer to suort your t!esis statement)
Post your aer as an attac!ment)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week our: Popular Music
Details Due Points
Objectives 4.1 9xlain !o- music and culture influence one anot!er)
4.2 =escribe t!e e'olution of o music t!roug!out t!e last century)
ea!in" ea! C!) 3 of Media and Culture.
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
;
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
1. +n t!is -ee<7s 'ideo% 2ill Foody<oont8 discusses t!e
'alue of critics in oular culture) =o you find 'alue in
criticism or do you refer to exerience mo'ies% music%
etc)% -it!out outside feedbac<B 9xlain your ans-ers)
3) C!at artists and bands !a'e !ad t!e greatest effect on
oular cultureB 9xlain -!yB =o you t!in< t!e c!anging
genre of oular music influences culture of timeB +f so%
exlain !o-B +f not% exlain -!y notB
;) :'er t!e last century% do you t!in< music !as c!anged
from being about artistic exression to being more about
money and businessB +s it e'en ossible for a band or
artist to ma<e toical or olitical commentary in a song
today -!ile focusing on turning a rofitB
:ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
Critics Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on Critics)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< Ho- are your reading strategies
-or<ing for youB +s reading t!e content of t!is course same or
different from reading content in ot!er coursesB 9asierB HarderB
Any suggestions for !o- to ma<e reading t!is sort of content more
effecti'e for yourselfB
.ssi"n(ent
Midterm 9xam
esource< Axia College Material/ Aendix A
Co(plete t!e Axia College Material/ Aendix A located on t!e
student -ebsite by ans-ering t!e S!ort Ans-er >uestions)
Post your aer as an attac!ment)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
1#$
Week i!e: T" and Mo!ies
Details Due Points
Objectives =.1 9xlain !o- culture is reflected in mo'ies and tele'ision)
=.2 9xlain t!e relations!i bet-een tele'ision and mo'ies and
culture)
ea!in" ea! C!) ; of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 6 of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 7 of Media and Culture.
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
6
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
3. C!at mo'ies and tele'ision s!o-s !a'e made t!e
most imact on society and -!yB Ho- !as t!at imact
been feltB
A) C!at mo'ies and s!o-s !a'e best reflected t!e
oular culture of t!is countryB C!at cultural asects
-ere resent t!at made t!e mo'ie or s!o- aealingB
Ho- many of t!ose mo'ies or tele'ision s!o-s are still
rele'ant and accurateB
;) S!ould mo'ies and tele'ision s!o-s try to reflect and
influence culture or s!ould t!ey 1ust be 'ie-ed as
entertainmentB 9xlain your t!oug!ts and reasoning)
:ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
Mo'ies and *V
Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on Mo'ies and *V)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< +s -riting in college -!at you
exected it to beB C!at c!allenges !a'e you found to being an
effecti'e college -riterB
.ssi"n(ent
2ecome a Critic
,atc& a mo'ie or tele'ision s!o- -it! a critical eye)
,rite a 3;$E to 7;$E-ord re'ie- of t!e mo'ie or tele'ision s!o-)
*!e re'ie- must include a t!esis statement% introductory aragra!%
and at least t-o suorting aragra!s)
#iscuss -!at t!e mo'ie tells us about t!e society -e li'e in) 0ou
may address -!et!er you t!in< it is good or bad% but you must
address t!e bigEicture issues% not 1ust t!e ,uality of t!e -or<)
Post your aer as an attac!ment)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week Si#: $lectronic %ames and $ntertainment
Details Due Points
Objectives 6.1 +dentify t!e imact electronic games !a'e on culture)
6.2 Select t!e most influential and imortant games released to t!e
general ublic -it!in t!e last fe- years)
6.3 =escribe contro'ersial issues o'er modern electronic games)
ea!in" evie+ ) 3;GA1 in C!) 1 of Media and Culture.
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
7
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
1. +n t!is -ee<7s 'ideo% 2ill Foody<oont8 discusses t!e
effects of 'iolence on audiences and gamers) Ho- muc!
resonsibility do filmma<ers% game manufacturers% etc)
bear -!en it comes to deicting 'iolenceB Ho- muc!
resonsibility do arents !a'e in allo-ing c!ildren
exosure to t!ese sourcesB
A) C!ic! games !a'e been most influential in terms of
s!aing cultureB C!at influence did t!e games !a'e on
cultureB
;) Can 'iolent and sexuallyEt!emed games be !eld
resonsible for t!e be!a'ior of t!ose -!o lay t!emB
9xlain your ans-er)
:ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e! .ctivities
an! Preparation
Fames and
9ntertainment Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on t!e Fames and 9ntertainment)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< Ho- are your organi8ation s<ills
-or<ing for youB C!at is -or<ingB C!at c!allenges remainB
.ssi"n(ent
*ool-ire
?
@earnscae/
9xloring t!e +nfluence
and Contro'ersy of
Modern 9lectronic
Fames
.ccess t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae/ 9xloring t!e +nfluence and
Contro'ersy of Modern 9lectronic Fames t!roug! t!e lin< located on
t!e student -ebsite)
Co(plete t!e @earnscae Acti'ities)
Co(plete t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae Assessment (art A and (art 2)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week Se!en: &ews Media
Details Due Points
Objectives 7.1 =escribe t!e role of media in deli'ering ne-s to t!e ublic)
7.2 9xlain t!e significance of immediate ne-s media deli'ery on
culture)
7.3 =escribe t!e social resonsibilities of ne-s media)
ea!in" ea! C!) H of Media and Culture.
ea!in" evie+ C!) 11 of Media and Culture.
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
H
#iscussion
$uestions
2. Many ne-s media no- attemt to increase oularity
by adding entertainment 'alue along -it! informationE
based ne-s) =o you t!in< t!is affects t!e ability of ne-s
media to u!old t!eir social resonsibilitiesB
3) C!at media sources do you use to obtain ne-sB
9xlain -!at you exect from t!ese ne-s sources and
-!y t!is t!ese media -or< best for you)
:ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
Ie-s Media Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on Ie-s Media)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< Ho- does t!e communication tone
and style in t!e field of media and culture comare -it! standard
academic communicationB Ho- is it similarB Ho- is it differentB
.ssi"n(ent
3ating t!e Ie-s
Sites
C&oose t!e biggest brea<ing story of t!e moment)
>o to cnn)com% msnbc)com% and foxne-s)com)
Co(pare and contrast co'erage) Comare and contrast information
in t!e stories as -ell as !o- are t!ey resented)
.ns+er t!e follo-ing ,uestions/
C!at lin<s are includedB
Ho- does t!e commentary associated -it! t!e stories and
source differB
,rite t!ree aragra!s comaring and contrasting t!e sites) 9ac!
aragra! must be at least #;$E-ords)
Post your aer as an attac!ment)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week $i'ht: The Internet: $thical and (e'al Issues
Details Due Points
Objectives ?.1 +dentify et!ical and legal considerations in t!e online -orld)
?.2 =escribe t!e imortance of et!ical and legal comliance in
online interactions)
ea!in" ea! C!) 1# of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 13 of Media and Culture.
ea!in" ea! C!) 1A of Media and Culture.
ea!in" evie+ C!) H of Media and Culture.
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
&
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
espon! to -ee<ly discussion ,uestions) :ngoing 1$
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
Moral and 9t!ical
+ssues Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on Moral and 9t!ical +ssues)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< C!at are you doing to ensure t!at
you remain an et!ical and !onest studentB
.ssi"n(ent
*ool-ire
?

@earnscae/
9xamining 9t!ical
and @egal +ssues
3elated to :nline
Content
.ccess t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae/ 9xamining 9t!ical and @egal
+ssues 3elated to :nline Content t!roug! t!e lin< located on t!e
student -ebsite)
Co(plete t!e @earnscae Acti'ities)
Co(plete t!e *ool-ire
?
@earnscae Assessment (art A and (art 2)
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
6$
Week &ine: The $mer'in' orms of Media !s) Traditional orms
Details Due Points
Objectives @.1 +dentify t!e 'arious information deli'ery met!ods to audiences)
@.2 Comare ad'antages and disad'antages of modern media
deli'ery)
@.3 9xlain t!e c!anges in media o'er t!e last century)
ea!in" ea! C!) 16 of Media and Culture.
ea!in" evie+ C!) 1# of Media and Culture.
Participation Participate in class discussion) :ngoing #$
#iscussion
$uestions
2. Ho- do you t!in< t!e role of ne-s media !as c!anged
o'er t!e last centuryB =o you t!in< modern ne-s media
creates a better ,uality of lifeB
3) Select a big% brea<ing story and find !o- many -ays
t!at story may be deli'ered to an audience/ online%
traditional media% radio% or tele'ision) C!ic! is most
effecti'e% and -!yB Comare your ans-ers -it! t!e
ans-ers of your classmates)
;) +f you are a reorter -it! access to all forms of media
distribution% -!ic! do you c!oose first to tell a story and
-!yB 9xlain !o- you mig!t !a'e ans-ered t!is
:ngoing 1$
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
1$
,uestion differently #$ years ago)
2on"ra!e!
.ctivities an!
Preparation
2est Media Video
,atc& t!e 'ideo on 2est Media)
Note) =iscussion >uestions may be as<ed regarding t!is 'ideo)
9ee!bac3 $uestion :optional;< C!at are t!e biggest stressors
about being an Axia studentB C!at tec!ni,ues are you using to
manage stressB
.ssi"n(ent
.inal Assignment
(art :ne/
,rite a ;$$E to ;;$E-ord essay resonse for (art :ne)
Comre!ensi'e -riting s<ills must be used)
C&oose one of t!e t!ree media roblems belo- as t!e toic for your
essay resonse)
0ou are t!e ne-s director of a local tele'ision station) *!e
city council !as 1ust 'oted to close city ar<s 3 days a -ee< to
sa'e money) Mean-!ile% a ma1or celebrity !as died) *!e ar<
story !as greater effect on your 'ie-ers% but t!e celebrity deat!
-ill get bigger ratingsB C!ic! do you ma<e your lead story and
-!yB
0our ne-s organi8ation is o-ned by a massi'e cororation
t!at also o-ns an electronics comany) +t !as learned t!at t!e
refrigerators t!e electronics comany ma<es are fire !a8ards
and !a'e destroyed se'eral !omes) Ho- do you co'er t!e story
and !o- do you ac<no-ledge t!at you are o-ned by t!e same
cororationB
0ou are t!e c!ief editor of a large metroolitan daily
ne-saer) :ne of your reorters is caug!t fabricating sources
and ma<ing u facts) Ho- do you !andle t!e situation% from
discilining t!e reorter to exlaining it to your readersB
1olve t!e roblem using -!at you !a'e learned) Solutions must be
realistic) +f you t!in< cable ne-s net-or<s do not !a'e enoug!
foreign co'erage% for examle% it is not enoug! to say you -ill simly
!ire more reorters) 0ou must say -!ere t!at money -ill come from)
2e creati'e% bot! in t!e identification of t!e roblem and% esecially%
in t!e solution)
'nclu!e t!e follo-ing/
*!e role of media in deli'ering ne-s to t!e ublic
t!e significance of immediate ne-s media deli'ery on
culture
*!e social resonsibilities of ne-s media)
9t!ical and legal considerations in t!e online -orld
See
Calendar
in Course
Materials
.orum
#$$
Course Syllabus
HUM/176 Version 3
11
*!e imortance of et!ical and legal comliance in online
interactions
*!e 'arious information deli'ery met!ods to audiences
Ad'antages and disad'antages of modern media deli'ery
*!e c!anges in media o'er t!e last century
(art *-o/
,rite a ;$$E to ;;$E-ord essay resonse for (art *-o)
Comre!ensi'e -riting s<ills must be used)
60plain t!e effect of relations!is among tele'ision% mo'ies% and
electronic games -it! culture)
'nclu!e t!e follo-ing/
Ho- culture is reflected in mo'ies and tele'ision
*!e relations!i bet-een tele'ision and mo'ies and culture
*!e effect of electronic games on culture
*!e most influential and imortant games released to t!e
general ublic -it!in t!e last fe- years
Contro'ersial issues o'er modern electronic games
Post your aer as an attac!ment)

+nclude bot! essay resonses in t!e same document)
Searate your t-o essay resonses by adding t!e !eadings
(art :ne and (art *-o)