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Summer 2014
Introduction to Media Studies
MDS A01 H3
Course Syllabus
Instructor: Gray Graffam
Office: The Hub, IC 110
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1 to 4 pm, by appointment
gray.graffam@utoronto.ca

Course Description: MDSA01 introduces students to key terms and concepts in media
studies and provides an overview of theoretical and critical understandings of media.
Students develop their understanding of the political, economic, social and cultural
contexts in which mediated images and texts are produced, distributed and consumed.

Grades: Grades will be based on two term tests (mid-term and end-of-term; 25% each);
two take-home media labs (5% each); and a final exam (cumulative, 40%). See course
schedule for dates. Details about each of the media labs will be provided in class and
through Blackboard, and are included in the text.

Grading Criteria

Percentage
Letter
Grade
Point
Value
Grade Definition
90-100 A+ 4.0
Excellent
Strong evidence of original thinking; good
organization; capacity to analyze and synthesize;
superior grasp of subject matter with sound
critical evaluations; evidence of extensive
knowledge base.
85-89 A 4.0
80-84 A- 3.7
77-79 B+ 3.3
Good
Evidence of grasp of subject matter, some
evidence of critical capacity and analytic ability;
reasonable understanding of relevant issues;
evidence of familiarity with literature
73-76 B 3.0
70-72 B- 2.7
67-69 C+ 2.3
Adequate
Student who is profiting from the university
experience; understanding of the subject matter
and ability to develop solutions to simple
problems in the material.
63-66 C 2.0
60-62 C- 1.7
57-59 D+ 1.3
Marginal
Some evidence of familiarity with the subject
matter and some evidence that critical and
analytic skills have been developed.
53-56 D 1.0
50-52 D- 0.7
0-49 F 0.0
Inadequate
Little evidence of even superficial understanding
of subject matter; weakness in critical and
analytic skills; limited or irrelevant use of
literature.



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Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university
and to ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each
students individual academic achievement. As a result, the University treats cases of
cheating and plagiarism very seriously. The University of Torontos Code of Behaviour
on Academic Matters (http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm)
outlines the behaviours that constitute academic dishonesty and the processes for
addressing academic offences. Potential offences include, but are not limited to: IN
PAPERS AND ASSIGNMENTS: Using someone elses ideas or words without
appropriate acknowledgement. Submitting your own work in more than one course without
the permission of the instructor. Making up sources or facts. Obtaining or providing
unauthorized assistance on any assignment. ON TESTS AND EXAMS: Using or
possessing unauthorized aids. Looking at someone elses answers during an exam or test.
Misrepresenting your identity. IN ACADEMIC WORK: Falsifying institutional documents
or grades. Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including
(but not limited to) doctors notes. All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be
investigated following procedures outlined in the Code of Behaviour on Academic
Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what constitutes appropriate academic
behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to seek out
additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from other
institutional resources.

Visit http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize for
guidelines on how to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is an intellectual offense in which you
try to take credit for someone elses ideas and language. This includes cut and paste
Internet papers. Cut and paste techniques are dangerous to employ, and along with other
forms of plagiarism, can lead to severe academic penalties.

Accessibility
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if
you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel
free to approach me and/or the AccessAbility Services Office as soon as possible. I will
work with you and AccessAbility Services to ensure you can achieve your learning goals
in this course. Enquiries are confidential. The UTSC AccessAbility Services staff (located
in S302) are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and
arrange appropriate accommodations (416) 287-7560 or ability@utsc.utoronto.ca.

Textbook
Textbook: Critical Media Studies: An Introduction (second edition) by Brian Ott and
Robert Mack (Wiley Blackwell, 2014).


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Summer 2013 Lecture Schedule

Week 1 May 6 Course Overview Why Study Media? Read: Chapter 1, pp. 1-20.

Week 2 May 13 Media Industries: Marxist Analysis. Read: Chapter 2, Marxist
Analysis, pp. 23-55.

Week 3 May 20 Organizational Analysis. Read: Chapter 3, Organizational Analysis,
pp. 56-80.

Week 4 May 27 Pragmatic Analysis & Rhetorical Analysis. Read: Chapters 4 & 5,
Pragmatic Analysis, pp. 81-106, Rhetorical Analysis, pp. 109-133. Review: Prepare for
Term Test 1, Chapters 1 through 5

**** Term Test 1, June 3, in class, Chapters 1 through 5 (25%) ****
Week 5 June 3 Term Test 1

Week 6 June 10 Cultural Analysis. Read: Chapter 6, Cultural Analysis, pp. 134-161.
Prepare: Media Lab 5 (or 6), 400-500 words, due next class.

Week 7 No Class, June 17 Reading Week

Week 8 June 24 Psychoanalytic Analysis. Read: Chapter 7, Psychoanalytic Analysis,
pp. 162-192. Due: Media Lab 5 (or 6) (5%)

Week 9 No Class, July 1 Canada Day There will be a make up class in August

Week 10 July 8 Feminist Analysis & Queer Analysis. Read: Chapters 8 and 9, pp. 193-
241. Review: Prepare for Term Test 2, Chapters 6 through 10

**** Term Test 2, July 15, in class, Chapters 6 through 9 (25%) ****
Week 11 July 15 Term Test 2

Week 12 July 22 Sociological Analysis & Erotic Analysis. Read: Chapter 11 & 12,
Sociological Analysis, pp. 266-284; Erotic Analysis, pp. 285-311. Prepare: Media Lab 7
(or 8), 400-500 words, due next class.

Week 13 July 29 Mass Audiences: Reception Analysis. Read: Chapter 10, Reception
Analysis, pp. 245-265. Due: Media Lab 7 (or 8 or alternative) (5%)

Makeup Class August 5 Ecological Analysis and Course Conclusion. Read: Chapters
13 & 14, Ecological Analysis, pp. 312-334; Conclusion, pp. 335-350. Review: Prepare for
Final Exam, Chapters 1 through 14.


**** Final Exam (40%, Cumulative) Date and location to be announced ****