IDIS 1100/IDIS 1101

Spring 2006

Basic Course Information

9:30-10:45 a.m. MW

Withdrawal Deadline – March 2

Introduction to Mass Media

COMM 1101 – 20139 (3 credit hours)

This course offers an overview of the journalistic media and provides students with knowledge needed to critically evaluate information provided by the media and to understand the limitations and demands faced by journalists. The course explores the legal and ethical issues related to media coverage, the daily environment in which decisions on such issues must be made, and the impact of the media on the individual and on the social and political consciousness of the community. The course includes an examination of such areas as print and broadcast journalism, advertising, photo-journalism, and public relations. Assignments related to campus student publications, the campus public information office, and/or the campus TV channel will complement the material covered in class.

IDIS 1100 – 20145 (2 credit hours); IDIS 1101 – 20146

(3 credit hours) Interdisciplinary Studies 1100 and 1101 - Social and Cultural Issues

These special topics interdisciplinary courses encourage the development of critical and analytical thinking on issues in society and culture. The topics may be taught by instructors representing different academic disciplines. The courses will encourage students to think critically and coherently, and to recognize ways academic subjects interact with one another.

Prerequisite

English 1101

Textbook

News Reporting and Writing by Melvin Mencher, 10^th ed., 2006

Disability Support

Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with the Access Center (706-802-5003) to coordinate reasonable accommodations. The student may also contact the instructor to discuss specific needs. This should be done as early in the semester as possible.

Electronic Devices

All electronic devices (cell phones, etc.) will be turned off and stored out of sight during class.

Grading

Grading will be based on ongoing demonstration of familiarity with the material covered and the successful completion of class projects, activities, assignments, and quizzes. The grading scale is as follows - A: 90-100; B: 80-89; C: 70-79; D: 60-69; F: below 60.

Special Note

To students receiving financial aid: Federal regulations state

that if a student does not attend classes and receives failing

grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs

to be reduced accordingly. Any student receiving a 0.00 GPA

will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by

attending classes or completing requirements for each class.

Students who have passed at least one class for the semester

will not be affected by this regulation. If a student has

properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid

should be adjusted from the time he/she signed the withdrawal

form.

Attendance

Since much of the course material will be developed through class discussions and in-class activities, regular attendance is essential. If you must miss class for any reason, you are responsible for finding out what went on in class and for keeping up with assignments. Only an absence for which you have a doctor’s excuse or which is truly unavoidable for significant reasons and of which the instructor is notified immediately will

be an excused absence. Work missed because of an excused absence may be made up.

Deadlines

Work must be completed in a timely manner. Late work will receive either no credit or reduced credit as determined by the instructor.

Contact Information

You may contact me by phone at my office in F-136 (706-368-7626 or 1-800-332-2406) or at home or you may email me at kkemper@highlands.edu.

Plagiarism

Any work you submit should be your own. Ideas or information taken from print, video, broadcast, or computer accessed sources must be acknowledged. Plagiarism may result in a lower course grade or a failing grade. The Georgia Highlands College “Academic Integrity Code” -- http://www.highlands.edu/academics/academicaffairs/academicintegritypolicy.htm -- contains a detailed definition of plagiarism and other types of academic dishonesty and outlines the procedures and sanctions relating to violation of the Code.

Course Objectives

This course helps fulfill the General Education Student Learning Outcomes for Programs of Study Intended for Transfer primarily in the areas of Communication and Critical Thinking, with some attention to computer technology and global and American historical, political, and cultural issues.