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Syllabus
Instructor: Tom Bivins
Phone: 346-3740
e-mail: tbivins@uoregon.edu
Instructor's home page
Course Objective
This course is an exploration of ethical theories and issues related to the mass media and other relevant forms of mass communication. The objective is to become familiar with various aspects of classical and contemporary ethical theory and how it may apply to various forms of communication: politics, journalism, public relations, advertising, the internet, etc. The course will focus on ethical theory, research, and application and how a knowledge of language and critical thinking can make us better communicators as well as consumers of communication.
Text: Ethics in Human Communication, 5th ed., Richard L. Johannesen, Longrove, IL, Waveland Press, 2002
Assignments & Criteria for Grading
All class assignments will be listed each week on the course web site. Grades will be kept separately on the companion Blackboard site. It is in your best interest to check the site regularly to make sure your grades have been recorded.
For I, and II below, no late assignments will be accepted unless it meets one of the "Acceptable Absences" listed below. It is up to you to make sure you know what assignment is due on what date.
I. Thoughts for the day: (30%) A brief (350-word) write-up with at least two of the following kinds of entries:
II. Essay: (40%) For all additional reading assignments (excluding the text) write a 2-page (approximately 700-word) essay in which you:
- Briefly abstract the article's main point(s);
- outline your critical opinion as to why the paper's argument or point of view needed to be presented and whether it has any merit;
- comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the reading as a whole, and it's contribution to your understanding of the topic.
Additional essay assignments may also fulfill this criterion. They will be specified on the assgnments page under "Grading Criteria II."
The purpose of these two types of assignments is threefold: to engage you in thinking about how the material applies to your own life experience/situation; to facilitate interaction during the class sessions (via class discussion); and to add to the overall knowledge base for the course. We may not get to all of the specific issues or examples contained in any one assignment. Those we don’t get to may be targeted for discussion at the beginning of the next class.
Submitting Assignments
- Assignments are to be emailed to the instructor prior to the start of each class. They should be sent as separate documents in a single email. For example, if you have "Thoughts for the Day" and one or more essays due on a given day, send each as a separate document, appropriately labeled. The preference is for Microsoft Word documents, but other formats are acceptable if they can be opened successfully by the instructor.
- Print out and bring a hard copy of each assignment to class to facilitate your discussion.
- No homework will be accepted late or if you do not attend class. (See "Acceptable Absences" below for exceptions.)
- Homework assignments will be emailed back to you approximately one week after they are turned in. It is in your best interest to keep these graded assignments in case there is a discrepancy in your final grade at the end of the term.
III. Final Paper: (30%)
- This paper should demonstrate your grasp of the various theories and approaches covered in this course and should explore their application to some area of communication. Generally, any area of mass communication would be appropriate; however, to the extent your interests may be in other areas such as organizational communication, political communication, or some other less-considered form, you may suggest a topic of concern to you. The key is to exhibit what you have learned in this course. You will have an opportunity to share your ideas with both the instructor and the class prior to your final draft. Feedback is a very important part of this requirement, and it will help us all to engage with you on your topic. The expectation would be for a fairly formal 12-15 page paper.
- Final papers are to be emailed to the instructor no later than the final exam date of Tuesday, June 13, 10:15 a.m.
PAPER SETUP REQUIREMENTS:
- Be sure your name and the title of your paper are clearly stated on a cover page.
- Number all text pages at the bottom.
- The page count does not include end notes or a cover page.
- Use some form of Times font no larger than 12 points.
- Margins should be set no wider than .75 top, .60 bottom, 1.25 left, 1.25 right.
Class Participation
Class participation is greatly encouraged. Merely sitting in class is not participating. Part of what you learn in this class will depend on your level of involvement.
If for some reason class is cancelled (bad weather, instructor illness, etc.), there will be a message on the "announcements" page on Blackboard as well as an email directly to you from the instructor. It's in your best interest to check the announcements regularly and to keep your email address updated.
Acceptable Absences
The ONLY acceptable absences are:
- students participating in University-sanctioned athletic or academic events,
- physician-verified illnesses,
- verifiable emergencies only if accompanied by a note from the office of academic advising.
Please e-mail the instructor IN ADVANCE OR AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE about your absence. I will make arrangements for missed homework and other assignments.
Grading Criteria for written work—essays, research papers, homework, and other assignments.
F—Reveals you really have no clue what is going on, or are so carelessly inattentive to matters of style as to write an incomprehensible response.
D—Reveals less than adequate understanding of theory, concept, or other relevant information. Answer may also misapply concept, use an inappropriate or weak example in attempting to clarify an explanation, or may ramble on in the hope that something will eventually hit the intended target. Answer also may be more or less on target, but carelessly or sloppily written/proofed.
C—Provides an on-target recitation of the correct material from the text or other sources being consulted. Answer meets the basic expectations with respect to number of outside sources, or other conditions of a specific assignment. The writing, while clear and comprehensible, is otherwise non-exceptional, or gives evidence of inattention to basic matters of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
B—Is not only on-target, but is written in a clear, well-organized style, with few errors (and indicates attention given to correcting spelling or punctuation mistakes). In addition, examples illustrate thought beyond recall or recitation of a text’s commentary and adds to the overall understanding ofthe theory, concept, or other materials being evaluated. There is evidence of having gone beyond the text to consult other sources of information that might be relevant.
A—Goes beyond that required for a "B" response to indicate critical analysis, offering evidence of a cogent, well- reasoned defense of a position or argument that is advanced relative to the object under consideration. In other words, the answer reveals a clear authorial voice in command of the material. In addition, the style is elegant, indicating careful attention to presenting a well-constructed, well-thought-out response that advances understanding, stimulates thought or is otherwise evidence of exceptional thinking. As should be clear, inattention to matters of style/format will result in a corresponding decrease in a grade, even when content is otherwise clear and on-target. As a further explanation of these criteria, consider the following comments:
(1) A "C" answer is a good answer—it simply does not do any more than is being asked.
(2) A "B" answer is a better answer, but does not reveal depth of analysis that would be required to be considered exceptional.
(3) An "A" is an exceptional piece of work. Simply understanding the material is not the equivalent of an "A."
Information concerning diversity, academic integrity and resources for students needing assistance.
