Schedule and Assignments: Sociology of Communications - Fall 2005
This schedule will be regularly updated, so refresh or reload the file before consulting it.


Links
:   Class NotesSyllabus  -  WEBCT   - Assignments - Discussion List  - Instructor's emai- Class Photo Directory
Microcase 2005 Update -

September 2
.  First day of class.  Discussion of the Course Syllabus and the use of the Microcase software.   Using WEBCT and other departmental systems.  This is done by opening the Enrolling assignment and following the instructions.  The Enrolling assignment is due in WEBCT by 5 p.m. on September 9., but will be accepted for reduced credit after that time.   You must be enrolled in WEBCT by the instructor or the registrar's office, this course is not open enrollment.  Class photographs will be taken (see the photos from last year here).
Enrolling Assignment  - Due in WEBCT by 5 p.m. September 9.
Open the assignment file (click on the link at the left) and follow the instructions.  This assignment must be submitted to the Assignment Dropbox on WEBCT.  You may not submit it by email file attachment or on paper.  This is because part of the assignment is to learn to use WEBCT.
Webct Quiz:  Penguin Chapters 1 to 5 Opens September 2, closes 9 a.m. on September 14.  You may take the quiz as many times as you like and the highest score counts.  No excuses for computer problems will be accepted if you do not start the quiz the first time by September 9.
September 5:  Labor Day, no class.
September 7.   Video, The Global Brain  by Peter Russell.  Reading Assignment:  Chapter 8 in Towards a Global Brain. and Methods and Approaches of Future Studies
September 9.   Meet in BSB117 Computer Lab.   Opening a Yahoo account and preparing a MyYahoo page.  You can complete this assignment in class. You should also complete the Enrolling assignment if not already done.    We can also work on the first quiz (bring your Penguin Handbook).  If you finish these tasks, you can begin to work on a personal web page. 
My Yahoo Page:  Open a "My Yahoo Page" on Yahoo.com.   Configure the page to include information sources that interest you and reflect your interests. You will be sharing this page with other students, so give me a copy before you leave.. Once the page is finished, open it in a browser, save the file and submit it to this dropbox. Save a copy of your "My Yahoo" page and submit it to the Assignment Dropbox by 5 p.m. on September 11.  Note:  Missing class on September 9 does not excuse you from this assignment. 
 September 12.   Sharing our My Yahoo Pages and getting acquainted.  What do the links we selected tell about us, our interests, perhaps our personalities?   Introducting to preparing personal WEB pages (See September 16).  Anyone whose personal WEB page comes up when we click on the Class Photo Directory before class time on Sept 16 can skip class on September 16.
September 14.   Discussion of:  Parts 1 and  2:  Composing, Planning, Drafting, and Revising  Chapters 1 to 5 in the Penguin Handbook
September 16.  Meet in BSB117 Computer Lab. 
  Use of Mozilla composer to post a personal WEB page on clam using Mozilla composer.  For sample WEB pages, click on the names of last year's students.  We should be able to get a first version of these up and running during the class hour - if you miss class, you still need to get it up and running by 5 p.m. today for full credit.
Personal WEB page.  Due by 5 p.m. September 16.  This page should be posted as an index.html file on your web site on clam which means I should be able to find it by clicking on our Class Photo Directory just as I can with last year's students.   There is no need to turn this assignment into me on paper or submit it to WEBCT.   To do its job, it must be available on the WEB. I will find it there for grading.  I will be looking for some links, a picture or pictures, other things that tell us about you.
WEBCT Quiz on The Global Brain and Methods of Future Studies.  Opens September 2, closes 9 a.m. September 21.
September 19.     Powerpoint presentation on   "Are American Values Shaped by the Mass Media?"  (available in our WEBCT).   Discussion of favorite TV shows including Friends, Sex in the City, Desperate Housewives, the O.C., Everybody Loves Raymond.  Links from Colleen Redman and Lauren Del Conte. 
September 21Discussion of other issues in Part I of Taking Sides:  Television Violence, Body Images, Racial Stereotypes.  There are PowerPoints on these topics in our WEBCT.  Introduction of Chapters from the Penguin Handbook (see Sept 23). 
September 23.  
Meet in BSB117 Computer Lab OR Log-In to the "Class on September 23" Chat Room on WEBCT promptly at 10:10 a.m. from home or work or a computer lab.   Bring your Penguin Handbook for a writing exercise.  If you work from home, you should log onto the chat room for instructions.  You will then need to log onto the Quiz page for an in-class exercise. 
There will be an in-class writing assignment on Sept 23.  If you miss class, you should take it on WEBCT by 3 p.m.
  Reading assignment:   Chapters 8 in the Penguin  Handbook:  "Writing to Reflect"  (Chapter 7 in the first edition), Chapter 26  "Write with Power" and Chapter 27 "Write Concisely" 
WEBCT Quiz on Issue 1 in Taking Sides:  pages 2 to 25:  "American Values".  Opens Sept 14, closes September 26, 9 a.m. - Suggestion:  look at the PowerPoint presentation on this chapter available in our WEBCT.
September 26.   Discussion of "Are American Values Shaped by the Mass Media?"  Have your values been shaped by the media?  Please bring the Taking Sides book to class.  Everyone should be prepared to discuss which mass media products (TV shows, newspapers, etc.) have had the most effect on them.
Anyone who submits the outline to WEBCT before class time on Wednesday, September 28, will get a 10% bonus in their grade (in return for discussing the outline with the class).  If your outline is submitted to WEBCT before class time on Friday, September 30, you do not have to attend class on that day. 

September 28.    We will discuss your ideas for essays, using the form distributed in class on Monday.  If you wish to use the form to type your answers, it is available here
September 30.  Meet in BSB 117.  I will help you with your outlines and with getting started on the essay itself. 
Writing assignment due by 5 p.m. September 30. Outline for a 500 word essay on the topic of how your values have been influenced by the media.    To prepare the outline, open the form for a five paragraph essay outline and follow the  instructions.  The outline should be submitted to the WEBCT assignment dropbox.
October  3.  Converting our outlines into polished essays.  See the example "Growing Up in the Peanut Gallery".   Other assigned readings:  Red Sluts, Blue Sluts  and Tropes on TV
October 5.   Writing practice.  Reading Assignment:  Chapters 28 and 29 in the Penguin Handbook ("Write with Emphasis" and "Find the Right Words")

Writing assignment due by 5 p.m. October 6 in WEBCT.  A 500 word hyperlink essay on the topic how your values have been influenced by the media.  The essay must include hyperlinks to web pages for the media (television shows, movies, print publications, web sites, etc.) that have influenced you.  It must follow the structure of a five paragraph essay with five paragraphs of five sentences each, as outlined in the previous assignment.  The essay should be submitted to WEBCT by October 6 and published on your web site by the end of class on October 7.  There should be a link to it from your personal web page.  It must be in html format.  You will be sharing these essays with the class beginning October 10.
October 7.    We will meet in BSB 117 to take care of getting your personal essay up and running on your WEB site.  You need not attend this class if, before class begins:   a.  there is a working hyperlink to your essay on your home page  b.  your essay opens when I click on the hyperlink and c.  the hyperlinks in your essay also work.  Otherwise, come to BSB117 and I'll help with these things.  Everyone's should be up an running by the end of class on October 7.  Instructions for publishing essays are in Publishing Essay Files
October 10.  Discussion of personal essays and reading.
October 12.   Discussion of personal essays and reading.
Discussion Board assignment:   Read two hyperlink essays:  one by the person before you in the alphabetical list on our Photo Directory and one of your own choice.  Use the Discussion List on WEBCT, go into the "main" discussion, and post a one paragraph comment or response to each of the pages.  Later on, read the responses to your own essay and respond to them.  Note:  feel free to respond to more than two!  Due by class time on Friday, October 14.
October 14.    Chat Room review for midterm, may be accessed in BSB117 or from elsewhere.  Chat Review Class is here
Midterm Examination:  to be held in BSB 108 on WEBCT.  Monday October 17.
October 17.   Midterm Exam.   To be held in BSB 108.  Results are in WEBCT, grading formulas are in the class notes.
October 19.   Reports on personal essays.  
Discussion of Trend  Analysis using Microcase. 
Assignment Due 5 p.m. October 21.  Historical Trends Assignment
  October 21.  Meet in BSB 117 to work on Trend Analysis. with Microcase.  Class is optional for anyone who submits their Trend Analysis in-class assignment BEFORE class time.
October 24.
    Remaining presentations of personal essays.  Discussion of Library Assignment.
October 26.    
Discussion of cyclical trends in history and their possible projections into the future.  Assigned reading:  "September 11, 2001:  A Turning Point for America's Future." 
October 28.   Meet in BSB 117 to work on Library Assignment.  Attendance is optional if your library assignment is submitted BEFORE class time on October 28.
Library Assignment Due 5 p.m. October 29

October 31.    Writing literature reviews. 
 
November 2.   "The Media is the Message"  Theories of Marshall McLuhan.  Reading Assignment:  Understanding McLuhan  Notes on McLuhan
November 4. Meet in BSB 117 to work on the Literature Review and References.  Attendance is optional if the literature review and references are submitted BEFORE class time on November 4.
  Literature Review and References section for the Research Paper due 5 p.m. November 5.  Follow APA format as described in the Penguin manual.  This will later be added to the final Research Paper with any corrections. 
McLuhan, Turning Points and Politics WEBCT quiz covering "September 11, 2001:  A Turning Point for America's Future"  "Theories of Marshall McLuhan" and Part 3 of Taking Sides - Opens November 2, closes November 10. 

November  7.    Political Communication.  Reading from Taking Sides:  Issues 8, 9 and 10:
November 8. Election Day -
November 9.     In-class exercise on writing research reports.
November 10 - 12:00 to 1:30  Open House in the Sociology/Anthro/CJ Building - free pizza!
November 11.   Practice with Microcase in BSB 117.  There will be an in-class Microcase assignment.  If you cannot attend, you should install Microcase at home so you can complete the assignment on your own..

November 14.  Video Triumph of the Nerds.  The WEB site for the video includes a transcript for anyone who misses the showing.
November 16.    More Triumph of the Nerds. 
Triumph of the Nerds Quiz open in WEBCT.  Closes December 2, 5 p.m.

November 18.   
We will attend the Beyond the Post-Industrial City conference in the Gordon Theatre.  The conference starts at 9, so come before 10:15 if you can.  Be sure to sign with me for attendance credit.  Extra credit for anyone who attends one of the afternoon sessions.
Research Paper Assignment due Tuesday, November 22 in WEBCT.  A ten page paper following the format of the "Sample Paper with APA Documentation" in Chapter 23 of the Penguin Manual.  These papers will incorporate materials from the Historical Trends, Literature Review and Library Assignments, adding additional tables and text as appropriate.
Monday, November 21.    Meet in BSB 108 to work on Research Papers.  Attendance is not required IF the Research Paper is submitted by class time.
Tuesday, November 22   No class meeting: Research Papers due 5 p.m.  If your research paper is not completed, you may request an extension to November 28 by logging onto the Discussion List.  You must list an outline of your paper,  including a list of the tables or graphs that you plan to include.  If you do not file an outline, your paper will be considered late after 5 p.m. today.
Wednesday, November 23
:  Thanksgiving Vacation, no classes
Friday, November 24:  Thanksgiving Vacation, no classes
November 28:   - last date for Research Papers with extensions in WEBCT - 5 p.m.  - Discussion of Presentations. 
November 30:   How to Prepare Presentations in Word and in Powerpoint
December 2:  We will attend the Camden Data Open House
Data Open House Assignment:  Obtain a copy of the Open House form from Dr. Goertzel at the event and return it to him there.  Also sign the attendance sheet.

December 5:  meet in BSB 108 to work on research presentations.
Research Presentations due in WEBCT 5 p.m. December 8.   These are best done in powerpoint, but learning the software may be too difficult.  If you wish, you may prepare these in Word.  Just put each table or chart on the top of a page, with the bullet points below it.  Don't fill more than half a page so that it can all be viewed at once.  You won't be able to animate the bullet points. A sample presentation in Word is available.   If you wish to do Powerpoint, a sample powerpoint presentation is available that you can use as a template.   If you open it in Explorer, you will need to save it to disk and open it in PowerPoint to be able to edit it.  You can then  just replace the graphs and text with your own material, saving as much of the formatting as you wish to use.

December 7:    Public Speaking Skills.  Guideline for Oral Presentations
December 9:     Presentation of Powerpoints
Presentations will be in the order that the files were submitted to WEBCT:  David, Jenny, Katie, Kelly, Ryan,Shareda, Karla, Terri, Scott, Kimberly, Ashly, Jillian, Rebecca, Colleen, Lauren, Rodney, Anthony, Dara, Andrea, Hiren,  ...   TBA 
December 12:    Presentation of Powerpoints:  Jenny, Scott, Jillian, Anthony, Andrea, Hiren, Michael, Shah, Christie, Enzo

December 19, 9 a.m., Final Gathering  -
Final Gathering Assignment:  A three minute speech on "The Most Useful or Interesting Things I Learned in Sociology of Communications".   You may submit a powerpoint if you wish, but you should focus on speaking directly to the audience, not reading from the screen or from notes. 


A Discussion List is available on our WEBCT home page.  You can post any questions you may have, answer other students' questions, or just read what others have posted.  Please use the Discussion List for any questions about assignments so everyone can see the answers.

Each week's assignments will be listed in a white box.  Each week there will be a WEBCT "quiz" designed to help you do the reading before our class discussions.  These quizzes will generally open at class time on Monday and close before class time on the next Monday.  You may take the quizzes as often as you wish during the week they are open, and your highest score will count.  However, once a quiz closes you can no longer take it, even if your score at that point is zero.  You should not wait until the last day to take a quiz for the first time, if you do you assume the risk for any computer or other problems that may come up. 
Writing assignments are to be completed in the proper computer format (usually *.doc, *.rtf or *.ppt) and submitted to an Assignment Dropbox on WEBCT by the posted due date.  These assignments must be submitted on time for full credit (whether or not you come to class).  20% will be deducted for each day that a writing assignment is late.