This course will use the SAKAI course
management system:
https://sakai.rutgers.edu
Methods and
Techniques of Social Research (920:301) is a prerequisite for this
course, although you should be OK if you
take Methods at the same time or if you have had equivalent research
courses in another department. This course is a
"Writing Intensive" course, meeting the requirement for
a "W" course in the college curriculum. It also counts
towards
the sociology major. The college has Guidelines for Writing
Intensive
Courses that we will follow.
This course has several goals:
- To learn about the role of
communication media in modern society. This is accomplished
primarily by reading and discussing materials
that will be posted online.
- To learn about writing.
- To practice writing skills. This
will be done with frequent writing assignments.
- To write a research report that will
include both a literature review and an original analysis of data from
the Microcase Data Analysis System using Excel and/or other data
processing software.
- To develop our library
research skills.
- To practice oral presentation
skills. This will be done through oral presentations to the
class, using Powerpoint presentation software.
Communications skills are learned primarily through practice. It
is essential that you attend class regularly and that you complete each
assignment on time. Attendance is
required. Up to two classes can
be missed without lowering the grade below 100% (those attending all
classes will receive extra points above 100%). These missed
classes are intended to be used for good excuses, e.g., illness, death
in the family, car breakdown. Classes missed for good excuses are
not in addition to the two.