THE WORLD ACCORDING TO TELEVISION

 

 

Guidelines for Your Media Log

Just as a ship's log records the experiences of a voyage, so should your media log record your experiences with the media in this course, especially your experiences with television. Done conscientiously and well, your log can be an essential learning tool and a permanent record of this course that can function as a continuing resource. Here are some guidelines to help you keep your log.

Use your log to work out ideas and concepts we discuss in class or that you encounter in your reading or viewing. In your log, ask questions, propose answers, analyze your thoughts, discuss ideas, react to class discussions, and in general record your ideas.

You should also record everything you watch on television, especially the programs or moments you find particularly striking or effective, or offensive. Use your log to become aware of the television environment in which you live. Don’t hesitate to clip articles, pictures, or anything else and put them in your log.

You should also use your log to record definitions of terms you have researched after you encounter them in your reading or our class discussions. You should also explore complex terms and ideas, putting down your thoughts as they occur to you. Use your log to discuss problems or even solve them. If you are confused or unclear about something, write about your confusion in your log. Record the questions you have, as well as any theories or explanations you develop. In short, your log should be a place to record your thinking as it occurs. DO NOT include class notes in your log; keep a separate notebook for them.

Use your log regularly. Keep it open and close to you as you read any assignments for this course. Take it with you to the library when you do research. Write in it before and after class, and whenever an idea hits you. Record your thoughts, ideas, and opinions while you watch television. Write often, write a lot, write freely.

Use an 8 1/2 x 11" college, three-ring, loose leaf notebook for your log book. For each entry, be sure to include the following information: a title or label (underlined), and the date and time of the entry. Be sure also to leave ample room between entries so you can add to the entries, as well as add a head note indicating the type and content of the entry. At the end of the course, make a table of contents and an index with page numbers for significant entries.

I will read your logs at the end of the course, but please do not address your log to me. Write in the log for yourself and not to please, dazzle, delight, or amuse me. After reading your log I will return it to you. You can receive a maximum of 10 points for your log. However, in addition to helping your grade, a good log will help you learn more in the course and become a permanent reference source for your future use.