RTF309/Com309 - Spring 1997
"Communication Technology & Society"
Willard Uncapher, Instructor
Kyle Nicholas, TA

Requirements, Caveats and Extras

Joseph Straubhaar and Robert LaRose (1997) Communications Media in the Information Society (Updated Edition). Note: This is the updated edition.

Reading Packet entitled, 'Communication Technology and Society' is being assembled and will be avail. at Longhorn Copies, 2520 Guadalupe (across street from CMB)

Students are responsible for all materials assigned in the readings and class handouts, whether or not the material is covered in class. Assignments should be read before the assigned class. Generally, the material presented in the lectures will complement (rather than review) the information covered in the textbook. All written assignments must be typed or printed. Handwritten or electronic documents will not be accepted. Non-graphical overheads will be available on the class web site listed above.

1. Research Assignment. The research assignment will consist of a library-based research project. Material can be supplemented by on-line research, interviews, etc. The object of the project is to identify a communications technology of interest, to briefly present its development, and primarily to assess the social and cultural contexts of its development, uses, consequences, and possible near-term future. You must go beyond simple publicity for the device, and dig into the real substance: who's going to get access, what's going to be outmoded, etc. (or questions of your choosing). Credibly present both sides of your basic points and draw a conclusion. Also, you need to do much more than present a simple 'history' of the technology. Feel free to pick any communication technology or application other than mainstream radio, television, or film whose primary development has been in the 20th century. The assignment should run between 6-7 double spaced pages, not including bibliography. Be clear & concise. Assignment due Monday, April 7th and is worth 30%.

2. Research Assignment Bibliography. We want to know what materials you are using for your paper. Materials can include movies, videos, on-line conference records, interviews, 'zines, etc. but must include at least two relatively scholarly books. For the purposes of this assignment, an article in say Time about pagers does not constituted a 'scholarly' book. However, for very recent technologies, your scholarly resources can target not simply the technology itself, but some aspect of how you will assess the social or cultural dynamics of your technology. Include an explanation of the general nature of your topic. Assignment is due Friday, Feb. 21^st and is worth 5%.

3. One Mid-term Exam. Will be based on material covered in the readings and/or class lectures to date. It will consist of a combination of sentence completion, item matching, and primarily short answer questions. The objective of the test will be to assess your knowledge and understanding of the basic terms and concepts, as well as of the arguments and theories presented in the readings and in class. There will be a review session before the exam. The Exam will be Friday, March 7th during class and is worth 20%.

4. Final Exam. The final exam will be based on all the material covered in the readings and/or class lectures. The format of the final will similar to the midterm. Time and Date to be assigned in accordance with university-wide logistics. The Final is worth 30%

5. Weekly Quizzes. There will be a number of weekly 'pop' quiz on Friday consisting of one (or two) very brief questions to be done on a 4"*6" or 3"*5" notebook cards. The material will cover the reading of that week. Remember, this is an 'introductory' course, so we are concerned more with the 'basic concepts' and 'key players' rather than in the micro-details chapter. The lectures will help 'focus' the reading. Each quiz is worth 2 points, and the total of 10%

6. UseNet Group. You will be required to contribute to our class UseNet online 'news' group 6 times, 2 times Jan-Feb, 2 times in March, and 2 times in April. This means YOU WILL NEED TO GET A COMPUTER ACCOUNT/ID! This is an easy requirement, but you must learn how to use a basic 'news' browser. I will provide a step by step handout. It is worth 5%.

7. Attendance. The material can be hard to master, and questions are strongly encouraged, both in class and during office hours. Therefore, attendance is mandatory. An attendance sheet may be distributed at the beginning of class. More than three unexplained absences will result in a lowering of your grade by half a letter grade, more than five a full letter grade.

The final grade will be computed as the sum of the points earned on each of the assignments. The total will be converted into a letter grade: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; below 60=F.

The course will include demonstrations and suggestions about how to use the Internet. The instructor will also be available online, as will many of the course materials. Additional Internet instruction and help is available at the Student Microcomputer Facility in UGL. You will find that accessing UseNet, the Web, etc. are all quite easy on the UGL computers, and that there is a staff waiting there to help you. You can also use the Communication College Computers. There is a stream of new books all the time about how to use the Internet, and consider buying a reference book if you don't already have one. I have used Krol's Whole Internet (rev. ed.), but your local bookseller might have newer suggestions. Make sure that the book gives you enough examples and command lists to suit your level of expertise.

Consider buying or unearthing a grammar book. The high school variety is fine and can often be found in stores like Half Priced Books. Writing styles vary depending on the audience, the content, and the writer's sensibility. It is still useful to be aware of what is usually considered clear and powerful use (or is it 'usage'?) of the English language.

In turn, you will have an opportunity to evaluate the course as well as the instructor sometime toward the end of the semester. Your evaluations will not be available to the instructor until after grades have been turned in. However, do consider how you might constructively modify the course and feel free at any time to send the instructor or an assistant a note, or make a visit during office hours!

All work done for this course must be the original work of the student submitting it and should have been undertaken exclusively for this course. Assisting in academic dishonesty (e.g. letting someone copy your assignments) can retroactively lower your grade. Violations of academic honesty will result in appropriate action under the University's rules.