ANCILLA COLLEGE is a Liberal Arts institution of higher learning sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.

The
Colleges religious tradition is Roman Catholic; its climate ecumenical. In a caring environment, Ancilla serves a diverse
population, as we transform and empower students to achieve high academic goals, lifelong learning, successful careers and
values-centered lives.

COURSE INFORMATION
Academic Term:
Fall 2016
Course Title:
COMM 100 Introduction to Mass Communication (3 credit hours)
Class Meets:
Tuesday & Thursday 12:45pm-2:00pm
Room Number:
C126
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION
Instructor:
Jodie M. Bowers
Phone:
574-936-8898 ext: 357
Email:
jodie.bowers@ancilla.edu
Office Hours

Office: 219

Monday: 10:50AM 12 PM
Wednesday: 10:50AM 12 PM
Tuesday: 10:50AM 12 PM
Thursday: 10:50AM 12 PM &
& 2:10 4:10PM
2:10 4:10PM
Or by appointment though generally speaking, if Im in my office my door is open.
REQUIRED MATERIAL/RESOURCES/SOFTWARE
Text: Ralph Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World (SAGE Publications, 6th edition, 2017).
o ISBN: 978-1-5063-4446-1
Course Home: Moodle Use of your Moodle account is required for this class. If you dont know how to
use/access Moodle, it is in your best interest to see me or A+CE sooner rather than later. All assignment
information will be posted on Moodle generally NOT handed out in class. Grades will be posted in the online
gradebook and class information, forums, announcements, and changes to the syllabus or schedule will be
posted on Moodle.
Ancilla email: When necessary, I will contact you through your ANCILLA email account. Please be sure that you
know how to access your account and do so regularly.
Microsoft Word or comparable product: All assignments are to be typed, printed, and submitted in class unless
otherwise discussed. As an Ancilla student, you have access to a FREE copy of Microsoft Office through the IT
dept. It is your responsibility to get this and install it on your computer.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will be introduced to the role of media and its impact on social, cultural, and political change. Emphasis upon
the global nature of media, historical evolution of media, relationships with audience, relevant debates, influence of
government regulation, connection between media and other relevant industries, and ethical issues in mass
communication.
This course is designed to be an introduction to mass communication. The purpose of this course is to study the
development, structure and function of mass media. We will explore both mainstream and emerging media, the
organizational foundations and business of these industries, their effects, and how we, as media consumers,
engage with the media. We will also study the complex ways that media interact with social forces, both
influencing and being influenced by society. These forces include economics, formal and informal regulation,
and culture.
A focus throughout the semester will be on media literacy, or the ability to critically analyze the media and their
messages. This will include discussions of various communication theories, the ways they have been used to

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study media, and major research findings based on these theories.

ANCILLA COLLEGE ACADEMIC COMPETENCIES
1. Critical Thinking & Quantitative Reasoning: Demonstrate competence in understanding, evaluating, and using
both qualitative and quantitative information to explore issues, solve real-life problems, and develop informed
opinions.
2. Communication: Written and Oral: Understand and communicate effectively with others using a variety of
contexts and formats, which include writing, speaking, reading, listening and interpersonal skills.
3. Global Awareness: To acquire the knowledge, values, and dispositions to act in an informed manner,
demonstrate empathy, engage in effective intergroup communication, and build community across social,
cultural, political, environmental, geographic, and economic boundaries.
4. Technology & Information Management: Demonstrate ability to utilize technology effectively in support of a
records and information.
5. Personal Responsibility & Professional Development: Ability to understand and manage self, to function
effectively in social and professional environments and to make reasoned judgments based on an understanding
of the diversity of the world community.
The assignments, class activities, and readings all play their own roles in ensuring that we meet the above Ancilla
College Academic Competencies as well as the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Student Learning Outcomes
Understand the basic factors
affecting mass communication and
mass media
AAC: 1, 2, 4
Understand societys impact on the
media and medias impact on
individuals and society
AAC: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Develop analytical and critical
thinking skills concerning the mass
media and mass media messages
AAC: 1, 2, 5
Understand that media output are
expressions of individual and
societal values within technical,
economic, historical and social
contexts
AAC: 1, 2, 4, 5
Expand students depth and scope
of media use and understanding
AAC: 1, 2, 4, 5
Develop enhanced abilities to
decipher nuances of mass messages
AAC: 1, 2, 3, 5

Assignment/Assessment title or number

Discussion Questions
Tests
Written Assignments

Points available
90
300
450

Discussion Questions
Tests
Written Assignments

90
300
450

Discussion Questions
Tests
Written Assignments

90
300
450

Discussion Questions
Tests
Written Assignments

90
300
450

Discussion Questions
Written Assignments

90
450

Discussion Questions
Written Assignments

90
450

The assignments in this class are designed to achieve these goals. Textbook readings, class lectures, in-class activities,
tests, and written assignments will not only provide you with information about major concepts, but will also allow you
the opportunity to experience the concepts. Therefore, your attendance and participation in class are of utmost
importance.

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Course Work Expectations: Students will be held to a high standard of performance. To receive an A in this class your
work must be significantly better than that which passes for acceptable work. More precisely, an A assignment is one
that shows originality, careful research, tight reasoning, well-thought out persuasive appeals, and skillful delivery.
Additionally, A assignments will deal with non-trivial subject matter and will constitute a genuine contribution to the
knowledge and beliefs of the audience. Do not assume that you can do simply what is assigned to receive a high grade
in this class. Doing only what is assigned gets you, at most, a C.
Appeals: You must wait 24 hours after receiving a grade to discuss it with me. Please schedule a meeting for us
to meet privately. The classroom is not an appropriate place for these discussions. After you have received a
graded assignment you have two weeks to discuss them with me. After two weeks, I will not discuss any
previous assignments. In general, grades are only changed due to a miscalculation.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Writing Assignments: There will be four writing assignments in this class. These are to be computer-generated,
double-spaced, and 12-point (max) font with 1-inch margins. Further details will be given in class.
2. Chapter Questions: For each chapter, I will post 4 questions that are geared to help students think about the
topics discussed in the chapter and to help facilitate discussion in class. Each student is required to answer ALL 4
questions for each of the 3 chapters they sign up for over the course of the semester. Each question should be
about one paragraph or 150 words (1/2 page), and should be typed, double spaced. You will be turning these in.
Students are also responsible to help guide discussion on their particular chapter; therefore points will be
deducted if the student is not in attendance for their assigned chapter discussion. Further details about the
rules of this assignment will be given in class.
3. Exams: There will be three exams throughout the semester. Each will be a combination of identification and
essay questions. The exams are designed to test your familiarity with the lecture material, reading assignments,
and your independent ability to apply what you have learned.
4. Participation & Attendance:
a. Participation in COM 100 is made up of participation in in-class exercises and/or out-of-class
assignments. To be more specific, participation can be comprised of short projects, group activities, inclass exercises, etc. Often times, it is your participation in these activities that will make a difference
between a final grade of an A and a B for a student. For example: If we decide to have a poetry slam
in class between groups, and you partake in the activity with an open mind (whether your skills are good
or bad), you get credit. If you blow off the slam because youre too cool, you do not get credit.
b. Attendance at all class meetings is expected and is essential to your success in class. Since much of the
learning in this class will result from interaction with your peers, attendance and participation are vital
for your success.
i. You are expected to attend class regularly and in a timely fashion.
1. Two absences are allowed without an attendance penalty; however, please note that
missed in-class activities, presentations, and participation points CANNOT be made up if
you have not made arrangements with me before class.
2. Every absence after your second will result in a penalty of 10 points off your final
participation/attendance grade in the course.
3. I EXPECT you to contact me BEFORE class if you are going to be absent. Ill be much
more inclined to work with you if you follow this courtesy.
ii. If you must be absent because of extenuating circumstances (i.e. illness, family emergency, etc)
you must notify me of your absence as soon as possible (as said above, preferably before class).

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iii. You may call the College and leave a message with Erin Houser, 574-936-8898 ext 322, as a last
resort.
iv. If possible, please bring documentation of the absence upon returning to class to validate
excused absences.
c. Tardiness: You are expected to show up for class on time and stay the entire period. Missing more than
15 minutes of class will result in loss of points for that day. I do take attendance every day at the
beginning of class. Be there on time to make sure youre counted present for the day.
GRADING
Your course grade will be determined by your performance in assignments, presentations, critiques, and overall
participation in the course. See below for a breakdown of total course points possible. (Points and assignments are
tentative and may change throughout semester- instructor will notify you.)

Assignments
Discussion Questions x 3
Test x 3

Points
90
300

Written Assignments x 3

450

Attendance/Participation
Total Course Points

160
1000

Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F

Total Points
9401000
900-939
870-899
830-869
800-829
770-799
700-769
600-699
Below
600

LATE WORK POLICY:

All assignments are due in class on the due date. Late
assignments will receive a 30% deduction. You have one week
from
the original due date to submit a late assignment. After that, the zero in the grade book stays. If you know you
are going to be absent please arrange with me to turn things in and/or present prior to your absence.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic integrity means that students may not submit work that is not their own in any manner (research papers,
exams, oral reports, computer reports, etc.). This includes plagiarism and cheating. Permitting other students to use
ones work as their own also violates the principle of academic integrity. As specified in all syllabi, Ancilla College
stresses the importance of academic integrity. Because all colleges and universities value academic integrity highly, they
treat violations very seriously. Sanctions for offenses can range from failure on the assignment or the course to dismissal
from the College. Sanctions will be determined by the Instructor or, in repeat or more serious offenses, the Dean of
Academic and Student Services.
Any repeated violation of this policy can result in dismissal from Ancilla College. All honor violations will be reported to
the Dean at the time they are detected.
Plagiarism on any assignment will result in a minimum of a 0 for the assignment. Plagiarism includes the following:

Copying someone elses work and claiming it as your own

Paraphrasing someone elses work and claiming it as your own
Collaborating with another person and claiming the work solely as your own

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When in doubt, CITE your work. The risk is not worth it.
DISABILITY ACCOMODATION STATEMENT
If you have any disability that may require accommodation, or if you have questions related to accommodations, please
contact the A+CE Success Center (A+CE) ADA office as soon as possible. The A+CE Lab is located in room 204 or can be
reached at (574) 936-8898, ext. 302.
Please be advised that in order to receive services you must: submit documentation in the form requested by A+CE staff.
The documentation needs to be approved by A+CE staff, and all paperwork involved in the process must be completed.
This must be done no later than the first week of classes. Documentation must be submitted and approved at least one
week before testing, if accommodations are needed. Documentation received later than these deadlines may not be
approved and accommodations may not be granted.
TITLE IX NOTICE
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ancilla College prohibits discrimination on the basis of
sex in all academic and extracurricular programs and activities, including intercollegiate athletic activities. Title IX
protects all people, regardless of gender or gender identity, from sexual harassment and sexual violence (including
sexual misconduct and sexual assault), which are forms of sex discrimination. Ancilla College has designated Scott Horch
as the Title IX Coordinator to oversee the implementation of Title IX, including the responsibility of reviewing Title IX
complaints. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX to University-operated programs and activities should be
referred to the Office of Institutional Equity at (574) 936-8898 X385.
OTHER NECESSITIES
o
o

Assignments: All written work must be computer-generated, double-spaced, and 12-point (max) font with
standard margins. They are to be turned in at the beginning of class on the due date.
E-mail: I tend to use e-mail frequently to communicate with students. I may send e-mails to the entire class
regarding class announcements or I may e-mail individuals should it be necessary. I expect all students to check
their e-mail at least every other day though I would be much more comfortable with every day. When I send
out an e-mail it is because it contains important information that you need to know and that may not have been
covered in class. If e-mail is not a reasonable means of communication for you, please talk to me and we will
work out an alternative. If you e-mail me and have not heard back within 24 hours, please send your e-mail
again.
o When e-mailing your instructors be sure you are including content in the subject line. Anything with a
blank subject is marked as spam by our servers and will not be sent to us.
Cell phones/ Earphones/Computers: Turn your cell phones on silent and REMOVE your earphones when you
enter the classroom. It is incredibly disrespectful to leave your earphones in while in class. If youd rather listen
to your music or watch Netflix than listen and participate in the class, please see yourself out of the room. These
interruptions are distracting to your fellow classmates and to me. If your cell phone rings during a peer
presentation you will lose significant points to your overall grade.
o I understand that many students prefer to take notes on a laptop or tablet. This is fine, though it should
be noted that studies have indicated that this type of note taking results in students remembering less
information than they do if they take notes the old-fashioned way. That means youll likely do worse on
the unit exams or reading/pop quizzes.

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If you are watching videos on your phones or laptops I will dismiss you from class and you will lose all
considerable points on your final grade and be counted as absent for that meeting.
Respecting Others and Yourself: Come to class ready to engage in the materials. Please respect others
opinions. Sometimes we may not agree, but that does not mean we dont have to be respectful. Hateful, racist,
or other inappropriate comments have no place in my classroom. Any offenders will be excused from class and
will lose that days participation points.
Classroom Etiquette: The Ancilla College Code of Conduct is detailed in the Ancilla College Catalog/Student
Handbook, available on the college website. www.ancilla.edu

Your learning is my #1 priority.

Therefore I may make changes to the syllabus (including policies and

assignments) and course schedule during the semester based on the needs of the class. Any changes will be e-mailed to
students, posted on Moodle, and discussed in class.

Intro to Mass Communication