Ithaca College
Senior Seminar
Television, Mass Media, and Human Behavior
TVR 46000
Fall 2016
Television, Mass Media, and Human Behavior
TVR 46000
Fall 2016
Instructor: Dr. Jack Powers (Jack)
Office: Park #368
E-mail: jpowers@ithaca.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; and 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Additional hours available by appointment.
Course description:
Television, Mass Media, and Human Behavior is a survey course designed to explore the role of media in the lives of adults, children and adolescents—primarily from a social science perspective. Because most research on the topic deals with children and young adults (0-22 years), that will be our emphasis, too. Specifically, the course deals with three areas:
Course description:
Television, Mass Media, and Human Behavior is a survey course designed to explore the role of media in the lives of adults, children and adolescents—primarily from a social science perspective. Because most research on the topic deals with children and young adults (0-22 years), that will be our emphasis, too. Specifically, the course deals with three areas:
1) how the popular media socialize children and how this socialization may affect behavior;
2) the future media environment; and
3) policy issues and advocacy.
Through lectures, class discussions, debates, presentations, and assignments, we shall critically examine the impact the mass media have had in America and throughout the world.
Course Objectives/Goals:
By the end of the term, students enrolled in this course should be able to
1. Discuss and argue points of view related to children/young adults and media in the United States.
2. Understand and discuss the emergence of mediated learning in children’s lives.
3. Understand and discuss the impact of mass media on the lives of children and young adults.
4. Know the developmental stages in a child’s development and the role the media play at each stage.
5. Synthesize research material regarding children and mass media.
To achieve these goals, students will read extensively, write summary/reaction pieces, make formal presentations, actively participate in intellectual discussions, and write and present a research paper about media and behavior.
Required texts:
All required readings will be provided to you via blog posts or links.
Suggested texts:
Gentile, D. (Ed.) (2014). Media violence and children: A complete guide for parents and professionals, 2nd edition. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Shrum, L.J. (Ed.) (2012). The psychology of entertainment media: Blurring the lines between entertainment and persuasion, 2nd edition. New York, NY: Routledge.
Evaluation and grading:
Overall grades will be based on the following percentages:
93 – 100 A
90 – 92 A-
87 – 89 B+
83 – 86 B
80 – 82 B-
77 – 79 C+
73 – 76 C
70 – 72 C-
67 – 69 D+
63 – 66 D
60 – 62 D-
00 – 59 F
Academic Integrity: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, passing off someone else's work as your own, and submitting the same papers/assignments for credit to multiple classes. Please refer to the Ithaca College student handbook for the college’s official stance. Feel free to speak to me concerning this subject.
Attendance:
Here is the official Ithaca College stance on attendance:
College Policy
Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work missed during any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must provide students in their courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties for failure to attend class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates the reason for being absent may be required. These guidelines may vary from course to course, but are subject to the following restrictions:
1. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. Such students must notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination without penalty. Faculty will not schedule examinations or quizzes on designated religious holidays on the calendar day following the designated holidays. Designed holidays are Rosh Hashanah (2 days), Yom Kippur, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
2. Any student who misses class due to a verifiable emergency - such as an illness requiring attention by the health center, or hospitalization, death, or serious illness of a family member, or required appearance in a court of law - shall be excused. Students may notify the Office of Student Affairs about any emergency, and that office will notify the appropriate faculty member.
A student may be excused for participation in college-authorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as athletic events, musical and theatrical performance, and professional conferences if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's or the other students' ability to succeed in the course.
The course instructor has the right to determine if the number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that was missed and the stated attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can result in the student being removed from or failing the course.
This is my addendum to that policy--
Obviously, a seminar does not work if students aren’t in class to engage in lively, intellectual discussion. The goal is to create an environment so that students will “want” to attend. Students who regularly miss class will see their participation grades suffer.
Course Objectives/Goals:
By the end of the term, students enrolled in this course should be able to
1. Discuss and argue points of view related to children/young adults and media in the United States.
2. Understand and discuss the emergence of mediated learning in children’s lives.
3. Understand and discuss the impact of mass media on the lives of children and young adults.
4. Know the developmental stages in a child’s development and the role the media play at each stage.
5. Synthesize research material regarding children and mass media.
To achieve these goals, students will read extensively, write summary/reaction pieces, make formal presentations, actively participate in intellectual discussions, and write and present a research paper about media and behavior.
Required texts:
All required readings will be provided to you via blog posts or links.
Suggested texts:
Gentile, D. (Ed.) (2014). Media violence and children: A complete guide for parents and professionals, 2nd edition. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.
Shrum, L.J. (Ed.) (2012). The psychology of entertainment media: Blurring the lines between entertainment and persuasion, 2nd edition. New York, NY: Routledge.
Evaluation and grading:
Overall grades will be based on the following percentages:
93 – 100 A
90 – 92 A-
87 – 89 B+
83 – 86 B
80 – 82 B-
77 – 79 C+
73 – 76 C
70 – 72 C-
67 – 69 D+
63 – 66 D
60 – 62 D-
00 – 59 F
Academic Integrity: Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism, passing off someone else's work as your own, and submitting the same papers/assignments for credit to multiple classes. Please refer to the Ithaca College student handbook for the college’s official stance. Feel free to speak to me concerning this subject.
Attendance:
Here is the official Ithaca College stance on attendance:
College Policy
Students at Ithaca College are expected to attend all classes, and they are responsible for work missed during any absence from class. At the beginning of each semester, instructors must provide students in their courses with written guidelines regarding possible grading penalties for failure to attend class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of any anticipated absences. Written documentation that indicates the reason for being absent may be required. These guidelines may vary from course to course, but are subject to the following restrictions:
1. In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. Such students must notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination without penalty. Faculty will not schedule examinations or quizzes on designated religious holidays on the calendar day following the designated holidays. Designed holidays are Rosh Hashanah (2 days), Yom Kippur, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.
2. Any student who misses class due to a verifiable emergency - such as an illness requiring attention by the health center, or hospitalization, death, or serious illness of a family member, or required appearance in a court of law - shall be excused. Students may notify the Office of Student Affairs about any emergency, and that office will notify the appropriate faculty member.
A student may be excused for participation in college-authorized co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as athletic events, musical and theatrical performance, and professional conferences if, in the instructor's judgment, this does not impair the specific student's or the other students' ability to succeed in the course.
The course instructor has the right to determine if the number of absences has been excessive in view of the nature of the class that was missed and the stated attendance policy. Depending on the individual situation, this can result in the student being removed from or failing the course.
This is my addendum to that policy--
Obviously, a seminar does not work if students aren’t in class to engage in lively, intellectual discussion. The goal is to create an environment so that students will “want” to attend. Students who regularly miss class will see their participation grades suffer.
Standards of Academic Conduct:
A.
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Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the mission of the College. Unless it is otherwise stipulated, students may submit for evaluation only that work that is their own and that is submitted originally for a specific course. According to traditions of higher education, forms of conduct that will be considered evidence of academic misconduct include but are not limited to the following: conversations between students during an examination; reviewing, without authorization, material during an examination (e.g., personal notes, another student's exam); unauthorized collaboration; submission of a paper also submitted for credit in another course; reference to written material related to the course brought into an examination room during a closed-book, written examination; and submission without proper acknowledgment of work that is based partially or entirely on the ideas or writings of others. Only when a faculty member gives prior approval for such actions can they be acceptable.
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B.
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It is the responsibility of instructors to inform students clearly in writing specific rules, procedures, and/or expectations pertinent to their particular course that differ from those identified in paragraph A of this section. In those courses where limited consultation among students is permitted in the preparation of assignments, it is extremely important for instructors to clarify the guidelines for appropriate conduct.
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C.
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In situations where a student may have difficulty in distinguishing between acceptable behavior and academic misconduct, it is the responsibility of the student to confer with the instructor. This is particularly important for avoiding plagiarism when written sources are used in the preparation of papers or take home examinations.
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Because Ithaca College is an academic community, ignorance of the accepted standards of academic honesty in no way affects the responsibility of students who violate standards of conduct in courses and other academic activities.
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D.
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All members of the academic community are expected to assist in maintaining the integrity of Ithaca College, which includes reporting incidents of academic misconduct. Such instances may be reported to a faculty member, the dean of the school involved, or the director of judicial affairs.
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Plagiarism:
Whether intended or not, plagiarism is a serious offense against academic honesty. Under any circumstances, it is deceitful to represent as one's own work, writing or ideas that belong to another person. Students should be aware of how this offense is defined. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone else's published or unpublished ideas, whether this use consists of directly quoted material or paraphrased ideas.
Although various disciplines follow styles of documentation that differ in some details, all forms of documentation make the following demands:
- That each quotation or paraphrase be acknowledged with a footnote or in-text citation;
- That direct quotations be enclosed in quotation marks and be absolutely faithful to the wording of the source;
- That paraphrased ideas be stated in language entirely different from the language of the source;
- That a sequence of ideas identical to that of a source be attributed to that source;
- That sources of reprinted charts or graphs be cited in the text;
- That all the sources the writer has drawn from in paraphrase or direct quotation or a combination of paraphrase and quotation be listed at the end of the paper under "Bibliography," "References," or "Works Cited," whichever heading the particular style of documentation requires.
A student is guilty of plagiarism if the student fails, intentionally or not, to follow any of these standard requirements of documentation.
In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.
What, then, do students not have to document? They need not cite their own ideas, or references to their own experiences, or information that falls in the category of uncontroversial common knowledge (what a person reasonably well-informed about a subject might be expected to know). They should acknowledge anything else.
Other Forms of Academic Dishonesty
Other violations of academic honesty include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:
- Handing in to a class a paper written by someone else;
- Handing in as an original work for a class a paper one has already submitted to another course;
- Handing in the same paper simultaneously to two courses without the full knowledge and explicit consent of all the faculty members involved;
- Having someone else rewrite or clean up a rough draft and submitting those revisions as one's own work.
These offenses violate the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect necessary the process of learning.
Note: Students who would like help in learning how to paraphrase or document sources properly should feel free to come to the Writing Center in Smiddy 107 for assistance.
Students with disabilities:
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services and provide appropriate documentation to the College before any academic adjustment will be provided.
Dealing with Stress while at College:
Diminished mental health, including significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The source of symptoms might be strictly related to your course work; if so, please speak with me. However, problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic performance.
Ithaca College provides a Counseling Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center provides cost-free services to help you manage personal challenges that threaten your well-being.
In the event I suspect you need additional support, I will express my concerns and the reasons for them, and remind you of resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Health Center, chaplains, etc.) that might be helpful to you. It is not my intention to know the details of what might be bothering you, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that help, if needed, is available.
Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for your loved ones.
Title IX:
Title IX is a federal act mandating that educational institutions must provide sex and gender equity. All students thus have the right to a campus atmosphere free of sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender discrimination. For questions about sexual misconduct, see the Ithaca SHARE website (Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education): http://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/share/). To report or discuss sexual assault or harassment, or general issues, please contact Tiffani Ziemann, Title IX Coordinator; tziemann@ithaca.edu 607-274-3300.
Student safety:
You must respond to and report conditions and actions that may jeopardize your safety, or that of other people and/or equipment. Report to the responsible College employee. During class sessions that person would be your instructor or lab assistant. Outside of class the person might be your instructor, lab supervisor, co-curricular manager, equipment and facilities manager, or one of the engineering support staff. You must be aware that misuse of equipment or use of damaged equipment can create the risk of serious injury, infectious contamination, and expensive damage. You may be liable for damage or injury resulting from such use. Unsupervised use of facilities puts you at risk. Failure to be alert to safety problems, or to report them, may have serious consequences for you or others.
Course material:
Assigned readings should be completed prior to class. Lectures and assignments are intended to enhance and/or supplement the readings. Some of the material will come from sources other than the assigned readings. You are responsible for this material as well as for the material in the readings—even if it is not specifically covered in class. If you have any difficulty understanding the material, it is your responsibility to ask for clarification. Often, I will ask if anyone has any questions.
Make-up policy:
As a general rule, make-up assignments are not allowed except in cases of emergency. It is your responsibility to complete the assignments. If an emergency does arise, it is imperative for you to contact me PRIOR to the scheduled due date. Do not expect to make-up a missed assignment without clearing it with me ahead of time. Incompletes are rarely given. In fact, an incomplete is only given if you are unable to complete the coursework because of a serious illness, accident, emergency, or other crisis. A formal request must be made prior to the end of the term. An incomplete can only be granted with permission from the Dean.
Late Assignments:
As a general rule, late assignments are not accepted. In specific circumstances, late assignments may be accepted, but with a substantial penalty.
Assignments:
Each student is required to submit:
1) Five summary reaction pieces.
The summary reaction pieces must deal with the assigned readings for that current week. Once a week has passed, you may not submit a reaction for that article. This will help us to stay current. You may only submit/post up to one summary reaction piece per week.
2) In addition, each student is responsible for two Talking Points Memo presentations on the assigned articles.
3) Students must complete two online class assignments.
4) Finally, working in teams of 2 or alone, students will write a seminar paper and present his or her findings in a formal setting. Failure to present your paper will result in your paper grade being reduced by a full two letters. In other words, if you write a paper but don't present and it would have earned a B, the grade will be a D. Details of the assignments and paper will be further discussed in class during the first two weeks.
Grading:
4) Finally, working in teams of 2 or alone, students will write a seminar paper and present his or her findings in a formal setting. Failure to present your paper will result in your paper grade being reduced by a full two letters. In other words, if you write a paper but don't present and it would have earned a B, the grade will be a D. Details of the assignments and paper will be further discussed in class during the first two weeks.
Grading:
Overall grades will be based on the following:
Participation— (50 points)
Summary/reaction pieces— (100 points) (20 points each)
Talking Points Memos — (50 points) (25 points each)
Participation— (50 points)
Summary/reaction pieces— (100 points) (20 points each)
Talking Points Memos — (50 points) (25 points each)
Talking Points Memos Facilitation—(50 points) (25 points each)
Online class assignments—(50 points) (25 points each)
Final paper and presentation— (100 points)
__________
Total: 400 points (100%)
Final paper and presentation— (100 points)
__________
Total: 400 points (100%)
Letter Grade Breakdown:
372 – 400 A
360 – 371 A-
352 – 359 B+
340 – 351 B
320 – 339 B-
312 – 319 C+
300 – 311 C
280 – 299 C-
272 – 279 D+
260 – 271 D
240 – 259 D-
000 – 239 F
There is no curve.
Tentative Course Schedule:
Tentative Course Schedule:
Week of August 22
Course overview; Syllabus; Introductions; The Role of Media in Our Lives
Week of August 29
1. Media Use in America (Overview of Television, Mass Media and Human Behavior )
2. Effect of Pornography on Marriage
3. Media and Fear in Children & Adolescents
4. Cyberbullying
Week of September 5
5. Romantic Social Skills in Teens and Social Media
6. Examining Popular Misconceptions regarding Media
7. Cognitive Stage of Development
Week of September 12
8. World as Portrayed by Media
9. Media and Childhood Obesity
9. Media and Childhood Obesity
10. Media and Body Image
Week of September 19
11. Behavior of Media Characters
12. TV as an Effective Teaching Tool
13. Media Portrayals of Minorities
Week of September 26
14. Exposure to Educational TV
15. TV’s Influence on the Developing Intellect
16. Media and Alcohol Consumption + Media and Smoking
17. Media and Drug Use
Week of October 3
18. Sex and TV
19. Music and Sex
20. Sex and Media
21. ‘Friends’ and Condom Use
Week of October 10
22. Kids and Advertising
23. Scholastic Achievement
23. Scholastic Achievement
24. Violence and Aggression
Week of October 17
Online assignment #1
Online assignment #2
Week of October 24
25. Mass Media and Politics
26. Learning Rules and Norms
27. Theoretical Explanations for How Media Affect Us
Week of October 31
28. Children and Media Policy
29. Media Ratings
29. Media Ratings
30. Kids and Music
31. Effects of Music
32. Romantic Relationships and Mass Media
33. Kids and Video Games
Week of November 14
34.
35. Media Violence and Video Games
36. Knowledge for What?
Week of November 21
Thanksgiving Break- No classes
Thanksgiving Break- No classes
Week of November 28
41. Social Media and its impact on Face-to-Face Interactions
42. Diagnosing Depression via Instagram
Week of December 5
43. Social Media and Depression
44. What Your Facebook Status Updates Reveal About You
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Formal Presentations of Final Papers
4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
(During our Final Exam slot)
Fall 2016 Academic Calendar
| Monday | August 22 | Convocation |
| Tuesday | August 23 | Fall Welcome - No Classes |
| Wednesday | August 24 | Classes Begin 8:00 a.m. |
| Please note: Monday classes will meet on this day at their scheduled times (not Wednesday classes) for this first day of classes only. | ||
| Wednesday | August 31 | Last Day to ADD/DROP Block I Courses |
| Wednesday | August 31 | Last Day to ADD/DROP Semester Courses |
| Wednesday | August 31 | Last Day to Audit Courses |
| Friday | September 2 | Last Day to Request S/D/F Option in Block I Courses |
| Monday | September 5 | Labor Day - No Classes |
| Wednesday | September 7 | Dec 2016 Application for Graduation Due (Online) |
| Wednesday | September 14 | Last Day to Request S/D/F Option in Semester Courses |
| Wednesday | September 28 | Last Day to Withdraw with "W" in Block I Courses |
| Wednesday | September 28 | Last Day to Revoke S/D/F Option in Block I Courses |
| Wednesday | October 12 | Block I Ends; Fall Break Begins at 10:00 p.m. |
| Thurs-Fri | Oct. 13-14 | Fall Break - No Classes |
| Monday | October 17 | Classes Resume 8:00 a.m.; Block II Begins |
| Wednesday | October 19 | Mid-Term Grades Due (Online) 10:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | October 19 | Block I Final Grades Due (Online) 10:00 p.m. |
| Sunday | October 23 | Last Day to ADD/DROP Block II Courses |
| Wednesday | October 26 | Last Day to Request S/D/F Option in Block II Courses |
| Wednesday | November 2 | Last Day to Revoke S/D/F Option in Semester Courses |
| Wednesday | November 2 | Last Day to Withdraw with "W" in Semester Courses |
| Mon-Fri | November 7-11 | Online Registration for Spring 2017 |
| Friday | November 11 | May 2017 Application for Graduation Due (Online) |
| Friday | November 18 | Last Day to Withdraw with "W" in Block II Courses |
| Friday | November 18 | Last Day to Revoke S/D/F Option in Block II Courses |
| Friday | November 18 | Last Day to Withdraw with "W" in Graduate Courses |
| Sat-Sun | Nov. 19-27 | Thanksgiving Break - No Classes |
| Monday | November 28 | Classes Resume 8:00 a.m. |
| Friday | December 9 | Last Day of Classes |
| Monday | December 12 | Final Examinations Begin 7:30 a.m. |
| Friday | December 16 | Final Examinations End 10:00 p.m. |
| Monday | December 19 | Inclement Weather Make-Up Day (for final exams) |
| Friday | December 30 | Final Grades Due (Online) 12:00 noon. |
Excerpt from the College's Attendance Policy: In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or examinations on that day. The faculty member is responsible for providing the student with an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirement that the student may have missed. It is suggested that students notify their course instructors at least one week before any anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up any missed work or examination. Any such work is be be completed within a reasonable time frame, as determined by the faculty member.
Interfaith Calendar: http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/
The instructor reserves the right to amend this syllabus as necessary. It is meant as a guideline. Any changes will be announced in advance.
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