Senior Seminar

Senior Seminar
JCM 495

Fall 2003

Dr. Connie Book
McEwen 101-B
278-5661
cbook@elon.edu
www.elon.edu/cbook

Office Hours: 9:20-10:20 T,W-TH & by appointment.

Course Goals:
This course is designed to be a capstone experience for JCM majors. Students will draw upon the learning from previous communication courses and demonstrate their ability to critically utilize that information by solving problems related to the communications industry. As a result of this course, students will be able to bridge their academic experience with their impending professional experience.

Course Objectives:

Students will demonstrate competency in this course by:

Reflecting on assigned readings through a series of writing exercises that requires the student to blend communications material offered in previous communication courses within his or her responses.
Identifying current problems and issues within the communication industry by exploring consumer, trade and academic press related to communications.
Conceptualizing a means in which an identified communication industry issue or problem can be addressed.
Gathering and analyzing data in an effort to provide more light on the identified problem.
Writing a report of the conceptualized research problem, subsequent data gathering and offering prescriptive solutions to the media problem.
Preparing a professional resume/portfolio of previous work in communications.
Identifying, reading and writing a summary of a professional text in communications.
Written demonstration of knowledge of professional associations, codes of ethics and professional trades.
Written demonstration of understanding of the possible fields of communications employment, entry-level qualifications and how to move beyond that entry-level position.

Course Textbook:

Seguin, James (2000). Media Career Guide: Preparing for jobs in the 21st Century.
Dominick, J & Wimmer, R. (2003). Mass Media Research. 7th Edition.
A professional oriented book to be purchased by the student.
Other readings will be assigned per the syllabus.


Dates	Class Work	Assignment	Required School Activities
August 26	Classes Begin: Course Introduction
August 28	Seguin, CH1-3 Wimmer and Dominick, Chapter 1 Annual Survey of JCM 2000 Graduates A Profession Under Attack	Reflection Assignment
September 2	Readings: Book, C., Spiker, K. & Anderson, M. "Journalism in the Movies." Minow, N. "The Vast Wasteland"" "How Vast the Wasteland Now" The Future of Media Media Violence	Reading Reflection
September 4	A Profession Under Attack Wimmer & Dominick Chapter 2 Continued	Book Proposal Due
September 9	Seguin, CH4-5 Group Projects	Senior Reflection Due
September 11	Wimmer & Dominick Chapters 13, 14	Problem Solving in Print, Broadcast, PR and Film Reflection
September 16	Wimmer & Dominick Chapters 15&16	Resume and Cover Letter Due Individual Project Proposal
September 18	Wimmer & Dominick Readings Chapter 1, 2 APA Style	Problem Solving in Print, Broadcast, PR and Film	Family Weekend September 19-21
September 23	Wimmer & Dominick Readings 3, 4
September 25	Wimmer & Dominick Readings Chapter 5, 6	Annotated Bibliography--Group
September 29	Polling and Public Opinion & The Media Measurement and Sampling Chapter 7, 8	Sample Individual Project	Fall Convocation: Thomas Friedman 6pm Advisory Board Visit
September 30	Book Reports	Book Report Format All Book Reports Due	Advisory Board Visit
October 2	Book Reports	Book Reports
October 7	Mid-Term Exam	Annotated Bibliographies--Individual
October 9	Group Work	Drafts of Group Intro, Review of Related Literature due by Friday noon.	Dr. Book attending conference 10/8-10/16 Fall Break: October 11-15
October 16	Conference	Conference	Website for APA Style Reference
October 21	Samples of successful work. Chapters 10, 11, 12		Reality TV Group Paper Elon Poll Reflection
October 23	Method and Theory
October 28	Method and Theory	Individual Projects 1/2 Due
October 30	Writing Essentials for Life Chapters 10, 11	Powerpoint Exercise
November 4	Chapter 12	Reflection and Examples Group Methodology Due
November 6	Paper Review	Reflection and Examples
November 11	Group Meetings Individual Meetings	Reflection and Examples	Adeline Yen Mah Lecture: “Unwanted Chinese Daughter”
November 13	Data Analysis	Peer Review
November 18	Data Analysis	Reflection	Elon Poll Elon Poll Reflection
November 20	Group Evaluation	Group Paper Due	Elon Poll Elon Poll Reflection
November 25	Full Circle Presentation	Full Circle Presentation	Last Class Before Thanksgiving Classes Resume 12/1
December 2	Individual Presentations	Individual Presentations
December 4	Individual Presentations	Individual Presentations		Final Class Meeting
December 6	Final Exam for 10:30-12:10 Section: 8am-11am
December 9	Final Exam for 12:20-2:00 Section: 3pm-6pm

Attendance: The departmental policies will be adhered to in this course. An attendance sheet will be prepared for each day the class meets. It is your responsibility to make sure you have signed in each day you attend class. Consistent tardiness will also negatively impact your attendance grade.

If you will be absent, it is in your best interest to call me and let me know BEFORE the class period meets.

If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to meet with me BEFORE the scheduled course meeting and determine how you will make-up missed work and when that work will be due.

THE ELON ACADEMIC HONOR CODE AND SOCIAL HONOR CODE ARE IN EFFECT DURING THIS COURSE. YOU SHOULD REVIEW YOUR STUDENT HANDBOOK, PP. 37-54 IN DETAIL.

The Elon Academic Honor Code applies to all activities and assignments in this course. Students will refrain from cheating, lying, plagiarizing, facilitating the dishonesty of others, and stealing or vandalism. Violations of the honor code will be reported to the appropriate administrative office for action. If you would like more detail about the Academic Honor Code, you can review the policy at the following web address: http://www.elon.edu/students/handbook/honor.asp.

Easy Ways to Succeed in Professor Book’s Class:

Submitting assigned work on time, typed and free of error.
Come to class having read the material and done the assignment.
Ask questions, especially this one---how can I improve my grade?
Visit me during office hours or schedule an appointment so that we can review your progress in the course.
Participate in class discussion.

6. Demonstrate eagerness, a willingness to learn and adhere to the student honor code.

7. Be polite.

Course Grading:

Assignments            30%
Exams                      20%
Individual Project    25%
Group Project          25%