Introduction to New Media Theory:IM 250
TT 9-10:15, CGCC 104

Course Goals and Objectives

The goals for the course include:

(1) To examine and develop concepts & ideas derived from scholarship about human communication, mass media, and computational digital technologies. New media theory comes from diverse and interdisciplinary sources.

(2) To examine and develop conceptual foundations derived from the cultural and commercial dimensions of new media history and technologies. Much new media theory is derived from professional practice, including contemporary/everyday phenomena. Ongoing technological innovations and implementations variously conform to and challenge conceptual understandings and explanations. The course examines the everyday, bringing focus to the taken-for-granted, and testing disciplinary/scholarly knowledge.

(3) To provide you with increased and improved technical vocabularies with which to study and discuss conceptual developments.

(4) Developing critical insights about taken-for-granted new media phenomena. Students are encouraged to think critically about the roles of media (new and old) in their lives as well as in our cultures.

(5) To develop informed speculations concerning the future of new media with particular attention to the roles of citizens, consumers, and producers. To the degree that “the new media are us,” the course encourages increased awareness, self-consciousness, and a critical attitude toward participation in mediated communication.

Objectives:

In order to meet these goals, you develop the ability to comprehend, identify, apply, and critically evaluate the definitions of the concepts.

In the case of the core concepts presented in lecture/discussion and web notes, you should be able to:

• write the definitions of the concepts and of their subparts;

• compare and contrast aspects of the concepts & subparts among each other in order to explain the differences/similarities among them;

• observe, identify, and illustrate the concepts and subparts in news/media reports of industry developments (not including personal opinion-based, amatuer blogs).

In the case of the reading materials, students should be able to:

• specify the author’s theses for each chapter/section;

• identify the claims and sub-claims the authors make;

• identify the evidence the authors use;

• make claims about the readings;

• support your claims about the readings with evidence from the readings;

• summarize the readings;

• draw personal "take aways" from the readings.

Requirements and Expectations

Due dates and times are listed on the syllabus. The online version of the syllabus will be updated, when needed, and supercedes printed versions.

Class attendance is expected and monitored. You should read and study the textbooks and concept readings according to the schedule. There will be (a) reading summaries/analyses (of various types) over material in the books [38] (b) "concept application notes" over the concepts [20], (c) exams over the concepts [2], and (d) a term paper [in 3 parts].

(a) The text book reading summaries/analyses address the learning objectives listed above. Summaries/analyses are posted to Sakai (DO NOT ATTACH a DOC. THERE; use the Sakai "paste into" function or enter the text into Sakai), one summary/analysis per chapter or page range, as assigned.If multiple chapters/ranges are due on one day, submit them in ONE post, with the chapter/section divisions clearly marked. These summaries only "count" for students who are in class on the target day: be sure to sign the roll sheet at each class. Each day's assignment will specify particular learning outcome(s) and foci for your summary/analysis (for example, theses/claims/evidence). Reading assignments are generally due by 8am the morning of the class day when we could cover the material. Keep a copy of your assignment on your laptop so we access it during class. You will not be able to "see" your contributions, on Sakai, until after I've graded them.

(b) Concept application notes: Each class day that we deal with the 20 course concepts, you will post a one or two one page (400-500 word) "content application note(s)" to the Sakai forum. The post must summarize ALL OF THE PARTS of the concept, then observe, identify, and illustrate something about the course concept (or subconcept) in media reports of news/industry developments (listed at the bottom of each concept page).

Summarize your understanding of the concept BEFORE you do the application to the article. Restate the concept in your own words. DO NOT JUST CUT AND PASTE WHAT I'VE WRITTEN OR SAID. I need for you to show, clearly, that you understand the concept by, first, being able to describe it.

After summarizing the concept, briefly summarize the article then make the application of article to concept or concept to article.

The application of article to concept or concept to article is the primary task for this assignment. The activity does NOT call for two, disconnected, summaries. The treatment MUST either apply the concept to the article or apply the reading to the concept. The note must clarify the concept, the article, and (especially) their connection.

Some of the concepts have multiple parts. Summarize the whole, first, then use whichever part of the concept you think best applies to the article. You do not have to cover all of the aspects of the concept in the application (though you do have to summarize all of the concept's parts, first).

Concept applications/illustrations must be drawn from the list of articles I attach at the bottom of the concept notes. Be sure to note which reading you are using (in the cases of multiple articles to pick from). Use only ONE article for applications (unless the assignment for that day REQUIRES two by specifying one article AND another article. Do NOT do two if the assignment specifies an article OR an other article).

You do not write about the various articles inserted INSIDE the lecture notes and videos. You only need to summarize the article you are using for your concept application, from ones listed at the bottom of the page.

This assignment only "counts" for students who are in class on the target day: be sure to sign the roll sheet at each class.

I may share especially interesting notes with the class. Do not use any of the illustrations that I use in lecture or that appear in the books. Concept application notes are graded and scored for quality. Concept applications are posted to Sakai (not attached). Use the "paste into" function in sakai to avoid entering machine code. Concept application notes are generally due by 11:59pm (just before the end of the night) on the day we cover the concept in class. Keep a copy of your assignment on your laptop so we access it during class. You will not be able to "see" your contributions, on Sakai, until after I've graded them.

(c) The Midterm Exam is March 4; the final exam is Monday May 12, 9-11 am.

No early or make-up exams will be arranged for either of the exams. Students with emergencies must contact Dr. Lamoureux (in person or by phone) before the end of the test period; accommodations will be made for (only) dire emergencies. Students needing accommodations from the Learning Assistance Center must contact both the center and me a minimum of 72 hours before the exam. Be careful as to the final: It falls on the next-to-the-last day of final exams--do no make conflicting travel plans.

(d) Research/Writing Project (in three parts, full sentence outline, rough draft, final paper):

You must select one of three options for the research/writing project: (C) a 5-page position paper establishing a problem in the nature of things related to the topic; (B) an 8 page-paper presenting a problem and solution analysis of the issue; (A) a 12-page paper presenting problem/solution/solution effects analysis of the issue. Topics posted to the Wiki on Sakai (first come first served, only one student per topic). Topics must be declared before March 1. You "declare" which option you are using when you turn in your outline. You may not change topics or options after turning in the outline.

Values for the outline and rough draft are the same for all versions; values for the final paper vary, based on option. Option (C) final papers are worth up to 50; Option (B) final papers are worth up to 75; Option (A) final papers are worth up to 100 points. 70 points will be entered as the "base" score for the final paper assignment.

All papers (including outlines and rough drafts) MUST feature sections, content specific section headings, and bib/ref. sections and be submitted as WORD docs. Outlines and drafts without sections and section headings and without properly formatted evidence and bibliographic citations [including URLs for retrieving web materials at the point you found them] will receive a zero, will be returned without critical commentary, and the "late submission" clock will start running from the time I return the paper. Final papers without sections and section headings and without properly formatted evidence and bibliographic citations will receive a zero, without opportunity for redemption.

All sources should be carefully documented, and included in each assignment file, using the modified MLA style. I will specify a few modifications to MLA in a writing help file posted on Sakai.

Papers for the first two steps are reduced by one full letter grade per 24 hours after the due date/time for each portion (full sentence outline & rough draft). Only students with a documented, completed, graded, and returned, full sentence outline may turn in a rough draft; only students with a completed, graded, and returned, rough draft may turn in the final paper. The first two parts (outlines & drafts) will NOT be accepted more than 4 calendar days after the due date. If a paper is not turned in by then, you must drop the course or receive an "F." Students must complete the term paper assignment in order to pass the class. Skipping any of the three phases of the paper will result in course failure, regardless of point accumulation. Final papers will only be accepted on time, as scheduled.

Turn in .doc or .docx documents. Title the file (save or save as) according to the form"yourlastname_outline.docx" "yourlastname_draft.docx". Papers turned in with improper file names will be returned, ungraded and zero credit. I only accept WORD documents.

I'll set up assignments using "Turnitin" for submission of the draft and completed paper. Send the outline as an email attachment.

I use "iAnnotate" to embed marks and audio files in a .pdf that I return to you. You'll have to open that .pdf file on a laptop or desktop (the mobile or tablet versions of .pdf readers do not render the mark up--largley in audio--properly) using a current version of Adobe Reader. I have placed a one page sample file-- grading_test.pdf--on sakai. Be sure that you can see the mark up and hear the audio file NOW.

Don't forget that our library features kind and knowledgable librarians who are expert at suggesting effective and efficient research strategies for students working on papers. It's possible that the librarian at the reference desk, the moment you go in, might not be the most expert person in the area you are looking for. That person will often be able to refer to you a more expert librarian, when needed. Generally, however, they are all very good at pointing you in the right direction in your search for high quality support materials. Bradley provides these professionals as a resource for BU students. You should take advantage of their expertise. I guarantee that they can do a better search than you can . . . and therefore, they can help you do better searching than you would without their help. Also remember that, in many instances, print resources are superior to materials found online. Research materials found using our academic databases are far superior to resources found using a basic Google search.

Extra Credit: You may earn up to 50 extra credit points (in addition to the points for perfect attendance) by completing full sentence outlines of 5 chapters from the extra credit books (summaries will NOT be accepted; only full sentence outlines of individual chapters, up to five, at 10 points each, are acceptable. NO CREDIT FOR PREFACE, INTRODUCTION, FORWARD, OR CONCLUSION. "Regular" numbered chapters only). The extra credit work is due before 11:59, May 1, and may be turned in at a rate of no more than ONE PER WEEK (Sunday-Saturday). Plan ahead and do extra credit work along the way; do not leave it until the end.

You may miss up to 45 points worth of concept application notes and/or reading summaries/analysis over the course of the term without penalty. By being present and doing 100% of those assignments, you will earn "extra credit" when I subtract 45 points from the base of the final exam.

Texts:
Required:

Johnny Ryan, History of the Internet. Reaktion Books. 2010. [chapters 1-9, required]
Ken Auletta. Googled: The end of the world as we know it. Penguin, 2009/2010. [Be sure you get the version that contains an afterforward running 337-342 and 25 business maxims, 345-370].

OPTIONAL extra credit books: (optional means you DO NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE these!)

Lev Manovich. Software Takes Command. Bloomsbury, 2013 [free, online]
Robert McChesney. Digital Disconnect: How Capitalism is Turning the Internet Against Democracy. The New Press, 2013.
Andrew Blum. Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet, HarperCollins, 2012.
Joseph Turow. The Daily You: How the New Advertising Industry is Defining Your Identity and Your Worth. Yale UP, 2012.
Cathy N. Davidson. Now You See It: How the Brain Science of Attention Will Transform the Way We Live, Work, and Learn, Viking, 2011.
Jane McGonigal. Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Penguin Press, 2011.
Eli Pariser. The Filter Bubble: What the Internet Is Hiding from You. Penguin Press, 2011.
Nicholas Carr, The Shallows. Knopf, 2010.
Timothy Wu. The Master Switch. Knopf, 2010.
Johnny Ryan, History of the Internet. Reaktion Books, 2010. [chapters 10-13]
Polar Star Films, Google and the World Brain, 2010 (video, library 2 hour reserve)[outline review of this counts as 2]
David Kirkpatrick. The Facebook Effect. Simon & Schuster, 2009.
Nicholas Carr, The Big Switch. Norton, 2008.

Grading:

Reading Summaries/analysis (20@15):----------------300
Concept application notes (20@15):-------------300
Exam 1: (Concepts 1-10)--------------120
Exam 2: (Concepts 11-20)------------90 (at Final Exam Period)
Term Paper, Full sentence outline & bib:-------50
Term Paper rough draft & bib:---------------------70
Term Paper complete:------------------------------ 70
Total--------------------------------------------------1000 (final total could be more or less than 1,000; grades are based on percentages of final points possible)
A: 88.5%-100% B:88.4-78.5 C: 78.4-68.5 D: 68.4-58.5 F:<58.5

Special Considerations

You should sign in each class day. Failure to sign the roll sheet results in "missing" the day. Missing the day results in no scoring of the daily contributions

Concept application notes, summaries, extra credit, and papers are due as listed. No late materials will not be accepted/graded (with the exception of the 4 days-with-penalty, noted above, for the first two parts of the paper).

There is a Sakai site for grades and for your concept application notes, summaries, and class email.

Please do not use tobacco products in class. I am distracted by their use and will insist that you leave if you persist.

You may need to access the web during some of our class discussions. Bring laptop/device to class everyday. Once we are done with the portion of the class requiring web access, I will ask you to stow all electronics. If you want to take notes during class, you should use paper and writing instruments. I will not battle through constant distractions from non-class related use of electronic equipment. Once "I am done" with your use of electronics in class, "you are done." Additional use of electronic devices will meet with an invitation to leave class.

I do not use text messaging, so one student each day will be identified as the "designated emergency text message monitor" and will be asked to leave their cell phone on for this purpose. You must be registered with the BU emergency notificaction system to serve. Please help me identify this person in a timely fashion each day. All other cell phones should be turned to vibrate or off during class. If you must take a call during class, please come and go quietly.

All students are responsible to the same syllabus schedule, regardless of outside or BU-sponsored activities. I only accept materials early by agreement. Missing assignments must be thoroughly documented and arrangements made BEFORE THE CLASS IN QUESTION in order to qualify for exception. I award 45 bonus points at the end the term (by subtracting 45 from the base score for the final). Students with documented university-sponsored activities or illness MAY NOT reserve the value of the those bonus points. I expect ALL students to be able to function within the bonus range. As a result, if you are going to be absent, you do not need to tell me about it; you are simply eating into your bonus point allocation the first three times.

Students with BU-certified learning needs should contact me immediately. I've often worked with the BU Learning Assistance Center to facilitate learning. Arrangements must be initiated by the student, preferably at the start of the term. I can help connect you to the Center. However, without Center certification, I cannot make accommodations. The Center requires registration with the Center and "prior notice" for their services, including a minimum of 72 hours prior to exams.

Please do not call (home, 672-5878; cell 635-2605) after 8pm unless there is an emergency. I am often in my office (GCC 315; 677-2378). "Official" office hours are: Tues/Thursday, 10:30-11:30, and by appointment. My e-mail address is <ell@bradley.edu>; iChat & skype: dredleelam; Second Life: Professor Beliveau.

Policy regarding e-mail communication about grades:
As a matter of the Department of Interactive Media's policy to protect student privacy and in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, questions and concerns regarding grades must be presented in person or in a written letter. Instructors will not respond to questions and concerns communicated through e-mail or telephone calls regarding grades.

Policy regarding student absence due to an illness:
When missing classes and related assignments due to illness, it is the student's responsibility to provide documentation to verify the student's absence, unless the Office of the Associate Provost for Student Affairs informs an instructor of the basis for the absence. Students may sign an informational release form at Student Health; the document enables faculty to verify treatment at the Clinic.

Plagiarism merits an "F" on the activity and disciplinary action. DON'T copy the work of others and DO document sources properly. Turnitin is licensed by the university. Students are responsible for knowing the Bradley University policy available here: http://www.bradley.edu/academic/undergradcat/20102011/overview-archeating.dot. Information about Turnitin and plagiarism prevention is available on the Bradley Turnitin website --http://www.bradley.edu/irt/turnitin/

In accordance with University policies, the Department of Interactive Media does not condone the use of pirated software. Details of the University policies are articulated at <http://www.bradley.edu/irt/policies/5.04.html>; further, the Student Handbook, at item 6 <http://www.bradley.edu/campuslife/studenthandbook/policies/conduct/>, forbids the possession of stolen goods. Students in violation of these policies can expect enforcement via the university procedures regarding conduct.