IM 355 Interactive Media Theories, Concepts, and Practices

Spring 2023

(B) Concept Analysis

Concept Analyses [21] are posted to Assignments on CANVAS.

Each class day that we deal with the (21) course concepts, you will post a (roughly) 900 word analysis to CANVAS Assignments.

DO NOT ATTACH a DOCX, LINK TO A FILE or LINK TO A CLOUD SERVER. Type or copy/paste your contribution into the CANVAS assignment text box. You cannot see others' reading analysis work until after you post your contribution.

One analysis per concept as assigned. Concept assignments are due by 11:59pm the night of the class day on the syllabus schedule. Concept analysis submitted later than 11:59am on the day after the due day receive no more than 1/2 credit and will NOT be graded if I have completed grading of the assignment and notified the class to that effect.

A word of advice: Many students report watching the concept videos at 2X speed or multitasking while watching/listening. It's really easy to miss key points/information that way. I DO NOT RECOMMEND 2X viewing.

Each Concept Analysis has 3 parts. Number and label each part of your answer. Insert a line break between the sections.

1) Summarize the concept.
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. Do not use bullets or outlines. I need for you to show, clearly, that you understand the concept by, first, being able to describe it. Many of the Concepts have subparts for summary. HOWEVER, NEVER SUMMARIZE ARTICLES THAT I LINK OUT TO AS EXAMPLES.

For example, in Concept One, you are expected to summarize/describe:
a) the nature of mediums (what makes a medium?)
b) the effects continuum (what are the three perspectives?)
c) the three approaches to the relationship between the medium and the message (so I can tell you know the names of their proponents and which approach belongs to who)

2) Summarize the assigned article.
After summarizing the concept, briefly summarize the assigned article. Concept applications must be drawn from the article I indicate at the bottom of the concept notes. Most readings are from the New York Times. BU provides a free subscription. In order to prolong/renew your own NYT access, you may need to visit nyt.bradley.edu and follow the instructions for "Returning Users." Problems? Contact the help desk. Some concepts offer more than one article to select. If/when a choice is offered, ONLY DO ONE and clearly indicate which by including the full title of the article at the start of part 2 of your answer.

3) Either (a) Analyze the concept with the article: What does the article tell/show us about the concept? OR (b) Analyze the article with the concept: What does the concept highlight about the article?

You do NOT have to apply the article to the entire concept (many have multiple parts) or the entire concept to the article. Only use the most appropriate part of the concept.

Special warnings:

First, this assignment does NOT call for third summary. Be sure that part 3 of your answer is an analytical application that integrates the concept and article. Do not merely repeat parts of your summaries (parts 1 & 2).

Second, do not write: "the article applies to the concept because they are about the same thing(s)" or "the article is an example of the concept." I know those two things; I selected the article because it relates to the concept. The question is: What do the two tell us about each other?

In writing, mark each of the three steps and separate them by line spaces. Your answer should have three discreet parts. Please label each part:

1) Concept X summary:

2) Summary of (title if there's a choice) the article:

3) What do the concept and article tell us about each other?

Do not expect me to "know what you mean" if you only write "about it" rather than specifying what "it" is.

Let’s assume your concept application notes should always use these words (or words like them)

1: “the part of the concept that most applies says that m m m m mm m m m m mm.”
Quote it, specifically.

2: “in relation to that, the article shows that cxxccxcccccccccccc.”
Quote it, specifically.

3: Now describe and discuss what you find interesting about those two aspects being together. What is shown? What fits? What doesn’t fit? What is a variation? What’s right on target? What does one learn? etc.

You cannot see concept application notes until after you post your work. Always keep a copy for your records.

-Do not use any of the examples or illustrations that I use in lecture or that appear in chapters from the books that we read.

-Each Concept Analyses is due before 11:59pm the day the concept is listed on the syllabus.

Analyses will receive a 1 (completed) or 0 (not completed). I will explain "the issues" with an "0" score. You would then have 24 hours to revise an analysis receiving an 0; the 24 hours begins when you get my explanation for the 0.

Always keep a copy, with machine-generated date/time, for your records.