New Media Environments
Honors Core IV / Spring 2008
University of Central Arkansas
Instructor : Terry Wright
Office : Thompson 316
Office Phon e: 450-5108
Email : terryw@uca.edu
Web Page : http://faculty.uca.edu/~terryw/

Office Hours :
M: 10:00-11:00, 2:00-3:00
TU: 11:00-12:30
W: 10:00-11:00, 2:00-3:00
TH: 11:00-12:00
F: 10:00-11:00
Other times are available by appointment.

Course Description:
The course will examine some of the forms, theories, applications, and implications of the mass media and explore how it shapes culture, society, values, intelligence, and consciousness. Some of the general areas to be addressed are: media and popular culture, media and society, media and reality, media and film/television/video, media and art, media and violence, media and privacy, textuality in cyberspace, cybersex, print vs. the visual image, and other topics.

Texts and Materials:
The texts for the class are: Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman, No Sense of Place by Joshua Meyrowitz, and Convergence Culture by Henry Jenkins. Other readings will be in the form of hand-outs. You should also buy and maintain a pocket folder. Throughout the semester, you should keep all hand-outs, papers, rough drafts, and the like in this folder for easy access.

Course Policies :
Your grade will be determined by several written response papers. 10% of your grade will be factored by daily reading quizzes.

Your regular class attendance and reasonable class participation are both non-negotiable criteria for successfully completing the course.

Other Expectations and Qualifiers:

*It should go without saying that all work must be completed to successfully pass the course, and that assigned papers must be turned in on time.

*Please turn off all cell phones, beepers, iPods, and other electronic devices during class. Do not bring pets to class. You may bring well-behaved children to class, as long as you remember the course content is geared for adults.

*When typing assigned papers, please double-space and leave adequate margins. These considerations leave ample room for your last-minute revisions and for my comments.

*The reading demands for this class are fairly exacting but not unreasonable for Honors students. I do expect you to do the reading and to show up for class prepared to discuss, analyze, praise, swoon over, rebuke, trash, or otherwise confront the material at hand. I strongly encourage you to actively participate in class discussions. The course functions best as an open forum, and the more ideas we can generate, the more alternatives and strategies we can use when contemplating and composing writing assignments. I prefer not to be merely a television set designed for passive amusement.

*Since the written work we do will be in essay form, I cannot grade and return your papers as quickly as I could if they were “objective” tests, if they were computer-gradable, or if I had an assistant to do the grading. I personally read each paper that you write, and I work steadily to grade and return papers within a reasonable amount of time.

Inclement Weather Policy:
It is the policy of the University of Central Arkansas to usually not close because of bad weather. However, if getting to class involves a reasonable risk of personal injury or damage to property, you should use your own discretion about the feasibility of attending classes under such conditions. I commute to class; therefore, if the roads are not passable, you can generally assume that I will not be having class.

Sexual Harassment Policy:
Sexual harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both law and University policy and will not be tolerated. Please read the pages in your Student Handbook for the policy, definition, and procedures concerning sexual harassment.

Disability Policy:
The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.

Other Policies :
You should familiarize yourself with all academic policies in your Student Handbook , including policies on plagiarism/academic dishonesty.

Special Problems:
If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your course work, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Contact the University Counseling Center (Bernard Hall 313) at 450-3138.

An online copy of this course description is also available at my campus web site. In fact, you are reading it right now.