SYLLABUS

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 201 TW – Fall 2007
York College of The City University of New York
T, R 6 – 7:15p.m. AC – 4M05

Professor Jen Heuson
Email: jheuson@york.cuny.edu or jenheuson@yahoo.com
Office hours: R 3 – 3:50 – Room 4G03
Course Website: http://ct201york.blogspot.com/

Course Description: Introduce the fundamental principles of communication technology by closely examining multiple technologies and the past and present ways they are used to communicate.

Course Objectives: This is a designated Writing Intensive (WI) course. Throughout the term, students will: 1) acquire an understanding of communication technology and its connection to society and culture; 2) view and discuss works crucial to the history of communication technology; 3) analyze the formal and stylistic elements of communication technology through writing; and 4) engage in discussions of aesthetic value and ethics.

Required Texts:

• Straubhaar, Joseph and Robert LaRose. (2006). Media now: Understanding media, culture, and technology (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
• Hacker, Diana. (2007). A Writer’s Reference. (6th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
• A companion website is available here.
  

Course Requirements and Grading:

• Writing Assignments (40%) – This is a writing intensive course. Students are required to write two informal essays of 3 pages (10% each) and one formal essay of 6 – 8 pages (20%). To receive a passing grade, students must: 1) complete a draft; 2) participate in a class workshop; and 3) submit a final, revised essay. All essays must use APA style to document sources. Topics and detailed writing requirements will be given in class. See Course Schedule for due dates.

• Online Reading Journal (10%) – Students will post 10 entries to the class website (URL above). Each entry must answer the posed question and be 7 – 10 sentences long. Entries are due the following class day (see Course Schedule).

• Pecha Kucha (10%) – Students will design, record and present a Pecha Kucha show of 6 minutes. The project will be completed in groups of 2 or 3. Students will be graded on the CONTENT, DESIGN and PRESENTATION of their project. (see Course Schedule for dates).

• Exams (20%) – A midterm and a final exam will be given. Exams cannot be rescheduled. Missing an exam will result in a zero grade.

• Participation/Attendance (20%) – Students are expected to complete assigned readings and participate in class discussions, trips and film screenings. A student who is more than 15 minutes late to class will not be permitted to enter. More than two absences OR three tardy days will result in failure of the course.

Students must have an email account and be able to regularly access the class blog and text companion website. Students will be required to view media outside of class AND to attend field trips. Missing a field trip will count as an absence.