Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 300"
COURSE NAME: "Foundations in Critical Media Studies"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Helton Levy
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: COM 220. Recommended: COM 311.
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The aim of this course is to map and explore the canonical scholarship and central research methods in critical media and cultural studies to prepare students to perform advanced and evidence-based media analysis and research. By highlighting key themes and methodologies of the field, the course synthesizes themes from lower-level communications and media studies courses to provide a foundation for advanced study in media. The course applies approaches to inquiry and research practice that students will encounter in a range of courses offered by the program.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Research Methods in Media and Communications aims to introduce students to the use of social, creative, and digital research methods. The course is designed to provide undergraduate students with the appropriate level of knowledge to afford critical appreciation of theoretical frameworks in media and communications. This module encompasses reflective and practical sessions that enable student engagement with the distinct phases of social research, from reading and reviewing literature to structuring academic and creative works.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

The course builds on the following skills: 1) the ability to survey, read, and organize academic and creative knowledge for further research; 2) the employment of relevant research methods in media and communications, 3) the research following the best academic practice. The course will eventually strengthen the student’s understanding of both practical and theoretical principles that ground evidence-based research.

Based on theoretical debates and an assortment of case studies, the module will adopt a “flipped classroom” approach. This approach ensures that students engage critically with the recommended material and produce their takes, texts, and projects using the most appropriate methods. The course unearths students’ research interests while helping them at applying techniques that are compatible with their learning stage.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

· appreciate social and creative research methods as a necessary stage for organizing and fortifying the production of knowledge;

· observe necessary steps during the production of academic and creative pieces, including dissertations, essays, and think-pieces;

· improve academic and creative writing based on principles of reflection, citation, and dissertation;

· produce an inventory of existing literature and theoretical frameworks focusing on topics of their interests while aimed at academic production;

· identify methodological opportunities that contribute to their improvement as readers, students, and professionals.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Format
The SAGE Handbook of Online Research Methods.	Fielding, N. Lee, R. & Blank, G.	Sage	978-1473918788	Ebook
Visual Methodologies; An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials	Rose, G.	Sage	978-1473948907	Ebook
Doing Your Research Project	Bell, J and Waters, S.	McGraw-Hill Education	9780335264476	Ebook

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Research projects (final coursework)	A piece of research consisting of Literature Review, Research Questions, Methods, Timeline, and preliminary results sections. Students must choose the topic during the first weeks of the course and the work will be supervised by the professor across the course.	35
Literature Review (midterm)	Students must write a literature review based on a topic of their interest. This assignment should be a stepping stone for the group research project.	25
Compliance with academic practices	Students must demonstrate their knowledge and application of best academic practices such as writing, presentation, and citation.	35
Attendance and participation	Students are expected to attend lectures and be responsive to exercises, readings, and assignments.	15

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Prerequisite: COM 220. Recommended: COM 311

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

The schedule will be covering the topics below. The final order and respective readings will be informed on Moodle.

Part 1 - Introduction to media and communication research methods

Week 1: Defining academic research: Reading, writing, and citing

Week 2 – Your research journey: Finding arguments, theoretical frameworks

Week 3 – Finding topics and sources: What’s a literature review?

Part 2 – Using sources

Week 4: Defining quality sources, weighing data

Week 5 – Closing your literature review

Week 6 – Defining your project

Review and wrap-up of the topics seen above. Student presentation of topics.

Part 3 – Using methods

Week 7: What are qualitative methods? (Discourse analysis, narrative studies, interviews, focus groups)

Week 8 – What are visual methods (Visual analysis, semiotics, visual repertoire)?

Week 9: What are quantitative methods? (Content analysis, surveys, questionnaires)

Part 4 – Structuring a research project and results

Week 10 - Building your argument and seeing limitations

Week 11: Working on results or reflections

Week 12 - Reporting your research (writing reports, essays)

Week 13 – Exploring new formats: Social media, blogs, and posters

Week 14 – Research review and presentation

Student final presentation, professor feedback and lessons learnt.