CMST &102 Introduction to Mass Media (#4279) – Spring 2025- Lotze
Course Information
CMST &102 – Section 4279 Introduction to Mass Media –Spring 2025 – (5) Credit Hours - Hybrid
Instructor Information & Response Times
Sherry Lotze
Email: slotze@greenriver.edu
Response Time: Within 24 hours during normal business hours Monday – Thursday
Office Hours
Office hours are by appointment to accommodate students' schedules. Please email me in Canvas to arrange a ZOOM session at a time that is mutually convenient.
Special Note:
Please use Canvas for all email correspondence with me. Using Canvas protects your privacy, marks all emails with your full name, class and section number and notifies me that I have an email to read.
If using your GRC student email address (and not Canvas) please include:
Your full name and/or nickname you asked me to use
The class name (CMST& 102) Introduction to Mass Media
Subject Line that briefly describes your question or comment
I cannot respond to non-Green River email addresses.
Please do not email any assignments directly to me. Assignments submitted to me via email will not be accepted and will be deleted.
Assigned Texts & Required Course Materials
No outside text is required for this course.
Canvas access is required for course supplements, information, assignments, and submissions.
Internet and Other Tools
Access to Canvas
Reliable internet access for Canvas, YouTube, and Spotify
Technical Requirements
Here is what most students need in order to successfully take an online course, at a minimum:
Access to a computer at home or school
Ability to use Canvas (the Canvas Learning Management System)
The internet access speed should be very fast and preferably broadband
You should be comfortable with using email as well as email attachments
Able to save files in a variety of formats (.rtf, .docx, .jpg, .png, etc.)
Comfortable downloading needed software or plug-ins, such as Canva
Skilled at using Microsoft Word and word processing software for academic use
If you cannot do the above, then you are not a good fit for this hybrid class. I do not provide any technical support or assistance with any of the above; you will need to know how to do them. Take some training before this class if you must, but if you come to the class not knowing how to use and access Canvas or how to do the minimum requirements, above, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Course Description
CMST &102 – Introduction to Mass Media examines the explores the history, breadth, and impact of mass media on society. This class teaches and encourages students to move beyond being consumers of mass media to being critical participants in mass media. You will learn about the development and impact of mass media on a contemporary world by learning about, and how to be critical of, various forms of mass media in print, broadcast, and digital formats.
Modality Statement
This course is a hybrid course which means part of the class will be held in person in a classroom and part of the class will be online without a set time to attend. Classes will occur at the time listed in the class schedule (Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00–2:50 pm), in Salish Hall - SH 255. This class requires your engagement and participation in activities and assignments.
Learning Outcomes
Campus-Wide Outcomes
Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
Written communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.
Program Outcome
The Communication Studies department has determined that students should:
Create messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and context.
Course Outcomes & Assessments
Successful students should demonstrate the following by the end of the course.
Outcome
Assessment Method
Discuss the development of mass media historically and contemporarily.
Participation in class activities, written and creative assignments, and exams.
Explain the history and impact of mass media on society.
Participation in class activities, written and creative assignments, and exams.
Discuss major influences on the development, consumption, regulation, and impact of mass media.
Participation in class activities, written and creative assignments, and exams.
Explain the role of mass media on contemporary political, social, and economic contexts.
Participation in class activities, written and creative assignments, and exams.
Assignment Overview
Assignments and points are subject to change, to leave room for adjustment that best supports student learning. Please take responsibility for your education. Check Canvas to familiarize yourself with the assignment details, assessment criteria and due dates.
Discussions: One of the objectives of this course is to model competent (appropriate, effective and ethical) interpersonal communication. To that end, you will be provided with structured prompts based a variety of materials including videos, podcasts, assessments, and activities to help you make meaningful connections between concepts learned in this course and your personal life. You will be expected to model appropriate, effective and ethical interpersonal communication.
Class Participation: Class participation is an essential element of this course. Following activities, you will submit self evaluations reflecting on your participation.
Applied Media Project: As a culmination of what you've learned throughout the quarter, you will create a project applying relevant mass media concepts. Class discussions and personal experience will form the basis of this project; additional research is not required.
Online Written and Creative Assignments. You will be provided with prompts to help you make meaningful connections between concepts learned in this course and your personal media experience. You will apply insights from course discussion, activities and readings to your real-life media experience.
Quizzes The quizzes are based on the text for the course consisting and designed to assess the learning objectives for the module. The due dates for quizzes and other information listed in the assignment section on Canvas. You have 1 attempt for each quiz with no time limit.
Please do not email any assignments directly to me. Assignments will be submitted in Canvas. Proper instructions and submission requirements are provided when the assignment is made and available on Canvas. Assignments submitted to me via email will not be accepted and will be deleted.
Participation
A hybrid class is not a “work at your own pace” class. You have attendance requirements each week to be an active participant in the group discussions (and avoid failing the course).
Participation is essential in this course. Your presence in class is vital for group success. If you fail to participate in discussions, fail to respond to others, you miss the community building aspect of this course – and you will not pass. Supportive, thoughtful involvement enhances your learning and provides crucial support for other students.
If you find something is holding you back from completing assignments, you need to let me know (such as an emergency, an accident, serious illness, etc.). I can provide assistance if I know about things in advance (proactive) rather than afterwards (reactive). I need to hold you to the deadlines and assignments in the class, but extenuative circumstances sometimes occur. (But just being unprepared is not an extenuating circumstance!)
I am able to track when you log on, for how long, and what you do in Canvas. Thus, if you tell me that you logged on for two hours a day, it’s pretty easy to verify.
If you have not participated for three weeks (not consecutively, but throughout the quarter), I will do my best to notify you that you are about to fail the course and that you should probably withdraw. A withdrawal is always better than a failing grade.
Attendance
I take attendance for administrative purposes and record keeping. Your attendance is based upon your logging statistics from Canvas (when you log in, how long you’re logged in, etc.).
Late Work
All work is due before the date and time posted on Canvas. You are responsible for meeting the deadlines for assignments and quizzes as listed in the Canvas. Late work will not be accepted without prior approval.
*Discussion posts and replies must be made on time and are not eligible for a late assignment request.
Extra Credit
Extra credit opportunities are assignment-based and include attending the Public Speaking Center, the Writing Center, and consults with the GRC Reference Librarians. Opportunities for extra credit are explained and a part of specific assignments, with more information provided with those handouts.
The philosophy behind extra credit is that it offers an opportunity for students to learn more about the discipline to further their interests in that field of study. Extra credit is not an entitlement, especially to make up for missed assignments, lack of responsibility for meeting deadlines, or poor academic performance.
You may accumulate up to 15 extra points during the quarter.
Online Communication and Learning
My Commitment
I am committed to communicating with you throughout this class. Our shared communication is vital since I will not likely see you in person. Therefore, I am online frequently. I am available by email weekdays, and I will meet with you through ZOOM to support your learning. My goal is to respond to you within 24 hours during the weekdays.
Your Commitment
I expect that you will be online frequently for an online course. You should check the Canvas course daily, and your Canvas email at least every 48 hours. You should check your Canvas email or your @mail.greenriver.edu student email account every 24 hours during weeks that we have a major assignment due.
Learning in an Hybrid Course
Your Canvas course is set-up weekly Modules, which are designed to give you a multifaceted and thorough learning experience. Each week, you should start by checking the module for that week to see what you need to complete.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
I reserve the right, based on my assessment of your assignment with or without AI detection software support, to require you to revise and resubmit all or parts of the assignment if I conclude or suspect that you have not used AI appropriately.
If I suspect that you have used AI inappropriately (e.g. used and not included citation, reflection is sketchy, etc.), we will meet in person or virtually to talk about the assignment. This conversation will include knowledge checks for course content.
Use Limitations for AI*
You are discouraged from using AI tools to generate content (text, video, audio, images) that will end up in any of your work (assignments, activities, responses, etc) that is part of your evaluation in this course. When you are unsure, please ask BEFORE using an AI tool (there are ways of referencing this both in-text and on a references page). Any work you submit using AI tools should clearly indicate what work is your and what work, and what part of that work, is generated by AI. In such cases, no more than 5% of your work should be generated by AI. If any part of this is confusing or uncertain, please reach out to me for a conversation before submitting your work.
If you do use AI, you must clearly identify the use of AI-based tools in your work. Any work that utilizes AI-based tools must be clearly marked as such, including the specific tool(s) used. For example, if you use ChatGPT-3, you must cite "ChatGPT-3. (YYYY, Month DD of query). "Text of your query." Generated using OpenAI.
You must not use AI-based tools to cheat on assignments.
If you use AI inappropriately based on these guidelines and expectations, that is a violation of my academic honesty policies detailed in the early part of this policy description. If you have questions or are unsure of what you can or cannot do based on these policies, reach out to me to discuss before it becomes an issue.
Grading Scale
Please use Canvas to keep track of your grades through the quarter.
Scores will be updated on Canvas, but not always in a timely manner, so please keep track of your own grades, participation, and attendance. Your grades are calculated at the end of the quarter for submission to registration.
Your GPA in Canvas may be misleading! Any missed or incomplete assignments are not “zeroed out” until the end of the quarter. Therefore, your grade may appear higher than it actually is.
Grading Statement: Grades will be assigned according to the course grade breakdown (see below). The total points earned as a percentage of the total points possible will determine a student’s final course grade.
Grading Scale
Decimal (%) grade
Scale Grade
Description
96 - 100 4.0
Superior knowledge of subject. Ability to teach subject. Very few errors. Can work with little supervision in subject area.
94 - 95 3.9
93 3.8
92
3.7
91
3.6
90
3.5
89
3.4
88
3.3
87
3.2
Above average knowledge of subject. Able to help others. Works with some supervision in subject. Few errors. Strives to improve.
86
3.1
85
3.0
84
2.9
83
2.8
82
2.7
81
2.6
80
2.5
79
2.4
Acceptable knowledge of subject. Understands the subject.
Some errors.
78
2.3
77
2.2
76
2.1
75
2.0
74
1.9
Knowledge and competency with only some areas of subject. Needs assistance to complete work
73
1.8
72
1.7
71
1.6
70
1.5
69
1.4
Problems with time issues, effort,
comprehension, and/or knowledge
68
1.3
67 1.2
66 1.1
65 1.0
Please review the information in the following link. If you need course accommodations. develop an accommodation plan with a counselor in Disability Support Services and then meet with me to discuss the program.
Course Policies, Procedures, and Resources utilized by every Green River College Course
This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by contacting Disability Support Services at 253-833-9111, ext. 2631; TTY 253-288-3359; or by email at dss@greenriver.edu.Green River College is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Learn more at www.greenriver.edu/accessibility.