Communications 393: Senior Portfolio
Benedictine University at Springfield
Fall Semester 2008
http://www.sci.edu/classes/ellertsen/masscom/comm393syllabus.html
"We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape us." -- Marshall McLuhan, author, Understanding Media, 1964
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What makes a good newspaperman? The
answer is easy. He knows everything. He is aware of what goes on in the world
today, but his brain is the repository of the accumulated wisdom of the ages.
... When he dies, a lot of people are sorry, and some remember him for several
days." -- Stanley Walker, city editor,
The New York Herald Tribune, 1924
Communications 393 is a one-hour course in which graduating seniors will assemble a portfolio of their best work and write a self-reflective essay on what they have learned as communication arts students at Benedictine. No class meetings are scheduled, but students must meet with the instructor on a regular basis in order to receive credit in the course. Instructor is Pete Ellertsen, Becker L-16a, telephone 525-1420x519. e-mail: pellertsen@sci.edu. Office hours TBA. Home: 545 Feldkamp, Springfield, IL 62704. tel. 793-2587.
I. Course Description.
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II. Textbooks.The style set out in "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual" is used in all written material. Readings on the World Wide Web are indicated below in the Tentative Calendar. Before writing the self-reflective essay, you should consult the assignment sheet on reflective essays linked to my faculty page. You will find other good ideas for the essay by reading the exit presentation guidelines for graduating communications majors at Columbus State University in Mississippi; while we use a written format instead of an interview, the guidelines will suggest things you can ask yourself as you think back over your career at Benedictine.
In preparing a job search portfolio that will get you results, I especially recommend the following websites:
III. Mission statement of Benedictine University. Benedictine dedicates itself to the education for the undergraduate and graduated students from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As academic community committed to liberal arts and professional education distinguished and guided by its Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage - the University prepares its students for a lifetime as active, informed and responsible citizens and leaders in the world Community.
IV. Goals, objectives and outcomes.
The main objective of COMM 393 is to help you put together a professional job search portfolio showcasing your best work as a communications major at Benedictine. Other goals and objectives for the course are the same as the program goals and objectives for the major. In preparing your senior portfolio, you will write an essay reflecting back on what you have learned as a communication arts major at Benedictine and compile copies of your best work. In the self-reflective essay, you should be discuss your progress in terms of the specific program objectives of the Communication Arts program listed below. And the work product, or artifacts, that you include in the portfolio should give evidence of your mastery of the factual knowledge and competencies set out in the program objectives listed below:
Courses in communication arts are designed to:
1. Prepare graduates for careers in advertising, electronic and print media, journalism, public relations, publishing, writing or other careers requiring sophisticated communications skills;
2. Prepare graduates for continued study in graduate or professional school;
3. Develop the student's critical and imaginative thinking, reading and writing skills;
4. Develop skills to empower the student to communicate ideas effectively, through speaking, writing and the use of technology;
5. Develop skills for critical interpretation of the media;
6. Foster aesthetic understanding in both production and interpretation of media texts;
7. Develop knowledge of the methods to make responsible social and personal decisions;
8. Develop primary and secondary research methodologies;
9. Develop an understanding of the history, structure and operation of the mass media;
10. Provide an understanding of the impact of mass media industries and messages on the individual, society and culture;
11. Develop professional-level skills in written and oral communication for a variety of media and audiences;
12. Develop professional-level production skills for both print and electronic media;
13. Encourage the development of creative expression; and
14. Help the student develop a professional media portfolio.These objectives are taken from the program description in the Benedictine University-Lisle catalog. If you plan to go on to law school, you should consult the program description for other recommended coursework.
V. Teaching Methods. No meetings of the class as a group are scheduled. But students will meet with the instructor at least once a month and communicate with him by email at least once a week.
VI. Course Requirements.
A. Attendance Policy. See Section V above. Failure to communicate regularly with the instructor will hurt your grade.
B. Reading Assignments. Please see the Tentative Calendar below.
C. Written Assignments. The following is a list of portfolio requirements for students graduating in Communication Arts. Some of these requirements can be met through classroom work, such as the major research paper. Advertising artifacts most likely will come from classroom assignments. Other artifacts must be published (i.e., exist in a tangible form and be distributed or transmitted for public consumption). Works that meet the publication requirements can come from the following sources: The Sleepy Weasel, The Bulldog, an off-campus publication, your internship, or a legitimate work-related experience. Your portfolio must include at least one piece of work (artifact) from each of the following categories:
You may submit additional publications or work product with the portfolio. Remember it is designed to showcase your best work. You are required to turn in two hard-copy (paper) copies of the portfolio to me; I will grade one and return it to you, and I will file the other for possible inspection by outside stakeholders in connection with the university's student learning outcomes assessment program. You will also want to keep copies, both on paper and electronic, for yourself. One purpose of the senior portfolio course is to give you a head start on the portfolios you will maintain as media professionals for job interviews and career advancement.
In addition, you will be required to write a self-reflective essay 10 to 12 pages in length, in which you reflect on your experience as a communications major at Benedictine in terms of: (1) your progress toward developing or furthering your career goals; (2) your understanding of the profession, its ethics and its role in society.
VI. Means of Evaluation. Your final grade will be based on; (1) the quality of your self-reflective essay, including thoughtfulness and the quality of specific information you cite in support of the points you make; and (2) how complete and professional your portfolio is.
Overall learning outcomes for students majoring in the Communication Arts program will be assessed in light of: (a) professional values; (b) professional competencies; and (c) program goals and objectives. The instructor's grading scale is as follows: A = 100-90. B = 89-80. C = 79-70. D = 69-60. F = 59-0. You must attain a grade of B or better in COMM 393.
Academic Integrity Statement.
Academic and professional environments require honesty and integrity, and these qualities are expected of every student at Springfield College-Benedictine University. In accordance with such expectations, academic integrity requires that you credit others for their ideas. Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is a grievous offense. Any time you use words or ideas that are not your own, you must give credit to the author, whether or not you are quoting directly from that author. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism.Any incident of plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty may result in serious consequences. Penalties for academic dishonesty vary depending on the severity or extent of the problem but are always serious.
The following are consequences you may face for academic dishonesty:
• a failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
• dismissal from and a failing grade for the course; or
• dismissal from the Institution.
Please refer to the Springfield College Benedictine University Catalog or the Student Handbook for a complete discussion of the Academic Integrity policy.
Professionals in the communications industry are held to even higher standards of ethics. Plagiarism can result in immediate termination from a job; if published works are plagiarized, the offense often involves copyright infringement, which is a violation of federal law. A standard legal reference defines plagiarism as “[t]he deliberate and knowing presentation of another person's original ideas or creative expressions as one's own” and explains: “Generally, plagiarism is immoral but not illegal. If the expression's creator gives unrestricted permission for its use and the user claims the expression as original, the user commits plagiarism but does not violate copyright laws. If the original expression is copied without permission, the plagiarist may violate copyright laws, even if credit goes to the creator. …" 8 Black's Law Dictionary 1187 (2004).The instructor's grading scale
is as follows: A = 100-90. B = 89-80. C = 79-70. D = 69-60. E = 59-0. Please note, the letter grade of “E” has been changed to a letter grade of “F.”
Grade Appeal Process.
According to the Springfield College Catalog, grade appeals must be initiated 90 days prior to the end of one semester after the course in question has been completed. The process for appealing a grade is outlined below.First, contact the Instructor.
1.A student must appeal to his/her instructor in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed.
2.The instructor must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the division chair.
Second, contact the Division Chair.
3.If the student wishes, he/she may then appeal to the division chair in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed without the instructor’s permission. The student should understand that overwhelming evidence must be presented to the division chair to prove that the current grade is incorrect.
4. The division chair must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the academic dean.
Lastly, contact the Academic Dean.
5. If the student wishes, he/she may appeal to the academic dean in writing (e- mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed without the instructor’s or the division chair’s permission. The student should understand that overwhelming evidence must be presented to the academic dean to prove the grade is incorrect.
6. The academic dean must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable). The academic dean’s decision is final.
Add/Drop Dates. Last day to add courses is Aug. 22. Last day to drop a course without a "W" is Aug. 22. Last day to drop courses is Oct. 24.
Incomplete Request. To qualify for an “I” grade, a minimum of 75% of the course work must be completed with a passing grade, and a student must submit a completed Request for an Incomplete form to the Registrar’s Office. The form must be completed by both student and instructor, but it is the student’s responsibility (not the instructor’s) to initiate this process and obtain the necessary signatures.
Student Withdrawal Procedure. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by completing the appropriate form, with appropriate signatures, and returning the completed form to the Advising Office. Please refer to the Student Handbook for important financial information related to withdrawals.
VII. Course Outline and Calendar.
VIII. Americans with Disabilities Act. benedictine University at Springfield College in Illinois provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, actives and services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should contact the Director of the Resource Center as early as possible.
IX. Assessment. Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this syllabus. Instructor will use the reflective essays and other assessment techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide continuous improvement of instruction. Students are required to take part in all assessment measures.