RTV 1335, INTRODUCTION TO BROADCASTING, SPRING 2011

DR. JOHN MARK DEMPSEY

PAC 101
OFFICE PHONE: (903) 886-5345
HOME PHONE: (903) 886-7708
E-MAIL: jm_dempsey@tamu-commerce.edu
OFFICE HOURS: TUESDAY AND THURSDAY, 2-5 P.M.

COURSE INFORMATION

Text: Heads Broadcasting in America. McGregor, Driscoll and McDowell, tenth edition. On
reserve in the library.

Course Description: Provide the student with information on the origin, operation, organization,
history and philosophy of broadcasting in the United States and the world.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be knowledgeable about the history and foundations
of U.S. broadcasting and other electronic media. As consumers of television, radio and the
Internet, students will learn how these forms of communications affect their daily lives. Radio-TV
majors will be better able to make choices in the career field.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Tests: Tests will cover all material presented in class, including chapter discussions, instructor
lectures, guest appearances, videos, articles and more. The tests will be comprised of 25-50
questions.

You will use a Scantron 882-E form (available at the bookstores) to take the test.

The first test will be within the first few days or class and will cover the syllabus. The tentative
dates for the other tests (subject to change) will be February 9, March 9, April 13 and May 4.

CHEATING ON TESTS (OR ANY OTHER CLASS ASSIGNMENT) WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT YOU ARE CHEATING, THE GRADE FOR THAT
TEST/ASSIGNMENT WILL BE AN F.

Group Project:

Students will be organized into small groups, and prepare a report to be presented in class on a
particular person or event important in the history of broadcasting.

The report will include these items:
An oral presentation in class. The person who delivers the oral presentation should be
knowledgeable and well-prepared.
A PowerPoint presentation. Another brand of visual software may be used, but some sort
of visual presentation capable of being shown with the overhead projector should be
prepared. A good visual presentation will include photos and/or other artwork relevant to
the topic, and will be free of spelling and grammatical errors. If you are not familiar with
PowerPoint and other visual-presentation software, you can get help at the A&M
Commerce Writing Center in Room 103 of the Hall of Languages.

Writing Center web address:

http://web.tamu-
commerce.edu/academics/colleges/artsSciences/departments/literatureLanguages/writing
Center/default.aspx

A works cited list containing at least 10 sources. Sources should be from books,
magazine or newspaper articles, or reliable Internet sources (for example, Wikipedia is not
an acceptable source). The list should be in proper APA or MLA style.

A few examples of proper citations:
Book:
Smith, R.N. (1984). An Uncommon Man: The Triumph of Herbert Hoover. New York:
Simon and Schuster.

Article:
Toroian, D. (2002, December 13). Stations here defend policy on ads about weight loss. St.
Louis Post-Dispatch, A-1.

Internet

Hollywood Cleans Up Its Act, Says New Study on Changing Rates of Sex and Violence.
(2002, Spring). Media Report to Women 30 (2): 1. Retrieved July 20, 2005 from
http://www.mediareporttowomen.com/issues/302.htm. (NOTE: This article has no given
author, and so the citation begins with the title of the article.)

A link to a page on APA style:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html

and MLA style:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

Also, the following site will take the vital information from the source (author, title, publisher,
year, etc.) and create a proper ALA or MLA end note for you:

http://www.citationmachine.net/

In addition, an example of a good term paper using proper APA or MLA style is posted on
my faculty web page.

I suggest that, at a minimum, each member of the group contribute two or three sources to the
paper. The list should be included in the PowerPoint presentation, and a hard copy should
also be submitted to me. LISTS OF WEB ADDRESSES WITH NO ARTICLE TITLES,
AUTHORS, NAME OR PUBLICATION, PAGE NUMBERS, ETC. WILL BE UNACCEPTABLE.

Projects receiving an A will include good video clips related to the topic via YouTube or
some other source. (However, including video clips does not insure an A.) Select clips
that run three minutes or less, or use only the best part of a longer clip.

You should provide three true/false or multiple choice questions on your topic to be
distributed to the class. Please make enough copies for the entire class and for me. DO
NOT MAKE COPIES ON LESS THAN A HALF-SHEET OF PAPER. These questions may
be used on the next test. Include the correct answers with the test questions.
The in-class presentation should last no more than 10 minutes. You will probably find that
10 minutes goes by faster than you think it will.

Available subjects/topics:
Guglielmo Marconi (and the invention of wireless)
Philo Farnsworth (and the invention of television)
Edwin Howard Armstrong (and his contributions to radio)
David Sarnoff (and the music-box memo)
Herbert Hoover (his role in the history of broadcasting)
Edward R. Murrow (and network TV news)
Walter Cronkite (and network TV news)
Gordon McLendon (and Top 40 radio)
Ed Sullivan (and TV variety shows)
Flip Wilson (and minorities in broadcasting)
Bill Cosby (and minorities in broadcasting)
Oprah Winfrey (and minorities and women in TV)
Carol Burnett (and women in TV)
Mary Tyler Moore (and women in TV)
Johnny Carson (and The Tonight Show)
Ted Turner (and cable TV)
YouTube (and the future of on-line video)
ESPN (and the history/future of televised sports)
Morality/Ethics in news and program content: Is there a line to cross?
Product Placement the art of the subtle sell
The Commercial where science and art meet
Personal Broadcasting Options
Facebook (social media and its impact on broadcasting)

I will consider other topics but I must approve them in advance.

Grading of group project

Each member of the group will rate the other members on their contributions, using a form
that the instructor will provide. Likewise, the class will rate each group on its presentation.
Each students grade for the project will be based 25 percent on the inner group rating, 25
percent on the class rating of the group presentation, and 50 percent on the instructors
evaluation.

Instructors Grading standard:

A (100) EXCEPTIONAL; also, on-time, meets all described standards.
A (95) -- on-time, meets all described standards.
B (85) on-time, not more than one variance from the described standards.
C (75) on-time, two or three variances from the described standards.

A D will be given to any project that does not include three test questions.

An F will be given to any project that does not include a complete PowerPoint presentation and a
list of sources using APA or MLA style.

If the project is late and has more than one variance from the described standards, the highest
possible grade will be 60.

Inner-group form

Student being rated:

Contribution to obtaining of sources (1-5):

Participation in group activities (1-5):

Completion of tasks assigned to student (1-5):

Cooperativeness (1-5):

Overall contribution on a scale of 1-5 (1 low, 5 high):

Student doing the rating (this will be kept private):





Class-rating form:

Group number, date and topic:

Quality of oral presentation on a scale of 1-5 (1 low, 5 high):

Quality of PowerPoint or other visual presentation (1-5):

Interesting and informative report (1-5):

Overall rating (1-5):



Attendance: Students with three or fewer unexcused absences will receive a full ten points on
the 100 point scale. THIS IS NOT EXTRA CREDIT. Those with more than three unexcused
absences will receive 0 points. (See Course and University Procedures/Policies below.)

Those with more than three unexcused absences may choose to write a five-page research paper
with a minimum of 10 sources in APA or MLA style on The most influential person in the history of
broadcasting. The maximum number of points for the paper will be 10, with fewer points awarded
based on the grade received for the paper. The student must request to write the paper, and
further details will be provided at that time, if necessary. Papers will be due at 5 p.m., Monday,
May 2.

GRADING COMPONENTS:
Tests (5 x 14%) 70%
Group project 20%
Attendance 10%

Any work (including a test) that is completed late without an excused absence is subject to
a penalty of 10 points. After more than one week, the penalty will be 25 points.


COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT

Behavior: Students are expected at all times to recognize constituted authority, to conform to the
ordinary rules of good conduct, to be truthful, to respect the rights of others, to protect private and
public property, and to make the best use of their time toward an education. -- Texas A&M
University System Student Rights and Obligations

All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable
behavior conducive to a positive learning environment. (See Students Guide Handbook, Policies
and Procedures, Conduct) -- Texas A&M University-Commerce Procedures,12.01.99.R0.05
Guidelines for Content and Distribution of Syllabi: Roles and Responsibilities of Faculty

Anyone who persists in disruptive behavior may be permanently removed from class on my
orders.

Ill respect you. I expect the same in return from you.

A few other words on classroom behavior:

Freshmen: High school is over. Time to behave like adults.

No chatting I will move those who chat. This is embarrassing, or should be, for a college
student. Brief comments to other students directly related to what were discussing in class
are acceptable if kept to a minimum.

No leaving during class, unless ill. Go to the bathroom and/or get a drink before class.

Take notes. Otherwise, its in one ear and out the other.

I admire those who have jobs, but the class requirements are the same for those who do
and dont have jobs and other outside responsibilities.

Turn off cell phones and similar devices when you come into class.

You may bring drinks or food into class, but use good manners while eating or drinking,
and remove all trash when you leave.

Read chapters in advance. Be prepared to talk about them.

COURSE AND UNIVERSITY PROCEDURES/POLICIES

Refer to A&M Commerce Rules and Procedures 13.99.99.R0.01 Class Attendance

http://web.tamu-
commerce.edu/aboutus/policiesproceduresstandardsstatements/rulesprocedures/13students/13.9
9.99.R0.01ClassAttendance.aspx

Attendance and Participation A few words of philosophy here:

An A student is almost always present and on time for class. It is a vital part of the A student
package.

You should think of class attendance as you think of attendance at a job. Just as would be true of
your employer, I am in no way obligated to make concessions on my policies because of situations
in your personal life (he kindly said). As they used to say on the late, lamented TV cartoon Super
Chicken: You knew the job was dangerous when you took it. By choosing to seek a college
degree, it should be understood you are choosing a difficult path for yourself. Its not supposed to
be easy. As of 2006, only 29 percent of U.S. adults held bachelors degrees or higher. By seeking
a college degree, you are seeking to become part of an elite group.

The rules are the same for everyone. It is unfair to students who attend class faithfully to receive
the same credit as those who come only when it is convenient.

The only automatically excused absences are defined below in the Universitys official attendance
policy (items A-D). However, I understand you have complex lives and I will consider other work-
related, or family-related excuses. It is helpful if you know that you will miss class to inform me of
the reason in advance.

EXCUSES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITTEN FORM, AND CONTAIN THE SIGNATURE,
PHONE NUMBER AND/OR E-MAIL ADDRESS OF AN AUTHORITATIVE PERSON
(PHYSICIAN, PARENT, EMPLOYER, ETC.)

EXCUSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ON THE DAY THAT YOU RETURN TO CLASS
FOLLOWING AN ABSENCE. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF THE EXCUSE THAT I CAN
KEEP FOR MY RECORDS.

Do not abuse this policy. Remember, apart from the defined excused absences below, I will use
my discretion in granting an excused absence, which means I may not approve it.

Tardies are distracting to other students and to me. Ill count two tardies as equal to one
unexcused absence. Youll be counted as tardy if you come in after Ive taken roll. Its your
responsibility to make sure you call my attention to the fact that you were tardy and not absent.

NOTE: If an illness or other uncontrollable event causes you to miss more than one class in a row,
this will be counted as one absence event. Be sure to promptly communicate with me in a case
such as this. For such an absence of more than one class, Ill require a note from a doctor or some
other authoritative person (for example, a parent) with a telephone number and/or e-mail address
by which the person can be contacted. Youre responsible for finding out about any assignments
that may have been made.

NOTE: Absences for official University activities (i.e., athletics, choir, etc.) will not count against
you. Written notice of each event should be submitted to me.

IMPORTANT: STUDENTS WHO MISS MORE THAN SIX CLASSES MAY BE DROPPED FROM
THE COURSE.

When your absences reach six, I will have a conference with you and/or direct you to meet with
the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Further unexcused absences will result in your
being dropped from the class.

Tardies are distracting to other students and to me. Ill count two tardies as equal to one absence.
Youll be counted as tardy if you come in after Ive taken roll. Its your responsibility to make sure
you call my attention to the fact that you were tardy and not absent.

Work of any kind due on the date you are absent is still due on that date, unless your absence
qualifies as an approved emergency or extended illness (as described above). It will be counted
as late, and all late work will be penalized 25 points.

Plagiarism: Any form of academic dishonesty is unacceptable. Plagiarism of material is obviously
included.

Academic dishonesty subjects you to possible dismissal from the class and referral to the
department head or dean of students. At the least, such an assignment will receive a grade of F
and will not be made up.

Definition of plagiarism: A piece of writing that has been copied from someone else and is
presented as being your own work. This is as true of a sentence as it is of an entire paper.

IT IS PLAGIARISM TO COPY AN ENTIRE ARTICLE OR ANY PART OF AN ARTICLE FROM
THE INTERNET AND PRESENT IT AS YOUR WORK.

Plagiarism includes taking verbatim sections from the textbook without attributing the material to
the author. Also, sharing work with another student (presenting another students writing as your
own) is plagiarism.

Most of the time, it is remarkably easy for professors to spot plagiarism. You are much better off
doing your own work, both from the standpoint of your grade and what you learn.

Changes to syllabus: I maintain the right to make changes as needed, in my judgment, from the
stated plans contained in the syllabus for this class. Such changes will be announced to the class.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABILITIES: Students requesting accommodations for disabilities
must go through the Academic Support Committee. For more information, please contact the
director of Disability Resources and Services, Halladay Student Services Bldg., Room 303-D.
Telephone, (903) 886-5835.

Student Behavior: All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of
common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment.
(See Students Guide Handbook, Policies and Procedures, Conduct) -- Texas A&M
University-Commerce Procedures,12.01.99.R0.05 Guidelines for Content and Distribution
of Syllabi: Roles and Responsibilities of Faculty

EARLY INTERVENTION FOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS: Early intervention for freshmen is
designed to communicate the Universitys interest in their success and a willingness to participate
fully to help students accomplish their academic objectives. The university through faculty advisors
and mentors will assist students who may be experiencing difficulty to focus on improvement and
course completion. This process will allow students to be knowledgeable about their academic
progress early in the semester and will provide faculty and staff with useful data for assisting
students and enhancing retention. Grade reports will be mailed by the end of the sixth week of the
semester.


COURSE OUTLINE / CALENDAR

January 18-Feb. 9 Chapters 1, 2

Feb. 14-March 9 Chapters 3, 6, 7

March 21-April 13 Chapters 8, 9

April 18-May 4 Chapter 10, 12

Tests: Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 4




MASS MEDIA, COMMUNICATION AND THEATRE

Document of receipt and understanding

I have read the syllabus for RTV 1335.

By my signature, I acknowledge that I fully understand the requirements of the class and will abide
by the rules and guidelines contained in the syllabus.


Signed____________________________ Date _________________________





















P.O. Box 3011 Commerce, TX 75429-3011 Phone: 903.886.5346 Fax: 903.468.3250
www.tamu-commerce.edu

A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM