Syllabus points you need to know

Twitter for Media

Syllabus

Required: A smart phone. No textbook. Assigned readings online. Notebook--paper or digital. Recommended: Twitter for Dummies, Fitton, Gruen, Poston. Wiley, 2010.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a study and introduction to the way new social media,

Twitter, has transformed the practice of mass communication for professionals in traditional

media to become an essential tool-- digital, print, broadcast, public relations, advertising and

photography. Prerequistes: None.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students in this class will explore the operation and impact of Twitter

on all fields of mass communication. The student will set up a Twitter account if not already

existent, and become proficient in its use through daily activity.  The student will become familiar

with the way professionals use Twitter in their major field. Students will select, follow and

interact with professional Twitter users. The student will write a three-page paper on two of the

class speakers. The student will participate daily in a Twitter account set up for the class,

following the example of the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass

Communications.

TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING: This course addresses four of the university’s transformative learning goals—discipline knowledge through study of the impact of Twitter in mass communications; leadership, though interaction with leaders in mass communications and a summary paper; problem solving, by understanding and using Twitter effectively; and global and cultural competencies, by becoming competent with the Twitter-cultural change and impact in mass communication around the world.

COURSE and ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:

• GOOD GRAMMAR. You must be fluent in English or you will flunk.

• Faithful attendance. Because of the condensed nature of the class, if you miss more than

one session--regardless of reason, you cannot pass. Maximum grade with one day's

absence will be a 'B." You cannot make up assignments for the day missed.

• Be on time for class. I take this personally and being late is the quickest way to get on my

bad side. Three tardies equal one absence.

• Adoption of a mass communications professional who uses Twitter, and a

national/international media industry that uses Twitter in your major. Interview and

Tweet to entire class viewpoints for in-class discussion. Information on potential

professionals and industries provided first day of class.

• Three-page summary paper comparing two of in-class speakers with information from

adopted Tweeters. Information on first day of class.

• Daily Tweets on combined class Twitter site about class speakers and issues.

• Final test.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES for three-page paper: No fancy covers. First page includes

your name, date, subject title. Fourth page lists sources contacted. Paper to be stapled in

upper left hand corner. All work, except in class exercises, must be typed, double-spaced,

using Times New Roman or Palatino typeface, on one side of the paper, with 1” or 1 1/2"

margins. Follow Associated Press style. Make sure your toner is readable (dark). Work will

not be accepted unless it complies with these guidelines. E-mail submissions allowed only

on designated assignments.

DEADLINES: Must be met. Absolutely. Period. End of Discussion. Journalism is a deadline

business. Accordingly, late work will not be accepted. Don’t bother to hand it in—you get a

“0” grade. Absence is no excuse.

GRADING SCALE: 100-91--A; 90-81--B; 80-70--C; 60-69—D

·       Daily Tweets on class Twitter site—100 points--20 percent

·       Adoption and posts of professional Tweeters--100 points--20 percent

·       Between class interview of twitter pro, outline and verbal report—50 points--10 percent

·       Paper on speakers--100 points--20 percent

·       In-class assignments--50--10 percent

·       Final Test—100 points--20 percent

·       Total Points--500

All university policies, including grading, grade appeals, academic dishonesty, adding and dropping apply. Check this link: www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/files/aa-forms/faculty/StudentInfoSheet.pdf

Any case of plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment. A second case will flunk you for the

course, and probably ruin your future as a journalist.

·       UCO subscribes to the Turnitin.com plagiarism prevention service. Students agree that by taking this course, all required assignments may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted assignments will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com restricted access reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such assignments. In the UCO Student Handbook, there is a process for contesting any plagiarism allegations against you.

• Since this is a class of discovery and living journalism, exact timetables cannot be guaranteed

because of student discussions and individual interests. Flexibility is essential to

transformative education, not rote memory or lockstep schedules. Accordingly, the professor

reserves the right to amend the syllabus, with verbal notice to class, at any time, in order to facilitate your learning.