Twitter
for Media
#clarkclass
“I wonder what the
President is tweeting tonight?”
(“I wonder what the king is doing tonight?”)
--Camelot, by Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, 1960
Basic from official syllabus
Dr. Terry M. Clark, professor
@okieprof
Class
Location: Com 214
Class
meets: TR, 2-4:30, Aug. 22-0ct. 11
Required:
· A smart phone,
tablet or laptop. No text.
· Assigned readings
online. Notebook--paper or digital, for notes.
· President of the
United States, Donald J. Trump, @realDonaldTrump (You do not have to “follow”
him, but you will check his tweets twice a week.)
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
and business to become an essential tool of communication in all fields--
digital, print, broadcast, public relations, advertising, government, business.
Our probable speakers: Jill Castilla
@JillCastilla, Heidi Centrella @hcentrella, Phillip Dunford @UCOBronchos, Jenny
Grigsby @justjennyg, Dez Hill @DezHill, Mike Koehler @mkokc, Adrienne Nobles @anobles,
Mike Sherman @MikeSherman, Harold Storey @AHaroldStorey, Lauren Vargas @Vargasl,
Scott Williams @ScottWilliams.
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.
COURSE and
ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:
•
Faithful
attendance. Because of the condensed nature of the class, if you miss more than
two sessions--regardless of reason, you cannot pass. Maximum grade with two
absences will be a 'B." You cannot make up assignments for the days
missed.
•
Every
assignment has a deadline. Late assignments earn a “0.” Misspelled speakers’
names earn a “0.”
•
GOOD
GRAMMAR. You must be fluent in English or you will flunk.
•
Be
on time for class. I take this personally and being late is the quickest way to
get on my bad side. Three times late equals one absence. Those who leave early
will be assessed full absence.
•
Daily
tweets and notes on in-class speakers.
•
Adoption
of a mass communication or other professional who uses twitter in your major or
area of interest, and presentation to class at end of first block, with
visuals. Information on potential professionals and industries first day of
class.
•
Three-page
summary paper comparing two 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.
•
Daily
discussion of President Trump’s daily tweets in relation to communication—not politics.
•
No
video games in class. Automatic F.
•
All
tweets should include #clarkclass, @UCO_MCOM, @UCOBronchos
•
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 #clarkclass—100 points--20 percent
•
Adoption and posts, and presentation of professional Tweeters--100 points--20
percent
•
Paper on speakers--100 points--20 percent
•
In-class assignments--150 points--25 percent
•
Final Test—50 points--5 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.
•
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 notice to class, at any time, in order to
facilitate
your
learning.
COURSE SCHEDULE--Each class will
include daily tweeting about class subjects.
•
Week
one (Aug. 22, 24)--Course introduction, data sheets, cell phone IDs, Twitter
survey, setup; video. Interactive syllabus amendments and questions. Twitter perspective
lecture and issues. Professional adoptions. Paper details. Bit.ly. Tweetdeck,
other apps. Class blog.
•
Weeks
two-six (Aug. 29-Sept. 28)—Adoption progress. Guest speakers, on-line readings,
daily tweeting, writing,
•
Week
seven-eight (Oct. 3-11)—adoption presentations, paper due, lessons from
speakers, adoptions, evaluations, final exam.
