Course
Outline
This course
is structured around five modules. Each module includes required
reading
from the texts and links to Internet sites with content that
parallels (sometimes very loosely) the materials contained
within each section of the text. Assignments are required for
each module. Assignments are listed on the course calendar,
along with links to each module.
Required
Reading
Potter, G.W., and Kappeler,
V.E. (1998). Constructing Crime. Waveland Press. ISBN
0-88133-984-9
Surette, R. (1998). Media,
Crime, and Criminal Justice. Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-50863-4
Journals:
(40% of your final grade)
You are expected to
write a journal entry for each module. The journal entries
must contain three parts:
First,
provide specific comments on readings. Label this section "Reading Content." Provide
enough information to demonstrate that you did the required
readings, but you should not write more than 1 or 2 pages
for this section.
Second,
you should comment on Internet content specific to this section.
You should
visit several sites that can be reached through the module
links or through an Internet search. Please provide at least
three links, not already listed in the module, that may be
of interest to others. Comment on the content, provide the
URL (Internet address), and tell me how this site is connected
to the readings. Label this second section "Internet
Content." This section should add another 1 or 2 pages.
Third,
write a 2 to 3 page summary in which you integrate the readings,
Internet
content, the class forum, and any other experiences. This
should be labeled the "So What?" section.
The
total amount of writing should be 4 to 6 pages for each module.
This may
seem like a lot of writing, but you will find that it is
not as difficult as you may think. Read the entire section,
visit web sites of interest, then sit back and think about
what it all meant. Then type your journal, much of it off
the top of your head. Whatever comes to mind. I expect a
certain amount of organization, but the journals are not
expected to be "term paper quality."
For the journals, my
grading criteria is fairly simple. While reading the journals
I ask three questions:
1. Did you read it?
2. Did you integrate
the internet content?
3. Did you think about
the issues raised in the module?
The
journals must be submitted in class, the old fashioned way,
printed and edited.
Online
Assignments: (40%)
Ten online
assignments are posted on the WebCT assignments page. Assignments
include
internet activities that direct you to content that you will
review and respond to in writing. These assignments can be
completed in collaboration with other students and any resources
may be used.
Media
Analysis Papers: (10% of your grade)
You
will be expected to write a two brief (2 - 3 page) analyses
of media coverage
of a crime and/or justice issue. Provide a critical analysis of
news, literature, television, movie, internet, or other media
coverage of the issue. Consider whether the media is presenting
a balanced, factual, informative coverage of the issue. Consider
the implications of the media presentation of events. Analyze
a variety of sources. These papers should reflect a broad
analysis of issues related to justice in the media. Write
about media coverage of the event - not the event itself.
Participation
(10%):
Your experience, and
the learning experience of your classmates and instructor,
are greatly enhanced as the result of active participation.
You are likely to have strong opinions about a number of
the topics we will discuss. Let us hear what you think by
posting comments in the Forum or by discussing the issues
in class.
Classroom Discussion:
Be prepared for class discussion! This course will be better
for each of us if you talk more and I talk less. You all
have interesting ideas and viewpoints. We learn more by sharing
our ideas. Class attendance is considered in the computation
of your class participation score.
Justice
in the Media Forum: The online discussion area allows an
opportunity to
discuss issues outside of class. The forum is especially
helpful for those who want to share information found on
the internet. The forum is an online "bulletin board," contained
within WebCT, to which each of you may post questions, reactions
to course content, comments about materials available on
the Internet, responses to other questions or comments, or
whatever you feel like sharing with others.
In addition to class
discussion, the Forum is the area in which I will send communications
intended to be read by the entire class. Plan to visit the
forum often.
All
assignments, written or online, are due on or before the
end of class on August 7. Late assignments will not be accepted.
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