Syllabus

Term: Spring 2016
PCC (Jan 11-May 8)
GCC (Feb 16-June 8)

Theme: Media Studies and Writing

Definition of Media Studies

• Scripps College - "Media Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the histories, technologies, and social and cultural contexts of a range of contemporary media forms, including mechanical and electronic media such as film, video, television, print, and the Internet as well as other contemporary forms of culture." - Scripps College

Goals of Our Media Studies Program

• to develop thinkers who understand the dynamics of media change and can apply their insights to contemporary problems. - MIT
• to help students cultivate the ability to assess the roles and impact of the major mass media on American life, rather than with developing specific media production skills. - Berkeley
• to combine traditions from communications, anthropology, sociology, political science, and journalism with contemporary critical and cultural studies theory to analyze and assess the role and impact of media in contemporary society.

Break Down of Class Structure

• learn the history, values and structure of media in the United States and abroad. 
• analyze the effects of electronic and print media, 
• consider the impact of the media on public policy,
• consider the impact of public policy on the media. 

Sources Used in the Classroom

• Workshop curriculum featuring the techniques and traditions of contemporary fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, journalism (RHR), digital media (social networking research), video (YouTube, Ted Talks, films), and games.
• Non-Fiction
• The Prose Reader
• Ripped from the Headlines Research (RHR)
• Ted Talks
• Films
• Literature

Units

1. Mindset and Personal Development: Amy Chua's "The Triple Package," Carol Dweck's Mindset, and Angela Duckworth's Grit (Ted Talk)
2. Language:
1. Amy Tan - Mother Tongue
2. Richard Rodriguez - Public and Private Language
3. Reading: 
1. Malcolm X - Learning to Read
2.  Motoko Rich - Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?
3. Dana Gioia - On the Importance of Reading
4. Richard Wright - The Library Card
4. Writing:
1. Roger Rosenblatt - I Am Writing Blindly
2. Rita Mae Brown - Writing as a Moral Act
5. Research: How does the media influence our perception of undocumented immigrants? (Readings: Michael Scott's "America Must Take Stronger Measures to Halt Illegal Immigration" and Richard Raynor's "Illegal Immigration Does Not Threaten America")