Every Monday you will turn in a one-page summary of the readings, concluding with two or three questions or issues that struck you as particularly significant. You will keep a journal with clippings and your comments, tracing issues you consider important. More about this later, but the idea is for you to get informed, and also to learn to consider the influence of the media on the way issues are framed, the values they promote, the things they include and exclude, and other aspect of a critical perspective on the media. You will compare and critically evaluate a pair of political films from a list I will provide. Again, more about this later.
Attendance is mandatory.
I will take roll at the start of every class session. Anybody missing more than six classes will fail the course. You are also being evaluated on the quality of your participation, meaning the degree to which you help us have a productive classroom community. Each week is identified by the Monday of that week. Please note that all reading assignments are to be completed before the first class meeting of the week indicated, except for the first week.