Northeastern State University

College of Liberal Arts

 

Spring 2006 syllabus for

SPCH 4623/5623 Seminar on Reality Television

(last updated 03.15.06)

 

Instructor: Amy N. Aldridge, ABD                                                     Office:  Leoser Center             Ext.:  2896

E-mail: aldridga@nsuok.edu                                                                Office Hours:  See Contact Info on Webpage

Webpage:  http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~aldridga/                                                           

 

Required Text:  

Murray, S., & Ouellette, L. (Eds.). (2004). Reality TV:  Remaking television culture. New York: New York University

            Press.

 

Description of Course:  This is a special topics course on communication and how it relates to reality television (beginning with Candid Camera).  It will be taught like a graduate seminar course.  Emphasis will not be placed on lecture, but on class discussion and analytical thought by the students.

 

Pre-requisites:  none

 

Learning Outcomes:  By the end of the course, you will have…

  • Watched many clips from reality television programs.
  • Read scholarly work about reality television.
  • Written reflective essays about the clips and readings.
  • Participated and lead class discussion.
  • Written a scholarly paper on a subject pertaining to reality television and communication.

 

Class Attendance: You are expected to be in class and are allowed one week (i.e., three hours) of unexcused absences.  For every hour of unexcused absence (or accumulated tardiness) over the limit, 20 points will be deducted from your final grade.  Absences will be excused only under the following circumstances:

  • Absence while under a doctor’s care (written documentation required).
  • Absence due to participation in an authorized college activity (written documentation required).
  • Absence due to attendance at legal proceedings requiring your presence (advance notification and written documentation required).
  • Absence due to the death or serious illness of an immediate family member (written documentation required).

I consider an excused absence one in which the absence is beyond your control. (For example, the time of a check up or a dental appointment can be controlled).  I will not excuse an absence in which you have to take somebody else to the doctor, hospital, dentist, court, etc.  That is why I give you the three unexcused absences.  Use them wisely.  I think good attendance is very important.  Documentation is due by the last day of classes before finals week.

 

Missed/Late Assignments:

Written Work:  When work is accepted late, it will be 10 points off for every class period it is late.  There are some exceptions for excused absences.  Not all work will be accepted late.  It is best to talk to me before you miss.

E-mailing assignments/computer problems:  You will need to submit most of your assignments in hard copy.  On occasion, it will be possible to submit assignments via e-mail.  Please note:  your computer breaking, printer not working, etc. will never be accepted as an excuse for late work.  It is your responsibility to begin work early enough to accommodate unforeseen circumstances.  In addition, e-mailed work is recorded as “turned in” according the time stamp in the introduction to your message.  “I got your address wrong” or “my e-mail wasn’t working” will not be accepted as reasons for late assignments.

 

Class Participation: You are expected to attend class regularly and be prepared so that you may intelligently discuss assigned material.  Proper preparation means reading the assigned chapters and completing daily assignments.  Warning:  I have been known to count students absent when they are not prepared for class.

 

Classroom Climate:  The success of this course is directly related to the sense of community that we will develop in this classroom.  Participation is essential to this process.  I encourage you to share your views and listen to those of others.  Debate and discussion are an important part of the learning process.  While there will no doubt be disagreements, I expect the members of this community (including myself) to challenge ideas in a manner that reflects respect and recognition of opposing viewpoints without attacking individuals. 

 

Outline of Course:  Typically, Mondays will be spent watching the clips related to the readings and Wednesdays will be spent discussing the readings.  Students are expected to bring reading responses when assigned and will be expected to lead class discussion if called upon.

 

Week

Reading

Clips

1-2

Introduction

Ch 1

VH1 News Presents:  Reality TV Secrets

Candid Camera

3

Ch 2

America Undercover (HBO)

4-5

Ch 5

Osbournes 1

An American Family (PBS)

5

Research Proposal due

 

6

Ch 6

America’s Most Wanted

Unsolved Mysteries

7

Ch 7

Big Brother (US)

Fear Factor

8

Ch 8

Outline due

Court TV

9

Ch 9

The Real World 1

10

Ch 10

A Baby Story

A Wedding Story

11

Ch 11

Cops

12

Ch 12

Judge Judy

Texas Justice

Judge Joe Brown

13

Ch 14

Survivor 1

Survivor 2

14

 Papers due

 

Final

Paper Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to spend the last couple of weeks of class reading articles you have found in your research as a class.  Please make suggestions to me for this.  Some shows that haven’t been included to this point include Apprentice, Amazing Race, American Idol, Newlyweds, Chasing Farrah, The Anna Nicole Show, and Frontier House.  I know there are others.

 

Grading:         Participation in class discussion (20%)

Reading Responses (30%)

·        Reading responses are reflections you have on the reading.  They should be one to two pages and thoroughly thought out.  Mark up your book while you are reading and discuss the most interesting things to you in your reading response for that chapter. 

·        Reading responses should include brief summaries of the text (be sure to use page numbers when directly quoting from the book), your analysis of the material, and examples when appropriate.  This will add depth to your responses.

·        At the end of your response, write some possible discussion questions.  Students will be chosen at random to share their responses and lead the class in discussion.  This will also affect your participation grade.

Final Research Paper (40%)

·        Undergraduates in this course are expected to have at least 8 pages (not including cover pages and reference pages).  Graduate students’ papers should be at least 14 pages in length (not including cover pages and reference pages). 

·        They should be formatted in MLA or APA style (i.e., double spaced, 12 point TNR font, 1” margins).

·        Ideally I’d like to see some of your papers submitted to a scholarly conference.

·        Focus on communication and reality television.

·        Please pay attention to deadlines throughout the semester pertaining to this paper.

Presentation of Final Paper (10%)

 

"A grade (is) an inadequate report of an inaccurate judgment by a biased and variable judge of the extent to which a student has attained an undefined level of mastery of an unknown proportion of an indefinite amount of material." (Author Unknown)

 

Class Grievances:

I am willing to meet with you to discuss our class and/or particular assignments.  I ask that you please wait 24 hours after you have received a graded assignment to come see me.  Before we discuss your work, you are required to type out a document detailing what particular elements of your work you feel merit discussion. 

 

Students with Disabilities: If any member of the class feels that he or she has a disability and requires special accommodations, of any nature whatsoever, I will work with you to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise me of such disability and the desired accommodations at the close of the first class period.  Students with disabilities who need accommodations to achieve course objectives should visit the Office of Student Affairs, Ext. 2120.

 

Plagiarism:  According to Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary (1983, 2nd Ed.), to plagiarize is “to steal or pass of ideas or words of another as one’s own…to use created productions without crediting the source…to commit literary theft…to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source” (p.1371).  Students in this course will be responsible for authenticating any assignment submitted to the instructor.  If asked, you must be able to produce proof that the assignment you submitted is in fact your own work.  Therefore, it is recommended that you engage in a verifiable working process on assignments.  Keep copies of all drafts of your work, make photocopies of research materials, write summaries of research materials, keep logs or journals of your work on assignments and papers, learn to save drafts or versions of assignments under individual file names on computer diskettes, etc.  In addition to requiring a student to authenticate his/her work, the instructor may employ various other means of ascertaining authenticity—such as engaging in internet searches, creating quizzes based on student work, requiring students to explain their work and/or process orally, etc.

 

NSU’s policy on Academic Misconduct (from http://www.nsuok.edu/policies/academic/misconduct.html): Academic misconduct includes cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise), plagiarism, falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any and all other actions that may improperly affect the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or assisting others in any such act or attempts to engage in such acts. Academic misconduct in any form is inimical to the purposes and functions of the University and therefore is unacceptable and prohibited.  Any faculty member, administrator or staff member may identify an act of academic misconduct and should report that act to the department head/college dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs or administrative supervisor.  Students violating the standards of academic honesty are subject to disciplinary action including reduction of a grade(s) in a specific course, assignment, paper, or project; a formal or informal reprimand at the professorial, dean, or academic vice president level; expulsion from the class in which the violation occurred; expulsion from a program; or expulsion from the University.

 

Inclement Weather/Disaster Policy:  The following are basic premises for the inclement weather policy at Northeastern State University:

1.      Classes are expected to be held if at all possible.

2.      It is the student's responsibility to receive the information when weather is questionable.

3.      Neither students nor faculty are expected to risk life or limb.

4.      Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if the University is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to campus.

Policy: During times of inclement weather, decisions concerning day classes will be made by 6 a.m. in order for the media to be notified and for students to receive the announcement before they leave home. Decisions concerning night classes will be made by 3 p.m.

The following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus:

Radio Stations

Television Stations

KRMG 740 AM Tulsa

KJRH Channel 2 Tulsa

KAYI 107 FM Tulsa 

KOTV Channel 6 Tulsa

KTLQ 1350 AM Tahlequah

KTUL Channel 8 Tulsa

KEOK 102 FM Tahlequah

KFSM Channel 5 Fort Smith

KBIX 1490 AM Muskogee

Cable Channel 96 Tahlequah

KMMY 97 FM Muskogee

 

KVOO 1170 AM Tulsa

 

The automated attendant message on 918-456-5511 will be modified to include information concerning campus operations during inclement weather.

 

Common courtesies:

  • Please turn all cell phones/pagers on silent while you are in class.  Check your messages AFTER class and return the calls then.
  • Do not pack up before I dismiss you.  You never know when I may say something important or give a last minute assignment.  You’re going to want to have that pen and paper handy.

 

 

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