Media Studies

Assignments: addendum.

Sisyphus — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:16:12 +0000

The following was outlined in class on May 14:

I. The due dates for your final exam
Step #1: Mon. May 19
Step #2: Mon. May 26
Step #3: Fri. May 30
Step #4: Fri. June 6
Step #5: Fri. June 13
Step #6: Wed. June 18 (OPTIONAL)
Final Paper: Wed. June 18

II. The assignment for the textbook chapter on television
Review Questions: 4, 6-8, 13-16
Questioning the Media: 1-3
* DUE TUES. 5.20

III. Your iconic photo assignment
Create a Page through WordPress, and follow the instructions given to you in class (and included as a Page on this blog). This is another “non sequitor” assignment, although you are encouraged to choose a photograph and idea linked to your blog’s stated focus.
* DUE WED. 5.21

Additionally, you should complete the posting/commenting assignment previously given through this blog. That assignment is due on Monday. Remember that you are being given at least two complete class periods to jumpstart all of this work; you also have the upcoming weekend, prom or no prom, to hit the ground running.

Assignments and miscellanea.

Sisyphus — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:04:21 +0000

Your next few assignments will be outlined in more detail in class, but this post will list everything approaching us. Use it as a reference.

Iconic Photography
As we review the shared qualities of iconic photographs, you will also be prepping for a recognition test (basically asking you to identify iconic photos we’ve covered in class). The other half of this mini-unit is the collection and presentation of your own iconic photograph; wait until that assignment is given in class, then return to this blog and visit the example page that will be created for you.

TV Case Studies
This assignment will be outlined early next week. You will also be given exemplars — high-scoring examples of other students’ work — and a series of deadlines (to prevent any of you doing the project at the last minute). It will be your final exam grade and the biggest grade of the fourth quarter.

Blogging
Your next blogging assignments are due on Monday, May 19. They are as follows:

Create a new post.
Imbed a photo in this post by using the “Add media” buttons next to the “Visual” tab of the post you are creating.
Make sure this photo related to your blog’s focus, and tie it to the content of your post.
(This is not the assignment you will be doing for our study of iconic photography; that assignment will be a “page” on your blog.)

The next part of your blogging assignment involves commenting:

On each blog in the classrom, leave one comment.
Leave the comment on the first post — the introduction — and nowhere else.
Make the comment positive or constructively critical, but specific.
Respond to the subject of the blog or to a later, more specific post, but be sure to leave this comment on the first post. (Each of blog’s first post should have eight comments.)
Do not break any of the blogging rules, including those related to language and content.

Best of luck to those of you in the midst of AP exams.

Grades / Blogs.

Sisyphus — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:00:08 +0000

Welcome back, and let’s hope you had a good Spring Break.

Your grades for the first set of blogging assignments will be posted on the bulletin board in our classroom. You will find brief comments on a separate sheet next to the grades. This time, there were five assignments: setup and introduction, linking to the rest of your class, posting at least two times after the introduction, and creating two “non sequitor” pages.

If you failed to complete part of that set, rededicate yourself to the next few assignments. It’s easy to pull a grade up through blogging, since you know you’ll have an assignment a week.

Note: There will also be two other sets of grades posted on the bulletin board when you return from break. These are your scores and comments for the advertising presentations. Those of you who did not complete a dossier, or who completed only fragments of one, lost a lot of points. Again, there is plenty of time to bring these grades up; just focus and get your work in.

Non sequitor: Comments.

Sisyphus — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:24:04 +0000

This is another non sequitor assignment for your blog. Remember that your focus for your weekly posts (or however often you choose to post) is the one stated in your introduction; these non sequitor assignments simply use the Page function of WordPress to localize your assignments.

Viral Videos III / Responsive Writing
Due April 28

Over at Slate, a magazine published through the Internet, Michael Agger has written about the “laughing baby” video we watched in class. His essay focuses on the comments left by viewers, introducing his study with almost exactly the same context we discussed in class — that

the video has racked up 45 million views, putting it ninth on the All-Time Viewed list, behind Alicia Keys and ahead of Akon. Two weeks ago, “Laughing Baby” achieved nerd immortality by appearing in an episode of South Park. (Agger)

Read the essay. Now create a new Page through WordPress entitled “Non sequitor: Comments.” On this page, you should respond to the essay in at least two paragraphs. Pull out a specific line, idea or reference that Agger gives us, and then quote that line as you react to it. Agree, disagree, elaborate or digress — just be sure to provide a specific, personal response to part of this study of the comments left on this particular viral video.

The assignment is due when you return from break, i.e., on April 28.

Blog assignment #2.

Sisyphus — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:19:57 +0000

As we slouch into the break, you will have some time to work on the blogging assignment that is due upon your return (April 28). On Tuesday, April 15, you will have most of the class period to work on the newspaper background reading below or to begin the blogging assignment; for the rest of this week, after watching ad campaign presentations and providing feedback, you will have 10-15 minutes during which you may return to those two options. Toward the end of the week, you will also have additional background reading and research to do regarding newspapers and the other unit we will study after the break — photography.

Blogging Assignment / Media Studies
Due April 28

Your blog must be set up entirely, with an introductory post and the “Non sequior: Viral videos” page clearly visible (and clearly complete) on the main page.

Additionally, you must

Post twice more, making both posts about your stated focus.
Create a “Links” widget on the side of your blog, adding all of your classmates’ blogs to the list.

To add these links, go under Design and then Options: Widgets. Choose to add “Links” to your blog (if this has not already been added). Now go to Write and then Link.

Fill in this information with the correct name of each blog, the correct address, and, if you wish, a brief description. Double-check that your links work before considering the assignment finished.

Newspaper background.

Sisyphus — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:02:53 +0000

In an effort to shed light on the possibilities of using the World Wide Web in a Media Studies course, we will supplement our class lectures and discussions with more than the traditional text for the course; we will also use websites that are valid and informative.

The World Association of Newspapers provides you with the following background information, essential to our studies:

A Newspaper Timeline
What you should know: The name of the first recorded newspaper (from the B.C. era); the year of the printing press’ invention; the name of the first American newspaper; the year Reuters was established; the year of the first printed photography; the year of the first independent, online daily newspaper.

(Also visit the current Reuters website.)

The World’s 100 Largest Newspapers
What you should know: Though this is a 2005 report, you should know what country has the largest representation in the top ten, as well as what US newspaper is highest, and where it falls.

More to follow…

Viral videos (II).

Sisyphus — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:02:35 +0000

The second part of your look at viral videos is due on Monday, April 14. Over the weekend, you will insert the video that you have located and the notes you have taken (using the guidelines from class) into a WordPress “page.” The process is simple:

Click the “Page” link under the “Write” tab on your WordPress blog.
Title this page “Non sequitor: Viral videos.” Because this page is not related to your blog’s focus, it is important to separate it from the rest of your entries.
In body of your post, embed the YouTube video by first copying the entire string of text located in the “Embed” box to the right of the video. (The process is nearly identical for embedding Google Video clips and all other streaming site derivatives.)
Now click on the “HTML” tab at the top of the main body of your post.
Paste (press CTRL-V) the string of text into the text box.
Click the “Visual” tab at the top of the text box.
Below the embedded video, retype (or copy and paste) your answers and notes regarding the assignment given to you in class. You can find a copy of this assignment at our BHS website, located here.

There will be an example of an embedded video on this, our class blog, later this weekend. Double check this model before Monday.

Additionally, double check the layout of your own blog before Monday; the “viral video” page should appear in an accessible place on the main page. Make sure that it is easy to find; title it correctly and be sure to follow the directions above.

Welcome / Assignment #1.

Sisyphus — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:59:18 +0000

To begin blogging, you will need an account with WordPress. Follow our class instructions to create a blog, if you have not already (or need to begin anew).

Once you have created and formatted your blog, write your first post. Here is the assignment:

Media Studies / 08
Blogging Introductions

Introduce yourself and your blog by describing the latter’s focus. Be clear and follow all blogging rules. This introductory post is your chance to set the tone and direction of your blog, so address basic components: the inspiration, the choice of title, the layout, the general goal, and so on.

This assignment is due by Monday, April 14.