COM 507-01 (23593) Introduction to Semiotics
Steven Alan Carr, Ph.D.
Course Syllabus
Spring 2009

Location:	NF141
Meeting Time:	M 6-8:45 PM
Office:	NF 230 H
Office Hours:	MT 3-4:15 PM, and happily by appointment
Office Phone:	(260) 481-6545
Email:	carr@ipfw.edu
Website:	users.ipfw.edu/carr
Required Texts:	Chandler, Daniel. Semiotics: The Basics. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2007. Additional readings will be made available from within WebCT via HTML or PDF file formats. See below for more information.

Last updated 26 Jan 09; changes marked in yellow

A general set of course policies (http://users.ipfw.edu/carr/courses/policies.htm) accompanies this document. Please make sure to read it as well, as it governs both what is expected from you, and what you can expect from me.

Course Content and Goals

This course 1) surveys major theories studying human communication and its uses of signs, “moving from the most abstract and simple, the code, to the most concrete and complex, the culture” (Johansen and Larsen 6); 2) considers selected humanities and social sciences approaches that incorporate semiotic theory and practice; and 3) considers selected cultural contexts – audiences, gender and sexuality, and globalization – where semiotic meaning circulates. You will be expected to demonstrate an informed perspective - both in discussion and in written assignments - that engages with the quantum nature of sign systems and their paradoxical ability to do two things at once: organize and classify reality, as well as produce and create the very reality to which these very sign systems refer.

Prerequisites and Intended Audience

This is a graduate course. Although there are no prerequisites all students should have some undergraduate background in communication and/or media theory.

Course Requirements

The normal schedule for reading assignments will vary considerably from week to week, and may be as much as 100 pages in a given week. One of your primary responsibilities will be to prepare for each week's reading by completing assigned readings before each class meeting.

Although there is a participation grade, you do not earn a grade just for attending class. For each class, the instructor will take attendance as one measure of classroom performance and contributions to group efforts.

Assessments and Assignments

Exams (100 possible points): You will take a midterm (ME - 50 points) and a non-comprehensive final (FE - 50 points). Both the midterm and final will build upon readings, in-class discussions, and online activity. Both exams will consist of written essays.

Position Papers (PP - 100 possible points): At least ten (10) times throughout the semester on scheduled dates, you will be required to post a brief (250-500 word) position paper (PP) on Blackboard that responds to the week’s assigned topic by posing a substantive question that cuts across multiple readings. Each paper counts 10 possible points toward your final grade. These are due before each scheduled class meeting. Each position paper examines the value of a significant semiotic perspective covered in the week’s assigned reading. This examination should 1) identify a key concept central to the reading or readings; 2) consider any potential conflicts, either with regards to the concept itself or with other communication theories you have encountered; and 3) propose a broad-based question or problem relevant to the concept identified to which there is no easy answer or solution. These papers should show engagement with the assigned reading by employing specific terminology used and by paraphrasing and quoting from significant passages. You will not receive written feedback from the instructor on these submissions, unless specifically requested in writing.

Forum Reports (FR - 100 possible points): At least ten (10) times throughout the semester on scheduled dates, teams of 5-7 will collaborate in synthesizing the responses of the position papers into a brief (250-500 word) forum report (FR). Team members are expected to bring a hard copy of the position paper to class. Each team will have approximately 30 minutes of in-class time to identify a significant question or issue raised in the position papers that directly pertains to the semiotic perspective covered in the reading. The forum report will list all members of the group who directly contributed to it; state the question or issue raised by the group; explain how the question directly relates to the semiotic perspective covered in the reading; and offer a synthesis of the position papers represented in that group. Facilitators from each team will be responsible for collating and submitting this report on Blackboard within 24 hours after the scheduled class meeting. Attendance and the initial quality of the position paper submitted will be used as an index to help assess an individual grade for this assignment. You will not receive written feedback from the instructor on these submissions, unless specifically requested in writing.

Forum Discussions (FD - 20 possible points): At the end of 30 minutes time, the instructor will solicit one team to present and model their forum discussion (FD) to the entire class. Teams are encouraged to prepare materials before class. The team will write their question on the chalkboard, and then sit in a circle in the center of the room. Each team member will briefly (no more than 3 minutes) summarize his or her position paper in relation to the group’s question. After all team members have summarized their position papers, other students will be invited to respond to the group’s initial question. Throughout the semester, each student will be responsible for participating in two (2) of these team presentations to the entire class on an assigned date and worth an additional 10 possible points per presentation. Presentations will be made only on the assigned date of a forum. You cannot redo or make up this assignment, and you will not receive written feedback unless specifically requested immediately after the presentation. Individual grades for team members will be assessed on the basis of participation in leading class discussion, as well as on how well the presentation communicates the following: the substantiality of the question or issue itself, its relevance to the reading, and how well it extends a concept or concepts from the reading. Due to variations in team memberships, you may present more than once as part of a different team. In that case, only the highest grades for the in-class presentation will be counted.

Synthesis Paper (SP - 80 possible points): You must write a final, argument-driven synthesis paper (SP). This paper will be submitted in parts - including a proposal and abstract (SP1 - 10 points), an annotated inventory of semiotic theories presented as part of the paper (SP2 - 20 points), a sample paragraph from the body of the paper (SP3 - 20 points), and a final draft (SP4 - 30 points) - at various intervals throughout the semester. Written feedback will not be offered on SP3 and SP4 unless specifically requested and submitted 2 weeks in advance of the due date. The synthesis paper will synthesize two or more substantive concepts covered during the semester, and show how your synthesis could be applied to a topic relevant to an issue or controversy concerning semiotics. There is no page or source minimum requirement. The successful final draft will include, all in the same file, the following: an introduction that states a problem, explains its significance, and clearly states a central thesis; an explanation of each theory or concept covered in the paper, with appropriate citations; three to five (3-5) paragraphs (paragraph=key statement, plus 3-5 additional sentences) with each paragraph advancing and developing the central thesis; a conclusion that reconsiders (as opposed to restating) the central thesis in light of the body of the paper; and a works cited page that demonstrates the breadth and diversity of sources used in the paper. The final paper will be evaluated on the basis of its relevance to a topic concerning semiotics; the substance and significance of the thesis; how well the paper engages the theories and concepts discussed; the thoughtfulness and originality with which the paper synthesizes these concepts; the overall structure, readability, clarity, and effectiveness of how well the paper advances its argument; and the ability of the paper to draw from multiple theoretical perspectives. With regard to the last criteria, make sure you can demonstrate that your list of sources used in the paper can demonstrate how you were able to engage with multiple perspectives.

Your participation is worth 100 points or 20% toward your final grade. This participation will be assessed primarily, though not exclusively, on the basis of what you do during our scheduled class meetings. You will not receive feedback on your participation unless specifically requested. The burden of proof is on you to maintain detailed, accurate, and clearly presented records of your contributions to the success of the class. Although you are not required to do so, you are strongly encouraged to maintain evidence of these contributions throughout the semester. This data can include evidence of preparation (such as detailed, original notes), letters of support from other students, written self-evaluations of your performance, etc. Should a difference of opinion arise with regard to the level of your performance, you will be asked to produce these records upon request. Failure to participate in class, regardless of attendance, will directly impact this portion of your grade. Questions regarding participation raised earlier in the semester will receive far greater consideration than questions raised later in the semester.

Grading

Your final grade will be determined based on the following criteria:

Ten (10) Position Papers (PP) @ 10 pts ea	100 points (20%)	before scheduled class meeting
Ten (10) Forum Reports (FR) @ 10 pts ea	100 points (20%)	within 24 hrs following end of class
Two (2) Forum Discussion Presentations (FD) @ 100 pts ea	20 points (04%)	in class, as marked with FR
Midterm Exam (M)	50 points (10%)
Argument-Driven Synthesis Paper(SP1,SP2,SP3,SP4)	80 points (16%)
Final Exam (FE)	50 points (10%)
Participation (P)	100 points (20%)	Ongoing
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS	500 points (100%)