Course Description
In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States, communication in the public sphere has become problematic. The old communication paradigm of "who says what in what channel to whom with what effect" has become a subject for public discourse and, in numerous cases, subject to governmental and social sanctions. This graduate course will examine the communication issues raised by the legal and extralegal restrictions on public discussion of the issues raised by the events of September 11th. To do so, the course will look at the official response to the events, media coverage of the events and the official response, and on the public discussion (or lack thereof) of the consequences of that response and the coverage. By examining the ways in which language and communication have been altered by the events of September 11th, the course will attempt to assess the overall issue of the "rhetoric of terror" as applied to the extent and quality of current communication in the public sphere. Cr. 3.

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Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to articulate an informed opinion about the current state of political communication in the public sphere.

Readings

• George Orwell, 1984
• Isaac Cronin, Confronting Fear: A History of Terrorism
• Brigitte Nacos, Terrorism & the Media
• Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent
• Noam Chomsky, 9-11
• George Orwell, Politics and the English Language
• Other readings will be available on RESERVE EXPRESS through the home page for Helmke Library or as links on the web syllabus Resourse page.

Assignments
All assignment must be completed in order to achieve a passing grade in this course.

1. Web Page Design and Construction : The class will design, create, and maintain Web Pages the object of which will be to contribute constructively to the public debate over the War on Terror as articulated by the Bush Administration as a result of the events of September 11, 2001. Details will be forthcoming.
2. Final Essay: Each student will write an essay titled "9-11/1984: George Orwell's Vision and Contemporary Public Discourse on Terror and Terrorism."
   • Final Essay Due: December 18 by 8:15 PM
3. Discussion leader: Each student or work team will organize and lead class discussion leader for one (1) class session. Students/Teams will choose one class session and will assign readings, viewings, websites, whatever. The student/team may use audio-visual support, but that will need to be ordered from LRC through the instructor .
4. Class interaction: This portion of the grade will be determined by (1) participation in class discussion that indicates knowledge of the readings.

Campus Services
1. If you have or aquire a disability and would like to find out what special services may be available to you, contact Services for Students with Disabilities in WU 118 & 218 (481-6657, voice/TTY).
2. The IPFW Writing Center: Click here for information about the Writing Center.

URL:http://users.ipfw.edu/tankel/syllabi/com330f02.htm
Revised: 21 August 2002