COM 251 Introduction to Electronic Media
Summer II 2006
MTR 3:00-5:20
Neff 141

Table of Contents
Instructor Information
Course Description
Course Objectives
Texts
Assignments
Course Policies
Work Teams
Course Schedule and Readings

Dr. Jonathan David Tankel
230F Neff Hall
Phone: 481-5789
E-mail: tankel@ipfw.edu

Office Hours:
M 1:30-2:30;
Th 9:00-10:00

Course Description
Cr. 3. A study of the ways in which ideas are expressed through techniques unique to the language of radio, television, and film. The course focuses on the scenes, camera and lens movement, tempo, editing concepts, montage, sound, perspective, fades, seques, and other special effects prerequisite to effective communication through electronic media.

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Course Objectives
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able:

  1. To recognize the communication techniques employed by media producers;
  2. To become familiar with the lexicon of terms used to describe those techniques; and
  3. To evaluate critically the aesthetics of media productions.

Successful completion of COM 251 fulfills 3 credits in IPFW General Education Area IV.

Due to required courses in the COMM and COMI majors, students with these majors may not use COM 251 for General Education credit

Readings



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

  1. My Media World Website Project
    CLICK HERE TO VISIT "MY MEDIA WORLD" WEBSITES (SUMMER 2005)

  2. Creative Project
    Each student group will create a public service announcement for a non-profit organization in Fort Wayne. This will entail
    1. A storyboard or a digital video rough cut that shows each individual shot and the soundtrack of the spot.
    2. Group Essay: The essay will articulate the aesthetic and semiotic rationales for the production choices in terms of the intended meanings.
    Therefore, this essay will be evaluated on both the choices made and knowledge of appropriate applications of specific production techniques.

    Some Storyboard Resources:
    How to draw Storyboards
    Interactive Storyboard Exercise
    Comics and Cinema
    Indian Advertisement 1
    Indian Advertisement 2
    Index of Storyboards for Judicial Elections
    Storyboards for PolyKarbon

    Group Project Due: August 3

  3. Critical Essays
    Each student will complete two critical essays.
    Essay #1: Semiotic analysis of a television commercial
    in which the student will describe the literal and and semiotic meanings. In particular, students need to assess the multiple layers of signification employed. Due: July 17
    Essay #2: Dramatic analysis of the narrative structure of a film/television episode. .
    Due: July 31
  4. Final Examination Essay: Due Aug 3

Grading
Course assignments and examinations will be weighted as follows:

My Media World200 points
Creative Project (Group) 200 points
Critical Essay #1 200 points
Critical Essay #2 200 points
Final Examination200 points
Total 1000 points

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The final grade will be based on the following scale:
PointsGrade
1000-890 pointsA
889-790 pointsB
789-700 pointsC
699-600 pointsD
599 points-belowF

Course Policies
1. You are expected to attend class.
2. All assignments must be turned in. Failure to turn in an assigment will result in a grade of F for the course.
3. No late assignments will be accepted. Due dates are stated in the syllabus.
4. No handwritten assignments will be accepted.

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