T344--Programming Strategies

Dr. Potter--First Semester, 2008-2009

Course Requirements

Unit Exams (40% of final grade):

There will be two unit exams. Each unit exam will take place over two consecutive class meetings. The first day will consist of 50 points of objective questions (Multiple choice, true or false, etc.). The other day will consist of approximately 50 points worth of short answer/essay questions. You will be given a list of potential essay questions one week prior to each exam. Therefore, your answers are expected to be well-thought out and clearly written. You should not ask me for clarification about essay questions on the day of the exam.

The unit exams will be given in class on the dates scheduled. Alternate days and/or times for taking the test will be made in the case of documented family emergency, documented personal illness, as indicated by Student Disability Services, or for absences required for documented IU-sponsored activities (i.e., athletics, performing arts, etc.).

"Make-up" exams will only be given in the case of emergencies and the format of these exams will be up to my discretion. 

Reading Quizzes (25%):

There will be five quizzes over the 15-weeks. I will average the top four scores (i.e., I will drop one). A missed quiz without an excuse will be considered a "0" and can be counted as your lowest score. If you are absent for a quiz due to an "excusable" reason (see above), then I will calculate your average based on the top three scores if I have written documentation of your excuse by the time I calculate final grade (i.e., lowest gets dropped, one excused, leaving the top three).

The textbook is an extremely valuable resource for learning about programming strategies.
But, I also know it's a long book. So, on the schedule page you will find links for each chapter which should guide you on what you need to know from the textbook for the quizzes. Most of the "Reserve" readings will be delivered via Oncourse and will come from trade magazine accounts of programming issues recently in the news.

Quizzes may take any form: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, etc. They will only cover topics from readings and lecture from the last quiz.

Trade Article Responses & Discussion (25%):

Three times during the semester are designated as "Trade Article Discussion Days" on the schedule. Prior to these class meetings, PDF copies of recent articles from industry trade magazines will be placed on the T344 Oncourse site. You will also be given a series of reading questions concerning the articles and be expected to provide typed answers to them at the beginning of class. These answers will then help you participate in small group discussions of the current issues with your classmates.

Attendance (5%):

Six of the class meetings have already been randomly selected as attendance days. If you are in class for all 6 of those days, you'll receive 100% for this grade category. If you are here for 5 of those days, you'll receive 95%. If you are here for 4 of them, a 85% and so on. I will do my best to make this a course you want to come to. If I succeed, then this should not be an issue. My suggestion to you, however, is that if you are out of class for an "excusable" reason, find out from a classmate if you missed an attendance day. If you did, please bring me your written excuse. Regardless of whether it's an attendance day or not, if you miss a class you should first get the notes from a classmate and then contact me during office hours if you have any questions.

Electronic Media Research Experience (5%):

One of the ways that more is learned about the impact of electronic media is through careful research on how people process it. A lot of that research is conducted right here in this department. Part of your grade in this course will require you to have experience in the research process. One way to do this is to participate in a research study conducted in the department. Occasionally, graduate students or other professors will come into class and ask for volunteers. Do this once, and you've fulfilled this requirement for this class.

You may not use an experiment that you participate in for another class to fulfill this requirement for T344.

Other ways to fulfill this include attending a research lecture somewhere on campus and writing a 2-page paper discussing what you learned or reading a published research article from an academic journal (Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Journal of Radio Studies, Media Psychology, Communication Research, etc.) and writing a 2-page summary. If you choose either of these options, the lecture or the article must be pre-approved by me.

Extra Credit:

You may then participate in a second research study in order to receive 5% worth of extra credit on your midterm exam score. Again, the article/lecture summary option is available as an alternative for this extra credit option.

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