ASSESSMENT PLAN
Mass Media and Society (JMC 460) will become the capstone course for students in the
department's mass communications sequences. |
2001-2002 ASSESSMENT
In the spring 2002 semester, 43 students were enrolled in two
sections of the JMC capstone course titled Mass Media and Society.
Six of these students were enrolled in the Writing Intensive section
to satisfy university WI requirements. Of the 43 students in both
sections, all but one earned a grade of C or above.
Requirements for the Writing Intensive students included completing
six summaries of articles in scholarly journals from the mass
communications field as well as conducting a content analysis of
select media text and writing a formal research paper, which
included a review of the literature on the topic. For the research
projects this semester students examined: children, gender and
advertising in a magazine for parenting; advertising tactics used by
the travel industry on select web sites; sexuality in magazine
advertising; representation of Latinos in local television news;
violence in video games; and representation and depiction of African
Americans in Sports Illustrated. Research this semester was
particularly well-executed and the papers were sound. In fact, of
the six, three students were asked to revise and submit their work
next spring to the UNK Undergraduate Research Journal.
Students from both sections of 460: summarized articles from mass
communications scholarly journals, participated in activities and
exercises that demonstrated key mass communications theoretical
concepts and ethical concerns, and completed mid-term and final
examinations. New this semester was the incorporation of relevant
web sites for exam questions, which required students to exhibit the
ability to apply theoretical concepts to everyday media issues and
concerns. |
2000-2001 ASSESSMENT
Two sections of the JMC 460 capstone course Mass Media and Society were offered in the
spring 2001 semester. One section accommodated students who needed the three-hour course
to satisfy the university Writing Intensive requirement. Other students, who had already
fulfilled their 12 hours of WI courses, were able to complete 460 without completing the
WI assignments. Of the WI group, all six students completed the course earning a C grade
or above. Of the 33 non-WI students, only two were unable to earn a grade of C or above.
Additionally, two of the non-WI students completed the WI requirements for Honors Program
credit. Regardless of course classification, those students earning a C or above
successfully demonstrated their understanding of the roles and functions of mass media in
society to include: major theoretical concepts, principle mass communications research
methods and some of the current ethical concerns involving media. All 460 students: summarized scholarly journal
articles from the mass communications field, participated in activities and exercises
selected to demonstrate key mass communications theoretical concepts and ethical concerns,
and completed the mid-term and final examinations. The WI students wrote four additional
scholarly article synopses as well as conducted a textual analysis project that was
presented in formal research paper format.
For the research project, students
conducted original research by content analyzing select media text. For example, students
examined the depiction of violence in select films, the representation of gender in
children’s television programming and on popular music packaging, the depiction of
women and men in various print advertising media and the emergence of select themes in
romance novels, to name a few. This assignment also required the students to present a
recent review of the literature on the topic. Although few of the papers could be
classified as superior or even outstanding, their work demonstrated an ability to examine
a topic that is grounded in theoretical concepts as well as interpret the research in a
manner consistent with the objectives of the course. A few of the students worked closely
with the professor and/or with Writing Center counselors. In fact, these students
demonstrated the ability to complete papers that were clearly written, mechanically sound
and consistent with the style of presenting research in this field. |
1999-2000 ASSESSMENT
Thirty-four students were enrolled in the spring 2000 Mass Media in Society (JMC 460)
course. Of those, 28 earned a C grade or above, which indicates their understanding of the
roles and functions of mass media in society to include: major theoretical concepts,
principle mass communications research methods and some of the current ethical concerns
involving media.
These students: summarized scholarly journal articles from the mass communications field,
participated in activities and exercises selected to demonstrate key mass communications
theoretical concepts and ethical concerns, completed the mid-term and final essay
examinations and conducted a textual analysis project that was presented in formal
research paper format.
For the main project, students conducted original research by content analyzing select
media text. For example, students examined the depiction of violence in select films, the
representation of gender in children's television programming and on popular music
packaging, the depiction of women and men in various print advertising media, the
emergence of select themes in romance novels, to name a few. This assignment also required
the students to present a recent review of the literature on the topic. One project - a
group effort - involved a relatively large-scale survey of UNK students to examine
students' understanding of popular music lyrics. Some students completed their projects in
a superior manner. Many students, while missing the superior mark, did demonstrate an
ability to examine a topic that is grounded in theoretical concepts as well as interpret
the research in a manner consistent with the objectives of the course. A handful of
students worked closely with the professor and/or with Writing Center counselors. In fact,
these students demonstrated the ability to complete papers that were clearly written,
mechanically sound, and consistent with the style of presenting research in this field. |
1998-99
ASSESSMENT
Twenty-three of 25 students enrolled in Mass Media in Society (JMC 460) during spring 1999
passed the course with a C grade or above. In so doing, these students successfully
demonstrated their understanding of the roles and functions of mass media in society to
include: major theoretical concepts, principle mass communications research methods, and
some of the current ethical concerns involving media. Students provided evidence of their
understanding through textbook and journal article readings and written summaries,
activities and exercises, mid-term and final essay examinations and a research paper.The research paper assignment involved students
examining a current mass communications issue in terms of a select theoretical
perspective. The assignment also required the students to present a recent review of the
literature on the topic. Several students successfully conducted original research as a
means by which to explore their respective topic. Indeed, some students completed their
projects in a superior manner. Many students, while missing the superior mark, did
demonstrate an ability to examine a topic that is grounded in theoretical concepts as well
as interpret the research in a manner consistent with the objectives of the course.
Students, especially those who worked closely with the professor or with Writing Center
counselors, also demonstrated the ability to complete papers that were clearly written,
mechanically sound, and consistent with the style of presenting research in this field. |
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17 May 2005
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