Advertising

Course Details

Course Number: MCOM-3223  Section Number: 201

Spring 2011

Location: Fain Fine Arts Center

Classroom Number: B105

Days & Times:

MWF @ 11 a.m. - 11:50 p.m.

Course Attachments

Textbooks

Essentials of Contemporary Advertising, 2nd ed  ISBN: 9780073380971
MSU Faculty Member
Liz Minden   
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Course Objectives

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

This course examines advertising from a broad perspective, how it functions and its role in society.  Designed primarily as a lecture-discussion class, the information you learn should help you understand the fundamentals of advertising practices, theory and methods. Students are expected to read not only the text assignments, but also access other sources that will help them understand the complex field of advertising.  The course will provide a foundation for more advanced advertising study for those pursuing careers in the field of mass communication, and it should be of value to all students in their roles as consumers.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to:

  1. Define advertising.
  2. Explain how advertising differs from and works with other forms of marketing communication.
  3. Describe some of the advertising characteristics of various mass media.
  4. Outline the basic advertising process, including identifying its major players and how advertising messages target specific audiences through research, creative strategy and media placement.
  5. Explain several legal, social and ethical constraints of the advertising industry.

Course Expectations

 COURSE ACTIVITIES

  1.  ASSIGNED READINGS & DISCUSSIONS
  2. POP QUIZZES:    5-10 points each.  Held at the discretion of the instructor, these will be over the text readings and classroom discussions.  Quizzes will be held at the beginning of the class period, so be on time.
  3. THREE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:      100 points each
  •   Homework assignments will be based on the text readings, classroom discussions and/or other course materials.
  • Homework assignments must be turned in typed, double-spaced, and with a minimum of grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.  The instructor will deduct points for an excess of these errors.
  • Homework assignments are due at the beginning of the class period indicated as their due date.  It is your responsibility to get a copy of the assignments and keep track of due dates.
  • Information explaining each assignment will be provided in separate handouts, including grading criteria, due dates and other requirements.

4.   MID-TERM EXAM:  100 points.  This will be an objective exam.  A study guide will be provided prior to the exam.  The exam will be held on Friday, March 11.

5.   ADVERTISING PROJECT:    150 points

  • This project will be your final exam and is DUE Monday, May 9, no later than 12:30 p.m. 
  • Details of this project, including grading criteria, will be provided in a separate handout early in the semester.

Grading Standards

 COURSE GRADES

  1. Late work will not be accepted.  If you know you won’t be in class on the day an assignment is due, turn in your work early.  A late assignment earns a zero for points. 
  2. Fabricating information or using another’s work as your own earns you an “F” for the course.  (See “Course Policies” #2.)
  3. Points will be deducted from all homework and other typed assignments that have numerous grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors, so read them carefully before you hand them in.
  4. Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned chapters upon which quizzes will be based.
  5. The ability to make up any missed assignment is at the sole discretion of the instructor.
  6. Numerical grades will be awarded for each quiz and assignment.  To determine your grade for the course, quiz, test and assignment grades will be totaled and then divided by the total number of possible points to derive your percentage. The grading scale is:

A   =          90% -100% of the total possible points

B   =          80% - 89% of the total possible points

C   =          70% - 79% of the total possible points

D   =          60% - 69% of the total possible points

F    =          Less than 60% of the total possible points

**NOTE:  The instructor reserves the right to adjust or cancel assignments as the course progresses.  If for some reason assignments total somewhat more or fewer than the original number set for the course, the method of calculating the final grade will remain the same:  the total points a student achieves for all submitted assignments will be divided by the total possible points for all the assignments to obtain a percentage, and a grade will be assigned according to the percentage scale outlined above.


Final Exam5/9/2011  10:30-12:30

Submission Format Policy

Homework assignments should be typed, double-spaced.



Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

Late work will not be accepted. If you know you won’t be in class on the day an assignment is due, turn in your work early.  A late assignment earns a zero for points.


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Attendance:  Students are expected to attend, be on time for and participate in class.  The instructor reserves the right to drop any student who misses more than three class periods.  Students who miss more than three class periods without verifiably good reasons will be dropped from this course.


Other Policies

COURSE POLICIES

  1. Plagiarism and cheating:  The MSU Student Honor Creed, found in both your student handbook and the university catalog, includes the statement:  “As an MSU student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else to do so.”  Plagiarism, lying and cheating include, but are not limited to:  fabricating information and sources, copying material from publications without crediting the author, turning in another student’s work as your own, and copying quiz/exam answers from another person.  STUDENTS FOUND CHEATING, PLAGIARIZING OR MAKING UP INFORMATION WILL RECEIVE AN “F” FOR THIS COURSE.
  2. Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act: Any student with a disability who is registered with the MSU Office of Disability Support Services should notify the instructor at the beginning of the course to ensure that alternatives may be found to provide the student with full class participation.
  3. Limited Right:  By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course. This “limited right” shall include, but shall not be limited to, the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes.
  4. FERPA:  The instructor abides by the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.  The instructor also will not release a student’s academic information or discuss a student’s academic progress or class attendance with his/her parent or guardian.  Additionally, the instructor will not discuss a student’s grades with him/her in class, over the phone or by email.  STUDENTS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR GRADES MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE INSTRUCTOR.
  5. Disruptive Behavior:  Anyone disrupting the class – or violating any other Standard of Conduct applicable to the classroom environment – will be dropped from the course.  (See MSU Student Handbook, “Standards of Student Conduct.”) 
  • Turn off the sound on your cell phone during class.  No text messaging either.  If your phone rings or you’re found sending a text-message during class, you will be dropped from the course.
  • Turn off your iPods and similar technology.  Like ringing cell phones, this is a class disruption issue and you will be dropped from the course if you do not comply.
  • Be polite.  Discourtesy of any kind will not be tolerated.

6.   Senior Portfolio:  Please note that all mass communication majors are required to submit a senior portfolio before registering for the mass communication capstone course, Senior Production (October 1 for spring semester registration and March 1 for fall semester registration).  This requirement is a part of MSU’s reaccreditation with the Southern Assoc. of Colleges and Schools and is non-negotiable.  Students are required to demonstrate communication competence through the written word, the spoken word and visual communication; two examples of each competency are required.  Students will not be admitted to Senior Production until the department chair certifies that they have satisfied the portfolio requirement.

      As you go through this and other classes, you are responsible for saving course work that could be included in your senior portfolio.

      Please see your instructor, adviser, the department chair or any mass communication faculty member for handouts with more information (“Mass Communication Senior Portfolio Competencies” and “Mass Communication Senior Portfolio FAQ”).

      More information is available at:

      http://finearts.mwsu.edu/masscomm/pdf/senior-portfolio-rev.pdf

      http://finearts.mwsu.edu/masscomm/pdf/senior-portfolio-faq.pdf

7.    Other:  You may be asked to provide your assignments on a portable computer medium (e.g.,                             jump/thumb drive) or by email.

BE AWARE THAT the instructor reserves the right to change any part of this syllabus for any reason, and will give sufficient notice if changes are necessary.


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.