Units

---

Sample subject outline - 5 Week Teaching Period - 8 2012

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit explores a variety of key myths, controversies and debates surrounding the relationship between media and society. It investigates the historical foundations, cultural context and factual accuracy of a series of 'common sense' arguments regarding how different kinds of media have or have not affected the way our society functions.

Aims

This unit aims to introduce you to a critical understanding of key concepts and debates in media and communication studies. These include the ways that media and communications have facilitated the development of modern societies and enabled social change, as well the relationship between systems of mediated communication, the cognitive habits of individuals and broader patterns of social organisation, and cultural and historical development. This unit continues to develop concepts introduced in KCZ101 related to popular culture, offering deeper insights into common misconceptions regarding media and society.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Outline the role of media in modern human history, including the variety of ways in which media have been institutionally organised, governed and used
2. Communicate this understanding of media's role in modern human history in a variety of modes.
3. Reflect upon key debates about the relationships between media and society, and the ways media support and enable social participation

Content

This unit addresses content such as:
- The rise of mass media
- Debates about 'media effects'
- The social role of media
- TV and family life
- Video gaming and gaming cultures
- Young people and the news

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Key concepts will be introduced and illustrated in formal lectures. These will be supplemented with discussion in smaller tutorials that will also be directed at supporting student work-in-progress on assessment tasks.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.

Assessment name: Poster Presentation
Description: (Formative and summative)
Your task is to prepare a poster that graphically represents your understanding of one of the unit themes. Your poster must include two quotations from unit readings that clearly support the poster's key elements and their relevance to the topic. You will display your poster at the KCZ102 poster event.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: (Formative and summative)
Your final assessment task is to write a referenced research paper, of 2000 words, based either upon the listed essay questions provided to you, or on a topic of your choice, approved by the unit coordinator. You must use an approved referencing system for this paper.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Do to the intensive nature of delivery, resource materials will be developed progressively.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 26-Sep-2012