ATCM4380

Communication, Media, and Information Technology

Fall 2017
ATC 2.602
MW 1- 2:15pm

Contact Information

Dr. Angela Lee

Phone: 972-883-7539
Email: angela.lee@utdallas.edu
Office hours: By appointment
Office: ATC 2.509

Course Description

Communication is an indispensable part of human life, and communication scholars have long examined the
ways in which mass media, new media technology and ordinary people influence, and are influenced, by one
another. This course will offer an overview of such influences, and students are expected to go away from the
course with knowledge of how communication shapes our perception, how mass media affect our attitudes and
behaviors, and how the rise of new media technology complicates our understanding of the relationship between
mass media and everyday citizens.

Learning Objectives

In this course, students will:

Learn how different communication processes influence human interactions and relationships by
examining prominent theories in the field of mass communication;
Become mindful of how mass media, emerging media technology and ordinary people influence, and
are influenced, by one another through a series of in-class exercises;
Develop critical thinking and persuasive skills by participating in class discussions and team debates.

Required Readings

There are no assigned textbooks for students to purchase. Instead, all of the readings are available online and
their links can be found on the course calendar below. Be sure to check the course calendar regularly and
complete all assigned readings before class.

Additional Course Requirements

Access to a computer (some in-class exercises may require that you bring a laptop to class)
Check your UTD email regularly
Be in class on time

Course Policies

Students should familiarize themselves with official UTD course policies and procedures, which can be
found here: http://provost.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/
No digital devices. Mutual respect is essential in this class. Therefore, use of electronic devices (e.g.,
laptops, tablets and smartphones, etc.) is considered disruptive and not permitted in the classroom
unless requested by the instructor.
No plagiarism. In particular, you should familiarize yourself with the concept of plagiarism see the
Avoiding Plagiarism section from the link above. Plagiarism is NOT tolerated in this course. If you
have any questions about this, ask me before you turn in an assignment.
No late assignment. Many assignments are due in class. Unless otherwise arranged with me prior to the
deadline, late assignments are not accepted and will automatically result in a zero.

Course Syllabus Page 1

 Attendance. Our class meetings are an integral part of the learning experience for the students. As such,
you are expected to attend class, complete in-class exercises or quizzes, and participate actively in class
discussions. Arriving more than 30 minutes late or leaving more than 30 minutes early will be marked
as absent.
Religious holidays. You must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date
of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a
project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed
work within a reasonable time after the absence.
Disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior is defined as behavior that interrupts or interferes with daily
functions of the University of the education processes by the Dean of Students at UTD. To create a
safe and welcoming environment for learning, no disruptive behavior is allowed in this class. Students
who make inappropriate (e.g., hostile or threatening) remarks in class will be reported to the Dean of
Students.
Communication. In this class, e-mail will be used as a means of communication with students. You are
responsible for checking your school e-mail every day for class work and announcements.

Grading Policy

Class Participation (25%) This course is designed to be interactive and participatory. Students are
expected to attend class, arrive on time, participate in class discussions and debates, and respond to class
readings regularly. All students are permitted three class absences over the course of the semester, no
questions asked, but there will be no make-ups for in-class exercises or quizzes. Students who miss
more than five class meetings will receive a zero for participation. Students caught using electronic
devices in the classroom will lose participation points for the day.
Reading responses (20%) You are expected to write at least 5 reading responses throughout the
semester. There is only one rule for the reading responsesdo NOT summarize the readings. Please
feel free to use these opportunities to share your view on, or raise questions about, the readings, discuss
issues related to or inspired by the readings, and/or bring up reading-related topics for class discussion,
etc. You are encouraged to synthesize the readings in your responses. Because your reading responses
will be incorporated into the lecture, they are due at noon the day before class (i.e., if you want to
respond to August 30s readings, your response will be due at noon on August 29). Please keep in mind
that there are only limited opportunities to do the reading responses this semester and plan accordingly.
No late responses are accepted, and you will need to add a label to your responses on Blogger in order
to receive credit at the end of the semester.
In-class Exam (25%) Nov. 6 (Mon.) To assess your understanding of class materials, this closed-
book exam will cover major concepts covered in lecture and readings. No make-up exam is allowed.
The exam comprises of multiple choice and T/F questions. Make-up exams, on the other hand, may
entail fill-in-the-blanks and short answer questions in addition to a different set of multiple choice and
T/F questions to ensure that the exam is fair to all students.
Team Debate (30%) Fostering critical thinking skills is important to this class. As such, you will
participate in a team debate at the end of the semester. To help with debate preparation, you and your
team are expected to turn in a written report that outlines your key arguments and counter-arguments.
The written report should demonstrate your understanding and application of different persuasive
strategies and/or communication theories covered in this class. The written report is due on Nov. 29
(Wed.) and accounts for half of the points in this category.

Grading Scheme

A = 93 or above C = 73-76
A- = 90-92 C- = 70-72
B+ = 87-89 D+ = 67-69
B = 83-86 D = 63-66
B- = 80-82 D- = 60-62
C+ = 77-79 F = 59 or below

Course Syllabus Page 2

Sharing Confidential Information

Students considering sharing personal information in email, in person, or within assignments or exams should
be aware that faculty members and teaching/research assistants are required by UT Dallas policy to report
information about sexual misconduct to the UT Dallas Title IX Coordinator. Per university policy, faculty have
been informed that they must identify the student to the UT Dallas Title IX Coordinator. Students who wish to
have confidential discussions of incidents related to sexual harassment or sexual misconduct should contact the
Student Counseling Center (972-883-2527 or after hours 972-UTD-TALK or 972-883-8255), the Women's
Center (972-883-8255), a health care provider in the Student Health Center (972-883-2747), the clergyperson
(or other legally recognized religious advisor) of their choice, or an off-campus resource (i.e., rape crisis
center, doctor, psychologist). Students who are sexually assaulted, harassed, or victims of sexual misconduct,
domestic violence, or stalking, are encouraged to directly report these incidents to the UT Dallas Police
Department at 972-883-2222 or to the Title IX Coordinator at 972-883-2218. Additional information and
resources may be found at http://www.utdallas.edu/oiec/title-ix/resources.

Please form a study group of three and write down the contact information of two other members here (Name,
email and/or phone number).

1.

2.
Our course blogs URL is: https://atcm4380f17.blogspot.com

Course Calendar & Readings

Week 1
Monday 8/21
Introduction

Wednesday 8/23
Intro to Communication

Readings to be completed before class:

1. A learning secret: dont take notes with a laptop: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-
learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/
2. 6 degrees of plagiarism and the crisis of originality: Why so many just cant stop:
https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2014/08/opinion-weldon-stackstreet-plagiarism/
3. The AP will no longer use skeptics to describe people who dont believe in climate change:
http://bit.ly/goldhill_climatechange

Note: If youd like to do a reading response for today, its due on the course blog at noon on Tuesday 8/22.

Week 2
Monday 8/28
Social norms in persuasion & inoculation

Readings to be completed before class:

1. The secret to winning an argument is ridiculously simple: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-
win-an-argument-2014-5
2. How to win every argument: http://time.com/110643/how-to-win-every-argument/
3. Robert Cialdini explains the six ways to influence people:
http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/

Note: If youd like to do a reading response for today, its due on the course blog at noon on Sunday 8/27.

Course Syllabus Page 3

Wednesday 8/30
Language & perception: Framing

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Veronika Decides to Die Ch.2 - https://www.scribd.com/document/275195620/Veronika-Decides-
to-Die-Ch-2
2. Brene Brown on how to reckon with emotion and change your narrative:
http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/brene-brown-rising-strong-excerpt
3. Suicide contagion and social media/ The dangers of sharing Genie, youre free:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/12/suicide-contagion-and-social-
media-the-dangers-of-sharing-genie-youre-free
4. How Western media would cover Baltimore if it happened elsewhere in the world:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/04/30/how-western-media-would-
cover-baltimore-if-it-happened-elsewhere

Note: If youd like to do a reading response for today, its due on the course blog at noon on Tuesday 8/29.

Week 3
Monday 9/4

Labor day no class

Wednesday 9/6

Framing: In-Class Exercise

**Please bring your laptop or tablet to class for todays exercise**

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Everyones trying really hard not to call the Germanwings co-pilot a terrorist:
http://mic.com/articles/113896/everyone-s-trying-really-hard-not-to-call-the-germanwings-co-pilot-a-
terrorist
2. One tweet shows the hypocrisy of Americas reaction to white people rioting at Ohio State:
https://mic.com/articles/108372/one-tweet-shows-the-hypocrisy-of-america-s-reaction-to-white-
people-rioting-at-ohio-state
3. Is the professor bossy or brilliant? Much depends on gender:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/upshot/is-the-professor-bossy-or-brilliant-much-depends-on-
gender.html
4. The financial consequences of saying Black, vs. African American
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/12/the-financial-consequences-of-saying-black-
vs-african-american/383999/

Week 4
Monday 9/11
Selective exposure & confirmation bias

Due in class
Your framing examples for in-class exercise

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Political polarization & media habits: http://www.journalism.org/2014/10/21/political-polarization-
media-habits/
2. Blue feed red feed: See liberal Facebook and conservative Facebook, side by side:
http://graphics.wsj.com/blue-feed-red-feed/

Course Syllabus Page 4

 3. The real media divide: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR2007071501110.html
4. How confirmation bias can lead to war:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/07/how-confirmation-bias-can-lead-to-
war/260347/
5. The confirmation bias: Why its hard to change your mind: http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/06/the-
confirmation-bias-why-its-hard-to-change-your-mind.php

Wednesday 9/13
Selective perception & selective retention

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Selective perception chapter 1: http://bit.ly/ch1_sp
2. Police body cameras: what do you see?:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/04/01/us/police-bodycam-video.html
3. People selectively remember the details of atrocities that absolve in-group members:
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/people-selectively-remember-the-details-of-
atrocities-that-absolve-in-group-members.html
4. Remember that? No you dont. Study shows false memories afflict us all:
http://science.time.com/2013/11/19/remember-that-no-you-dont-study-shows-false-memories-afflict-
us-all/
5. You will see Baader-Meinhof everywhere soon: https://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-
being/stories/you-will-see-baader-meinhof-everywhere-soon

Week 5
Monday 9/18
Media effects: Agenda-setting

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Agenda-setting function of Maxwell McCombs & Donald Shaw: http://bit.ly/ch31_agendasetting
2. Research in India suggests Google search results can influence an election - The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/05/12/research-in-india-suggests-google-
search-results-can-influence-an-election
3. More than buzz: social media and the news agenda: https://www.rjionline.org/stories/more-than-
buzz-social-media-and-the-news-agenda

Wednesday 9/20
Media effects: Priming

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Mind games: Sometimes a white coat isnt just a white coat:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/clothes-and-self-perception.html
2. Opinion: Dress well, test well mantra gives confidence, results on exam day:
http://www.thelantern.com/2014/03/opinion-dress-well-test-well-mantra-gives-confidence-results-
exam-day/
3. Even the thought of earning less than their wives changed how men behave:
https://hbr.org/2016/04/even-the-thought-of-earning-less-than-their-wives-changes-how-men-behave
4. Your brain has a delete buton and heres how to use it: http://www.anonews.co/brain-delete-
button/

Course Syllabus Page 5

 Week 6
Monday 9/25
Media effects I Historical perspective

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Media effects in context http://bit.ly/ONeill_effects
2. What is a media effect? http://bit.ly/Potter_mediaefffects
3. Parents & frequent moviegoers are desensitized to violence, sex in film; likely so is MPAA ratings
board: study: http://deadline.com/2014/10/film-sex-violence-moviegoers-parents-study-mpaa-
853893/
4. What science knows about video games and violence:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/what-science-knows-about-video-games-and-violence/
5. Fear-based ads help to convince teens to cut back on sugary drinks:
https://www.asc.upenn.edu/news-events/news/fear-based-ads-help-convince-teens-cut-back-sugary-
drinks

Wednesday 9/27
Media effects II & In-Class Exercise
**Please bring your laptop or tablet to class for todays exercise**

Week 7
Monday 10/2
In-Class Exercise (Continued)

Due in class: Your media effects examples for in-class exercise

Wednesday 10/4
9/11 and the power of the press

Readings to be completed before class:

1. President Bush addresses to the nation: https://georgewbush-
whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030319-17.html
2. Popular opinion in the U.S. on the invasion of Iraq:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_opinion_in_the_United_States_on_the_invasion_of_Iraq

Week 8
Monday 10/9
Buying the War discussion & third-person effect

Readings to be completed before class:

1. The influence of presumed media influence: Origins and implications of the third-person perception
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237372883/The-Influence-of-Presumed-Media-Influence-Origins-and-
Implications-of-the-Third-Person-Perception
2. Persuasion Third-person effect: http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/08/persuasion-the-third-person-
effect.php
3. The third person effect: http://www.sicotests.com/psyarticle.asp?id=419
4. The other side is not dumb: https://medium.com/@SeanBlanda/the-other-side-is-not-dumb-
2670c1294063

Course Syllabus Page 6

Wednesday 10/11
Buy the War (Continued): http://vimeo.com/33033186

Week 9
Monday 10/16
Spiral of silence mass & social media

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Spiral of silence chapter: http://bit.ly/ch29_spiralofsilence
2. The spiral of silence: How social media encourages self-censorship online:
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/the-spiral-of-silence-how-social-media-
encourages-self-censorship-online-9693044.html
3. Penn professor shows how spontaneous social norms emerge: https://news.upenn.edu/news/penn-
professor-shows-how-spontaneous-social-norms-emerge
4. Chilling effect of mass surveillance is silencing dissent online, study says:
http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/chilling-effect-of-mass-surveillance-is-silencing-dissent-
online-study-says

Wednesday 10/18
Digital media: speed & quality of life

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Hit the reset button in your brain: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/hit-the-
reset-button-in-your-brain.html
2. Instant gratification is making us perpetually impatient::
https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2013/02/01/the-growing-culture-impatience-where-
instant-gratification-makes-crave-more-instant-
gratification/q8tWDNGeJB2mm45fQxtTQP/story.html
3. Life gets fasteras the earth slows down: http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/life-gets-faster-as-
the-earth-slows-down/
4. Millennials would take a $7,600 pay cut for quality of work life:
http://fortune.com/2016/04/08/fidelity-millennial-study-career/

Week 10
Monday 10/23

Social media and personal well-being: comparisons and problems

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Will Facebook make you sad? Depends on how you use it:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/05/will-facebook-make-you-sad-depends-how-you-use-it
2. The likely cause of addiction has been discovered, and its not what you think:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html
3. How social media affect our self-perception:
https://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/03/14/how-social-media-affects-our-self-perception/
4. The problem isnt oversharing, its overfollowing: http://time.com/3535342/oversharing-
overfollowing/
5. How friendship fights depression: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/08/how-
friendship-fights-depression/401807/

Course Syllabus Page 7

Wednesday 10/25
Privacy: What is a fair trade-off?

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Do millennials care about privacy?: https://medium.com/apus-stem-news/do-millennials-care-
about-privacy-38d36e92ea84
2. Facebook quizzes: what happens to your data?: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34922029
3. Buzzfeed records your personal quiz data in bulk: http://www.newsweek.com/does-buzzfeed-know-
which-backstreet-boy-you-should-actually-marry-256280
4. Google responds to privacy concerns with unsettlingly specific apology [Satire]:
http://www.theonion.com/article/google-responds-to-privacy-concerns-with-unsettlin-16891
5. This photographer used an app to find the profile pictures of people on the subway:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/krishrach/this-photographer-used-an-app-to-track-down-the-profiles-pic

Week 11
Monday 10/30
Google, Facebook, Amazon whats next?

Readings to be completed before class:

1. Google, Facebook and Amazon race to blur lines between man and machine:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/28/google-facebook-amazon-transcendence-
artificial-intelligence
2. Giants behaving badly: Google, Facebook and Amazon show us the downside of monopolies and
black-box algorithms: https://gigaom.com/2014/05/23/giants-behaving-badly-google-facebook-and-
amazon-show-us-the-downside-of-monopolies-and-black-box-algorithms/
3. Facebooks fatal weakness: Why the social network is losing to Amazon, Apple & Google:
http://www.salon.com/2014/02/04/facebooks_fatal_weakness_why_the_social_network_is_losing_to
_amazon_apple_google/
4. How social bias creeps into web technology: https://www.wsj.com/articles/computers-are-showing-
their-biases-and-tech-firms-are-concerned-1440102894

Wednesday 11/1
In-class exercise: Bingo conceptual amalgamation

**Please bring your laptop/tablet and lecture notes to class for todays exercise**

Week 12
Monday 11/6
Exam Q&A

Wednesday 11/8
In-Class Exam

Week 13

Monday 11/13
Debate prep mandatory team consultation
Note: Team consultations will take place in Dr. Lees office (ATC2.509). The rest of the class should meet and
work on debate prep during class time

Course Syllabus Page 8

Wednesday 11/15
Debate prep mandatory team consultation

Note: Team consultations will take place in Dr. Lees office (ATC2.509). The rest of the class should meet and
work on debate prep during class time

Week 14

NO CLASS: Fall & Thanksgiving Break

Week 15
Monday 11/27
Debate prep optional consultation available by appointment
Note: Everyone should meet and work on debate prep during class time

Wednesday 11/29
Class debate Part 1

Due in class:
1. Written report from all debate teams
2. Debate evaluation from non-debaters

Week 16
Monday 12/4
Class debate Part 2

Due in class:
1. Debate evaluation from non-debaters

Wednesday 12/6

Class debate Part 3 & final lecture

Due in class:
1. Debate evaluation from non-debaters

Comet Creed

This creed was voted on by the UT Dallas student body in 2014. It is a standard that Comets choose to live by
and encourage others to do the same: As a Comet, I pledge honesty, integrity, and service in all that I do.

The descriptions and timelines contained in this syllabus are subject to change at the discretion of the
Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 9