Reaction Paper #10 due 11-4

Another video! This one on piracy.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6483543718966313073&hl=en#

According to the Matt Mason, speaker and author of The Pirate's Dilemma, how is copyright out of touch compared to the way that we are sharing and using information? Also, summarize his three main points: why piracy is important, how it works and how should we respond? What's your analysis of these points?

Interesting Internet usage factoids from Kottke.

Just a note

Hey folks,

As you're starting to think about your research paper due in a month, I'd like you to read this and this regarding plagiarism.

Any paper that isn't properly cited will be marked off. Any paper with plagiarism will be given a 0 and will be subject to academic dishonest as described in the student handbook.

Have a good day!

Reaction Paper #9 due 10-29

For reaction paper 9, I'd like you to write a review. It can be a review for a TV show, movie, album, video game or book.

Pretend you are writing for The Campus Chronicle. Your audience is DMACC students. You want to keep your writing somewhat formal, but it doesn't have to be too stiff. Be sure to proof read. Here are some good tips on how to write it. Please read:

http://www.howtodothings.com/hobbies/a2206-how-to-write-a-movie-review.html

It will help if you review something that you are passionate about -- whether you love it or hate it.

Here are some readings for inspiration.

Roger Ebert hates the movie "North": http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19940722/REVIEWS/407220302/1023

But he likes Pulp Fiction: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010610%2FREVIEWS08%2F106100301%2F1023

Indiana Jones: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20000430%2FREVIEWS08%2F4300301%2F1023

This guy goes in-depth with "Armageddon":http://criterioncollection.blogspot.com/2005/09/40-armageddon.html

Mario Kart Wii Review:http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185351

Remember to be as specific as possible. Don't just say "it had good acting." What made the acting good? What made the story interesting? What made the action scenes boring?

Test #3

Intro to Mass Media
Test III (Take-home) • Due end of the day Friday 10/29 (midnight)

Rules:

1. Your main source for this test is the book, but you are free to use outside sources or our lecture. Please cite any outside sources at the end of the paper (you can choose the citation style: MLA, APA, etc.)

2. You can use fellow classmates.

3. The test must be written 100% by yourself. That means you can talk about the answers with a classmate, but when you sit down to write it has to be all yours. If it is too similar to another classmate's, I either won't take them or make both students redo it with new questions, depending on how similar they are.

Pick TWO questions to answer.

You should write about 2-3 double spaced pages for each answer.

1. (Chapter 7) Smart phones (Android, iPhone, Blackberry, etc.) are a relatively young invention. How do storage technology, user interface, and interactivity differ on smart phones compared to regular telephones or cell phones? Why are these three aspects important to smart phone designers?

2. (Chapter 8) How has the evolution of networks created a shift in the power from traditional mass media companies to consumers? What important legal issues come into play?

3. (Chapter 9) How (and why) should marketers take advantage of social media when trying to promote their products? What examples have you seen? What ethical issues should they be aware of?

Map of online communities from xkcd.

Reaction Paper #8 due midnight 10-21

Here's the link to the video we watched in class:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/kidsonline/view/?utm_campaign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid

For your paper, please discuss the issues raised in the video -- parental control, digital tools in education, cyber-bullying, suicide, social networks and eating disorders. You don't have to touch on all of them -- but relate them to chapter 7 and/or 9 in your book. In the case of some of the problems -- what can be done? What should parents be doing? Is the internet actually increasing teen suicide and eating disorders, or just giving it a new home? If you can link it to any research (trends in suicide rates/eating disorders in the past 30-40 years?) I would be impressed.

Reaction Paper #7 due 10-14 (midnight)

Here is the video (it's 5 parts..if it doesn't work in Chrome, try Firefox or Safari... it starts 30 seconds in)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjt77lBNjwM&feature=PlayList&p=F35C52CC41B4DC24&index=0&playnext=1

It's a video, called Killing Us Softly. It has to do with how women are portrayed in advertising. (It does have some adult language and images)

I'd simply like you to:

1. Summarize the the problem the presenter identifies. Do you agree with the presenter, or are the problems exaggerated?

2. What are the effects on women & girls (and boys)?

3. Does the speaker bring up any points you hadn't noticed or thought about before? Why do you think this was?

4. What is your response? What should be done, if anything?

Reaction Paper #6 due 10-8

This one is worth 20 points and includes two parts:

First, watch about the first 25 minutes of this video (you can watch it all if you want, it's about 50 minutes)

http://infosthetics.com/archives/2010/09/journalism_in_the_age_of_data_visualization_as_a_storytelling_medium.html

In the length of about 3/4 of a page (or more -- single spaced), summarize a few of the main points in the video.

Next, head over to this site:

http://vizlab.nytimes.com/

And find some interesting visualizations (note there is a "browse all" button). Find a few to talk about. What makes them interesting? What did you learn from the visual presentation and does it work better (or worse) than if it were simply text? Paste links to the illustrations in your paper... (try to put them on their own line as opposed to in the middle of a big block of text). Length for part 2, 3/4 of a page (or more).

P.S. -- if you want to watch The Social Network and write a 2-page review and relate it to material in the class, you can get up to 10 points E.C. Due... Nov. 30.