IT'S THE SYLLABUS! It has all the things. It tells you what's coming up next. It gives you all the policies and procedures you need to know to ace this class.

Need to talk to me? Go to the CONTACT PAGE.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Visual Communication is interwoven with Visual Literacy, which is defined as the ability to find meaning in imagery, and Visual Culture, which focuses on aspects of culture that rely on visual images. Both are indispensable components of contemporary life, essential to a wide range of disciplines, sciences and enterprises including anthropology, sociology, psychology and engineering, as well as governmental and commercial interests. This course is primarily concerned with evaluating numerous forms of visual communication in the mass media, including typography, photographs, newspaper layout, magazine and Web design, editorial cartoons, comic strips, animated cartoons, print and television advertisements, public relations, television programs, and motion pictures, to determine their obvious and implied messages.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe how images are processed physiologically by the eye and brain
• Explain how key theories of perception and communication relate to visual literacy
• Explain the role that Semiotics, Gestalt and other psychology-based cognitive processes play in perception, and the relationship of images to meaning
• Analyze visual messages through the application of various perspectives
• Compare the personal, social and political impact that various types of visual messages have on consumers
• Compare and contrast the intent and effectiveness of design principles
• Explain the significance of persuasion, and identify uses of distortion, stereotyping and propaganda in visual messages
• Evaluate the ethical considerations inherent in visual communication, and the responsibility that goes with the creation and dissemination of visual messages in the mass media

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Visual Communication is interwoven with Visual Literacy, which is defined as the ability to find meaning in imagery, and Visual Culture, which focuses on aspects of culture that rely on visual images. Both are indispensable components of contemporary life, essential to a wide range of disciplines, sciences and enterprises including anthropology, sociology, psychology and engineering, as well as governmental and

COURSE STRUCTURE

Course material is presented through a series of visual demonstrations and lectures, along with various discussion formats and presentations. There are also a number of writing and creative activity assignments. The final exam consists of 50 questions and will include multiple choice, true/false and write-in questions. Detailed instructions for all assignments are posted on Canvas.

• CANVAS: Readings, assignments, resources and other bits and pieces will be posted to Canvas pages, announcements and modules. When in doubt, check the home page.
• MODULES: Every week there’s a fresh new batch of content available, including lectures, readings, assignments and topic-related resources. The weekly module (or To-Do List) works as a contained unit.
• LECTURES: We meet every Monday at 4 p.m. in MZ 361 for a live, in person lecture.

CURRENT EVENTS:

Because we’re journalists we are required to be aware of what’s going on in the news – locally, nationally and internationally – and the impact these events have on the PR industry. Students will also be expected to read major daily newspapers (i.e. “The Los Angeles Times,” “New York Times,” “Wall Street Journal”) and stay current with breaking general and business news having public relations, social media, crisis management or critical thinking implications. Students should be knowledgeable of current events and able to discuss these topics in class. Your instructor reserves the right to quiz you on current events with little or no warning, just for fun…and a grade.

ASSIGNMENTS:

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date, TYPED in the proper format: 1” margins, double-spaced, size 11 font in either Arial or Times. In addition to topic relevance, written assignments will be graded on spelling, AP Style, punctuation, grammar and format.

As a rule, each gross factual error (GFE – the misspelling or miscapitalization of a proper noun or a factual misrepresentation), will receive a deduction of 10% and each error in AP style, grammar and punctuation will lower your grade by 5%.

When required to upload an assignment to Canvas, title your file as follows:

• LastName_FirstName_Assignment

• For example: Long_Stacy_PressRelease
• If your file is named incorrectly, you’ll earn a 5% deduction.

Submit written assignments in Word or as a PDF. No Pages, screen shots, JPG, PNG, Google doc links, Google Drive links, etc. unless previously arranged.

You can install the Microsoft Office Suite, which includes Word, PowerPoint and Excel, for free at (https://www.csun.edu/it/microsoft-office).

All course readings will be posted on Canvas. Readings will include current events, class discussion topics, various handouts and articles. 

QUIZZES:

There will be short mandatory quizzes every week based on assigned readings, lecture and current events. There are no make-ups for quizzes because you have five freaking days to complete the quiz and zero excuses.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND FEEDBACK:

All assignment instructions, rubrics, details and guidelines will be posted on Canvas at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. Scores will be posted on Canvas in the Grade Center within a week after the due date. 

An explanation of your grade will also be posted. Read the feedback comments. It is your responsibility to check Canvas to be sure you have received ALL your scores and that they accurately reflect what you know to be correct. If there is a discrepancy or a score missing, please let me know as soon as possible.

LATE WORK:

Late assignments will be accepted up to a week late for a 10% deduction and with instructor approval. No handwritten assignments will be accepted…because you’re in college. There are no make-up quizzes.

ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to attend class regularly. Excessive absences (three hours or more) as well as tardiness or leaving class early with no excuse will definitely (and negatively) affect your grade. The instructor may drop students who are absent on the first day of class and may also drop students who are absent two consecutive classes in the first two weeks of instruction. In the very unlikely event you miss class, please check your syllabus and Canvas for the material discussed in your absence and connect with classmate for notes.

Please, never, ever, ever email me and ask: “What’d I miss?” It is your responsibility to call your team, get notes, check Canvas and make up missed assignments.

If you decide to bounce from class early, you won’t get credit for attendance at that session.

There are no excused absences except a death in the family or a severe illness. Stuff that doesn’t count as excused: work, parking, tickets to Kimmel, boredom, exhaustion, a hangover, sports game, obligations from another class, Coachella, transportation snafu or family drama, among other variables. Come to class. Every class. Period.

INCOMPLETES ARE EXTREMELY RARE, like unicorn rare:

Students will not be given an incomplete grade in the course without sound reason and documented evidence. Unexcused absence or previous lack of participation does not count as a reason. Additionally, for a student to receive an incomplete, he or she must be passing the class up until the time of petition and must have completed a significant portion of the course.

GRADING SCALE: (It’s math, not magic.)

Grades are computed on the following scale, based on the percentage of points earned. CSUN uses the plus/minus scale.

A	B	C	D	F
100 – 95 = A	89 – 87  = B+	79 – 77  = C+	69 – 67  = D+	59 or < = F
94 – 90  = A-	86 – 83  = B	76 – 73  = C	66 – 63  = D
	82 – 80  = B-	72 – 70  = C-	62 – 60  = D-

In addition to the points available, the instructor reserves the option of rounding up a final letter grade, within 1% based on participation, attendance and preparedness.

You must earn a C or better in this class to be able to enroll in upper-division public relations courses of JOUR 362, JOUR 398, JOUR 440 and/or JOUR 494.

EXTRA CREDIT:

From time to time your instructor will offer up extra credit. No telling when. BUT don’t count on extra credit to make up for a lack of participation overall.

CLASS ETIQUETTE:

• Arrive on time. Arrive prepared. Plan to stay with us for the entire class.
• Please refrain from talking when others are speaking, even if you’re discussing class topics.
• Your cell. I know. It’s completely addictive. I have the same problem. But while in class, I don’t get to check my phone either SO, if your cell becomes a distraction or represents complete disregard and lack of respect for me or your fellow classmates there are consequences.
• You will get one very embarrassing verbal warning at the time of your first cell phone infraction, meaning I see or hear your cell.
• If you’re feeling feisty and have decided the class material isn’t worth your time and you’d rather spend the entire class on your phone (or mobile device), I will call you out to complete a presentation on a topic of my choice for the class the following week.
• While in class, please don’t be doing work for other classes. It hurts my feelings.
• STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK.If you feel awful, don't come to class. 
• Don't assume it's "just allergies" or "just a cold"...and go get tested! There are free testing sites on campus.
• Stay at home (except to get medical care). Call your doctor if you have a fever of 100.4 degrees (F) or more, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; or, if you have a new onset of fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, loss of sense of taste or smell, diarrhea, unusual rash, or other flu-like symptoms. 

ACADEMIC SUPPORT:

If you experience any difficulty with vocabulary, note-taking strategies, study skills, test-taking, memorization techniques, English grammar and punctuation or essay writing please arrange to meet with a tutor who can help clarify these concepts and/or skills. The Writing Center is located in Bayramian Hall 408. The Learning Resource Center is located on the third floor of the Oviatt Library, in the east wing. The LRC offers tutoring services, workshops and writing programs provided by peers and professionals. For detailed info check: http://www.csun.edu/lrc

CSUN JOURNALISM PROGRAM MISSION:

The Department of Journalism strives to prepare its students to become well-educated, principled citizens who are capable of initiating careers as skilled journalists, public relations practitioners and other related communication professionals.

CSUN JOURNALISM PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Students will be able to report and write for diverse publics, using proper grammar and punctuation, word usage and spelling, sentence and storytelling structures across multiple journalistic formats.
• Students will be able to gather and analyze information, including basic numerical concepts, using reporting techniques, such as interviewing, observation, and researching primary and secondary sources.
• Students will be able to think critically, creatively and independently.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness, and diversity.
• Students will apply tools and technologies appropriate for the news media professions in which they work to communicate for and with diverse publics.
• Students will be able to understand and apply the historical, theoretical, legal and societal contexts for producing and consuming news media for consumers, ranging from local to global publics.

LIFE SUPPORT:

CSUN WITH A HEART - Addressing Hunger/Homeless and Emergency needs with Assistance and Resources Together. Here you will find valuable information that will connect you to various resources regarding the basic needs of students in the CSUN campus community. All students in the CSUN community are encouraged to explore the following resources and benefit from them. This website is a component of the CSU Basic Needs Initiative, which is to strengthen the welfare of all students inside and outside the classroom. For assistance with food, housing, financial support, mental and physical wellbeing and communities of support CLICK HERE.

A NOTE ON CHEATING: DON’T.

The Journalism Department is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and integrity. Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. Anyone caught cheating will receive a failing grade in the class and will be reported to the University for possible further disciplinary action. For a further explanation of the behavior defined as cheating, and a more detailed discussion of disciplinary procedures, consult the CSUN catalog, also available online.

Please know that much of the information posted on the Internet is protected by U. S. copyright laws. Passing this information off as your own is a violation of CSUN's plagiarism policy and carries the penalties outlined above.

There is a zero-tolerance policy of cheating in this class. It is expected that all work submitted for grading is original, not copied from others, and that the work being graded is indeed done by the student who is receiving the grade. Cheating (i.e., talking, signaling or looking at others’ papers during an exam or other in-class assignment) and plagiarism (i.e., using all or part of the work of others without giving them credit, including web-based content or quoting from a source without giving that source credit and attribution or faking proper attribution or attempting to pass off someone else’s hard work as your own) are serious violations of the student conduct code. Additionally, trademark infringement and copyright violations can be considered intellectual property theft and are subject to legal consequences. Plus, it just makes me mad.

Don’t get it twisted: THE CUT-AND-PASTE USE OF CHAT GBT (or any other AI writing tool) is cheating AND plagiarism. It’s also just bad writing. Don’t be bad. And it's SO embarrassing for both of us if we have to have this conversation. If you use any AI tool, credit the AI, cite the prompt and include the original AI output.

Any graphic elements you create must have a 75% difference from any original source material or it is considered plagiarism. In other words, your graphic element should look so different from the source material it couldn’t be anything but original work.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY:

Students in this course are strongly encouraged to broaden their journalistic experiences, with the instructor's help, by including in their work people and subjects such as ethnic, racial and religious minorities; the elderly, disabled and poor; gay men and lesbians; and other similar groups.  The intent is to ensure that student work reflects the diversity of the community. A stated commitment to cultural diversity in journalistic work is as relevant in a photography or graphics course as it is in a reporting class.  In addition, the statement applies to the practicum and their related publications/broadcasts.  Some refinement of language may be needed to adapt the statement to specific classes.   

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you have a diagnosed or suspected disability that you think might affect your performance in this course and wish to discuss academic accommodations, contact Disability Resources and Educational Services in Bayramian Hall 110 or (818) 677-2684 for any available assistance.  Please discuss your accommodations with me during office hours or after class and be sure to allow at least one week to arrange appropriate classroom or testing accommodations. For detailed information about student services available, including academic coaching, CLICK HERE.

CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS:

No doubt this syllabus will be subject to some change and adjustment throughout the semester in order to accommodate timely, late-breaking topics and events, guest speakers and the unique needs of each student and groups of students. Students having any doubt or questions regarding assignments and schedules should immediately check Canvas. We’re in journalism; we roll with change.

ONE MORE TIME:

University policy: “Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who are absent from the first two meetings of a class that meets more than once a week or from the first meeting of a class that meets once a week lose the right to remain on the class roll and must formally withdraw from the class, following University procedures and deadlines. Failure to formally withdraw from a class will result in the instructor assigning to the student a grade of ‘WU’ (Unauthorized Withdrawal), which, in computing a student’s GPA, counts as a grade of ‘F.” No joke. Having read the syllabus, please send me a Canvas message by Jan. 28 at 11:59 p.m. titled “Fancy Frogs” the content of which will contain a photo of a frog wearing a hat. No questions.