COMMUNICATION
STUDIES 370 – Political Communication
Spring
Semester 2008
Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday 10:00-10:50 p.m.
232 Moreau
Center for the Arts
Dr. Michael
Kramer
Office
Address: 105 Moreau Center
for the Arts
Office
Hours: Tuesday and Thursday
2:00-4:30 p.m. and by appointment
Phone: 284-4042 (office), 251-0262 (home)
Email: mkramer@saintmarys.edu
Home Page:
http://www.saintmarys.edu/~mkramer/
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This
courseÕs broad focus will be the study of the political process from a
communication perspective.
Specifically, we will be discussing the communicative practices of
political cartoons, speechwriting, advertising, debates, mass media usage and
coverage, online political messages, and the increasing nexus between politics
and entertainment. These areas
will be examined through historical examples, contemporary politics, and the
2008 campaign. Recurring themes
revolve around the perception of political communication as a problem in our
political system, communication and the role of women in politics, questions
about what constitutes ÒlegitimateÓ political communication and the impact of
new media technologies on political discourse.
As
suggested above, the course is related to the following goals:
1. Students should be able to demonstrate
an understanding of communication theory and history, and of critical thinking
skills.
2. Students should be able to produce
written and oral messages appropriate to a variety of communication contexts.
3. Students should understand the contexts
(political, social, ethical and cultural) in which messages are produced,
disseminated, and interpreted.
REQUIRED
TEXTS
1. Judith S. Trent and Robert V.
Friedenberg, Political Campaign Communication, Principles and
Practices, Sixth Ed. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008).
2. Numerous readings will be provided in
class for assigned reading or for classroom reading and discussion.
3. Read a news source every day to keep up
on current political developments.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance
and participation are an important part of this course. I will excuse absences that are
verified with official written documentation from the college or a physician. Second, students are permitted 3
unexcused absences during the semester.
Each unexcused absence after that will result in a 10-point deduction
from your final point total for the course.
Students
are held responsible for all material covered during the class sessions. For any absence, you are responsible
for obtaining lecture notes from a classmate and handouts and assignments from me. You cannot make up missed exams or assignments unless you
provide the documentation discussed above.
ASSIGNMENTS
Detailed
directions will be provided as we get closer to a particular assignment, but a
general description follows:
1. PARTICIPATION - Each student is expected to
contribute regularly to classroom discussions. As you read assignments or read about or watch political
events in the mass media, jot down questions or comments about interesting or
unusual political behavior and bring it up in class. Such initiative will make the class even more interesting,
interactive, and timely.
Also,
conduct that contributes to a productive classroom conversation, such as
listening, attentiveness, and not coming to class late is important and will be
taken into account here.
2. ANALYSIS & REACTION PAPER - In this 3-5 page paper, you
will analyze George W. BushÕs 2000 victory speech, applying concepts discussed
in class.
3. PERSONAL EXPRESSION OF POLITICS
(PEP)- In a democratic society, it is
important for individuals to be comfortable expressing their political beliefs
and opinions. Using a form of
political communication covered during the semester, you will present some of
your political views by completing one of the following three options:
a. Announcement Speech: Write and deliver a 5-7 minute speech announcing your
candidacy for public office. This
speech will require you to fulfill the generic requirements of such a speech
and to examine and explain your own political beliefs and ideas.
b. Political
Cartoons: Create 3-5 political cartoons that are
consistent with your political views and with the goals and practices of
professional political cartoonists.
You will present your cartoons and briefly explain your interest in the
issues addressed and your process in addressing those issues through
cartooning.
c. Political
Advertisement: Create a 30-60-second political
advertisement in support of either your position on a political issue, or an
actual candidate currently running for political office. The creation of the ad should take into
account concepts and strategies for political advertising discussed in class. Once the ad is the finished, it must be
uploaded on YouTube. Finally, you
will present your advertisment and
explain your strategic choices and process in conceptualizing and producing the
ad.
4. CLASS WEBLOG – Our class will create a
weekly blog that discusses and analyzes the use of communication in
politics. Each student will be
required to post two blog entries during the semester, based on a schedule that
will be determined during the first two weeks of class. Topics for posts can include a reaction
to either an assigned reading or any act of political communication found in
the mass media or as part of a political campaign. Students are also required to post a minimum of 10 replies
to classmatesÕ posts during the semester.
5. RESEARCH PAPER - This 8-12 page paper must
analyze an area of political communication discussed during the semester and
apply that area to a specific topic.
You can focus on the national, state, or local political scene. This
assignment suggests a wide range of topics and interests. For example, the paper could examine:
a. a candidateÕs communication strategy
and performance or a comparison of two candidatesÕ communication strategy and
performance;
b. media coverage of a candidate or
campaign issue; or
c. a particular communication event during
the campaign such as a debate, speech, or political advertisement.
The paper
should provide background research and apply ideas discussed in the readings
and in class. Most importantly,
the paper should make an argument,
a claim about political communication that is supported by your research and
analysis. A works cited page using
MLA format should be provided. The research paper is due no later than Friday,
May 9 @ 10:00 a.m.
6. EXAMS – Two exams will be given
during the semester. Each will be
worth 50 points.
POINTS
AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Participation 50
points
Analysis
& Reaction Paper 50
points
Weblog Posts
(2) 50
points
Weblog
Replies (10) 20
points
PEP Talk 80
points
Research
Paper 150
points
Exam #1 50 points
Exam #2
50 points
TOTAL 500
points
Final Grades
will be based upon the following scale:
Percentage Points Grade
93-100 465-500 A
90-93 450-464 A-
87-90 435-449 B+
83-87 415-434 B
80-83 400-414 B-
77-80 385-399 C+
73-77 365-384 C
70-73 350-364 C-
67-70 335-349 D+
60-67 300-334 D
0-60 0-299 F
GRADE
APPEALS AND INCOMPLETES
Students
who disagree with a grade on an assignment or exam must submit a written appeal
to me within one week of the assignment being returned. That appeal should make an argument as
to why the grade should be changed.
Incompletes are permitted only in rare and very extreme
circumstances.
PAPER
REQUIREMENTS
All
written work must be stapled, typed, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and a
standard 10 or 12-point font.
Research sources be cited on a Works Cited page using MLA style. Proper grammar, spelling, and
punctuation are expected. Failure to follow any of these instructions will
result in point deductions. Also,
a paper from this course may be used for your Advanced W portfolio, so paying
attention to mechanics now will save time later.
CLASSROOM
CONDUCT
As
this is a course about political communication, we will be talking about
politics every day. No matter what
your political leanings are, I know that we all share the values of openness,
respect, and critical thinking.
Feel free to express your political views but also be respectful of the
inevitable expression of a different or opposing view. Secondly, think critically about all of
the political communication we discuss, whether it comes from politicians that
you agree with or not. To borrow a
phrase from Jon Stewart, there are too many Òpartisan hacksÓ on all sides of the political
debate. Our mission in this class
is to study political discourse to help us better understand how all politicians are trying to
influence us. Hopefully, that
increased understanding will empower us and make our political decisions truly
our own. Finally, please turn off
cell phones, pagers, and IM devices before entering the classroom.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Consult
the Saint Mary's Academic Honesty Policy, 2007-2009 Bulletin, p. 43.
According to the policies of the Department of Communication and Performance Studies, Òa student who violates the policy will be given an ÔFÕ (0) on the assignment at issue. A student who violates the policy twice in the same course will receive an ÔFÕ in the course. A student who violates the policy in two or more courses will be dropped from the major.Ó
COURSE CALENDAR - schedule may be modified if needed
(For reading
assignments, T&F refers to the Trent and Friedenberg textbook)
CHECK PAGE
NUMBERS FROM NEW EDITION
M 1/14 Introduction
and Syllabus
W 1/16 What
Counts as Political Communication?
F 1/18 The
ÒProblemÓ of Political Communication READ Handout
M 1/21 Rogerian Argument – The
Ideal Political Communication?
Assign Analysis Paper
W 1/23 Video – Women as Political Communicators
F 1/25 Discussion
- Women as Political Communicators
M 1/28 Political
Cartoons: History &
Effects READ Lordan Chapter
W 1/30 Political
Cartoons: Analysis &
Evaluation
F 2/1 Video
– Paul Conrad: ÒDrawing
FireÓ
M 2/4 Communication
Functions in Political Campaigns
READ T&F, Ch. 2
Analysis &
Reaction Paper Due in class on 2/4
W 2/6 Political
Advertising: History READ T&F, Ch. 5, pp.
154-160
F 2/8 Political
Advertising: Strategies READ T&F, Ch. 5, pp.
161-181
M 2/11 Political
Advertising: Targeting
Audiences READ
T&F, Ch. 10
W 2/13 Political
Advertising: Negative Ads READ T&F, Ch. 5, pp. 181-182
F 2/15 Video
– Political Advertising Panel
M 2/18 Political
Speechwriting: Process &
Problems READ T&F, Ch. 6
W 2/20 Political
Speechwriting: Specific
Situations READ T&F, pp.
226-253
F 2/22 Exam
#1
M 2/25 Political
Debates: History & Decision
Factors READ T&F, Ch. 8,
pp. 277-293
W 2/27 Political
Debates: Strategies &
Gaffes READ T&F, Ch. 8, pp.
293-315
F 2/29 The
Debate About Debates
MID-SEMESTER BREAK – MARCH 1-9
M 3/10 Watch
Debate in Class
W 3/12 Debate
Analysis & Spin Exercise regarding debate watched on 3/10
F 3/14 The Media-Politics
Relationship: Political
Influence READ Fritz, Keefer
& Nyhan
M 3/17 The Media-Politics
Relationship: Media Influence READ T&F, Ch. 4
W 3/19 Guest
Speaker on Media and Politics:
Bonnie Dow (5 points extra
credit for attending
DowÕs
lecture on the previous evening)
EASTER HOLIDAY – MARCH 21-24
W 3/26 Talk
Radio READ Page &
Tannenbaum Article
F 3/28 Political
Communication and the Internet: Web Pages
READ T&F, Ch. 11
M 3/31 Political
Communication and the Internet:
Online Discussion Groups
W 4/2 Political
Communication and the Internet:
Weblogs & IM
F 4/4 Political
Communication and the Internet:
Social Networking Sites & Beyond
MW 4/7- Humor as Political
Communication READ Richards
Speech and Martin Article
4/9
F 4/11 Class
Cancelled – Central States Communication Association
M 4/14 Exam
#2
WF 4/16- Entertainment as
Political Communication
4/18
M 4/21 PEP
Talks– Group 1
W 4/23 Discussion
- Predicting Communication Strategies for 2008 Presidential Campaign
READ
T&F, Ch. 3
F 4/25 PEP
Talks– Group 2
M 4/28 Reforming
Political Communication READ T&F, pp. 415-422
W 4/30 Course
Wrap-Up
RESEARCH PAPER DUE – no later than Friday, May 9 @ 10:00
a.m. (Moreau 105)