Spring 2017 - CMNS 261 J100
Documentary Research in Communication (3)
Class Number: 4307
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Wed, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Anis Rahman
abur@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
CMNS 110 or 130.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Media and communication studies often utilize historical, governmental and corporate records. The course introduces the techniques necessary to analyze the primary source documents. Topics include: ethics; documentary discourse analysis; Canadian and international documentary searches on NGOs, governments, corporations; writing of policy briefs.
COURSE DETAILS:
Overview:
The purpose of this course is to help students develop skills in finding and interpreting print and electronic documents; skills you will need for other CMNS courses, and that you can also use in your work and daily life. It is a course in which you ‘learn-by-doing’, so most of your mark (65%) derives from the three research assignments. The first assignment deals with finding and interpreting statistical information. The second assignment is about policy research — how policies are made, who makes them, and who benefits from them. The third assignment is about corporate power research — finding, sorting and assessing information about a major media or information company, and the interests behind it. We will also discuss topics that bear directly on the assignments, such as: ethics, documentary discourse analysis, database research techniques, web page evaluation, documents and secondary sources, archives and libraries, government executive and legislative documents, understanding big data, and the APA (American Psychological Association) system of referencing. The exam provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate the skills you have acquired in the course.
Course Organization:
The course is organized around weekly lectures/demonstrations/practices. This is not a lab course, but we will hold the lectures in a classroom, and in a computer lab so you can learn-by-doing.
Grading
- To be confirmed at the first class.
- Assignment 1: Statistical Sources 15%
- Assignment 2: Policy Research 25%
- Assignment 3: Corporate Power Research 25%
- Final Exam 25%
- Attendance and Participation 10%
NOTES:
The school expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Rubin, Alan M., Communication Research: Strategies and Sources (7th edition). Wadsworth, 2009 [Paperback].
ISBN: 9780495095880
Course Notes, Assignment Guides, Library Research Guide, and other resources will be available on Canvas.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS