Summer 2024 - CMNS 316 D100
Topics in Popular Cultures and Public Communication (4)
Class Number: 1880
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Ahmed Al-Rawi
aalrawi@sfu.ca
778-782-3860
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Prerequisites:
17 CMNS units with a minimum grade of C- or 45 units with a minimum CGPA of 2.00.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Topics on public and popular cultures with a focus on social, political, and cultural dynamics. Explores audiences, publics, and institutions at a global, national, and/or local level. Topics vary and may address themes like: news, music, public media, advertising, sports, childhood, youth cultures, art, and everyday life. This course can be repeated once for credit (up to a maximum of two times).
COURSE DETAILS:
Topic for Summer 2024: Misinformation Literacy
This course covers the relevant concepts, methods, and arguments about misinformation, and it has a strong emphasis on developing critical skills. We will critically review, among other concepts, the varied meanings of misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, and fake news. We will also study how misinformation is identified and how it spreads as well as the different fact checking techniques, while emphasizing the global nature of the spread of misinformation along many fields such as politics, health, climate, and sports. Though social media is a vibrant source of misinformation, we will also examine other possible sources and players such as the news media, politicians, and fake experts. It is imperative that students keep up with the readings in this course.
Grading
- Lecture & Tutorial Attendance & Participation 20%
- Tutorial Presentation 15%
- Fact-Checking Case Study 15%
- Reflection Essay 20%
- Misinformation Analysis Paper 30%
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). For further information see: www.sfu.ca/policies/Students/index.html.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
There is no required text. Readings will be assigned before the beginning of the course, and they will be made available through Canvas.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/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