Grade Advisory
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 Official Vatican Info -
Pope in America This Week
Assignment - Monitor print, broadcast and
online media coverage this week
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Class Performance
Evaluation & Grade Advisory
The last class meeting was one
of our best this semester! I thank all of you for staying attentive
and asking some interesting and important questions. Our guest did
exactly what I wanted him
to do...namely to show you a contrast on the perspective of
religion. In all faiths there are
people who are "orthodox" or traditional... those who are also proud
of
their faith culture, but less traditional in religious
practices...and there are also those
who simply identify with being part of a religious culture and
that's all.
I really appreciated the way the class respectfully engaged the SJSU
Muslim grad student
and journalist. Zaur was very forthcoming, candid and honest with
all of us.
At times he may have said something you didn't expect, did not
agree with, or
something you personally did not like.
An open and safe learning experience does allow for such candor.
Zaur also spoke of timely and
historic world news events which directly affected his views
and public opinions. He was very impressive.
It is crucial for university educated people to stay up on
current information
at all times. Just because some don't is no excuse for others.
Someday most WILL be called on to participate in some
professional or community endeavor or conversation. Your command
of the facts, history and the news will be noted and scrutinized.
Count on it.
So far this semester, many
MCOM 105 students have volunteered their knowledge, history
and
current events in impressive ways. Some have engaged the process
of "intellectual curiosity" and connected the dots to help provide
more context
and meaning in our Diversity in the Media discussions. Keep that up!
Keep showing what is expected.
Some students, however, have had little or nothing much to volunteer
in terms
of history or current events knowledge. This is quite disturbing and
MUST STOP.
Everyone is expected to contribute.
When every student elected to take this class, each person elected
to meet the
expectations in the course greensheet. Class participation is a
major part of this course.
When you have little or nothing to offer,
you hurt your own class
participation assessment.
Excuses like you don't have time to keep up with the news or check
out the many
informational links provided for research online are simply EXCUSES.
Find the time. Meet your commitment.
The purpose
of a
college education is to take time to broaden your knowledge base
before you
seek professional encounters. Those experiences in the future will
constantly assess
what you know and how well you put things in perspective.
Putting off this knowledge of the world responsibility is NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
Procrastination or simply blowing off this responsibility because
you don't have time
strongly suggests a need to re-organize one's priorities.
Your future, and certainly your class grade may depend on it.
Distractions must also be eliminated, and more class participation
through
volunteered information must be the norm for everyone,
...you included!
Here are recommendations for ALL STUDENTS to follow...No Exceptions!
Expected Performance in MCOM 105:
* Be consistent with
class attendance and no more unexcused absences.
Your individual absences are noted, and they speak volumes
about your
individual commitment to your education and this class.
* Be on time and
ready to contribute.
Drifting in late for class disrespectful and not allowed.
Everyone should know that by now.
Also...Having little detail or nothing to offer class
discussions
in terms of
current events knowledge is
embarrassing considering everyone elected to take a media
course
knew knowledge of timely issues & events is always expected.
Students can leave the impression of laziness or
unwillingness to prioritize
broadening your own knowledge when they resist
meeting this widely regarded expectation of higher
education.
So get with the program! Learn what's going on and
contribute!
* Be more respectful of class time objectives.
In-class laptop use for non-related class activities is never
permitted.
From now on, anyone who violates this JMC School and the MCOM 105
class policy
will be asked to leave the classroom immediately. You
will not be permitted to return
to this class until you meet with Professor Rucker during
office hours
to discuss your overall grade penalty.
Avoid this situation by doing your personal online efforts
outside of class.
Final warning to all students.
* Be thorough and
comply with all assignment directives.
We agreed upfront that instead of requiring an expensive
class textbook,
extensive online links to pertinent research would be
provided. Students agreed to be
responsible and review the research, and use it to support their verbal
and
written comments.
Critical thinking with informed arguments are crucial
to earning respect for individual viewpoints & perspectives.
This upper division media course requires it.
Expect grade evaluations to focus on this student
responsibility.
Lack of thoroughness automatically results in grade
penalties.
* Be less timid and
more aggressive with "intellectual curiosity."
All knew, from the outset, this class would focus on some
sensitive topics
and social issues
in the media. To succeed in media professions, all, however,
must find ways to better approach and understand people and their
communities.
MCOM 105 is an established safe educational zone where all
are
expected to
operate from the premise
no cultural expression is too difficult to explore
respectfully.
All students are expected to listen, learn and ask
respectful clarifying
questions to help enhance their collective knowledge, and
help all achieve the goal
of accurate representation and inclusion of diverse people in media messages.
When the media doesn't sincerely try to do this, it
contributes to
limited perceptions and society's
misunderstanding of unfamiliar cultures and life
experiences.
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Every student in MCOM 105 must take up these challenges...Everyone!
Staying quiet or letting others in class do most of the work
are NOT options.
Resistance, for whatever reasons, to broadening knowledge
and
individual skills at addressing these important issues
is nothing but a wasted opportunity.
No one should be given a passing grade for doing that.
Remember:
There are NO make-up opportunities or grade rescue assignments
at semester's end. There's also a time-honored response to people who
promise to do their
part, but then engage in self-imposed procrastination...
"when you
snooze, you lose."
Everyone is being evaluated in this class
based on what each person actually volunteers, writes and
contributes.
Showing up and keeping a seat warm is never enough.
Your final project is going to challenge you to show what you
learned in this class and how your approach the
sensitive topics addressed in class. Make sure
you are paying attention and taking note of how we
talk about issues and concerns with others.
A college education has always been designed to teach and prepare
people for the tough challenges of the real world
before it's too late.
I am looking forward to more classes like the last one,
with many MORE students ready and eager to engage!
Prof. Bob Rucker
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