Mass Media

Mass Media

Course Description: This hands-on class will allow students to work on real news stories and features for school as well as class publications. Additionallyʙ they will participate in formal and informal discussions about journalistic ethicsʙ issuesʙ and the role journalism plays in our culture. Students will analyze the changing journalistic landscape and evaluate how emerging mediums affect how news is disseminated and consumed. Further, students will employ a variety of these mediums to report on the stories they investigate.

Required Texts, Resources, and Materials

Primary Texts: Bear Brook Podcast produced by NHPR, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, Friday Night Lights BUzz Bissinger, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer.
Supplemental materials (texts, photos, videos, audio): Will vary per teacher discretion

Film Resources: Students may view: All the President’s Men, Quiz Show, Shattered Glass.

Requirements and Assignments:

Advertisement Unit Assessment
Bias Opinion Paper
Newspaper Article (written)
Podcast Unit Assessment
Checkology Assignments
Weekly Newspaper Reading Journal
Additional unit assignments as determined by the instructor.

Learning Objectives/Competencies

Students will be able to:

Reading: read a variety of literature fluently and critically that will promote learning in all disciplines.
Writing: develop writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences, essential across all disciplines for effective communication.
Research: gather relevant & reliable information for purposes, and present information in diverse formats, such as writing and visual presentations
Speaking/Listening: effectively communicate an argument using appropriate evidence and descriptive language.

Grading Procedure:

Formative Assessments

“Check-ins” we do to determine where students are in the process of learning.
Formative assessments are required, and students are expected to complete all assigned work.

Up to 10% of term grade

Summative Assessments

The “final” opportunity a student has to demonstrate mastery of skills and concepts.
These assessments may be repeated to demonstrate further mastery with teacher approval; however, you MUST submit your work on the due date in order to be eligible for a re-do.
Quarters are NOT averaged together. You will continue accumulating points all year so that your final grade is based on the TOTAL points for the course, not an average of the two quarters.

Up to 75% of term grade

Final exams/projects

Culminating end of the semester reflection portfolio

15% of overall course grade

Communication Protocols: Information is shared with students via Google Classroom. All digital

assignments MUST be submitted via Google Classroom (not e-mail or shared documents). Please email with questions or concerns, but time-sensitive issues should be addressed by a phone call to the main office.

Attendance Policy and Procedure: Please reference School Board policy JH (Attendance, Absenteeism, and Truancy) as well as the pertinent sections of the 2021-2022 Student Handbook (sections Student Code of Conduct> “Attendance,” pp. 9, and Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities (Clubs)>“Academic and School Attendance Expectations,” pp. 33).

Electronic Device Procedure: The ConVal electronic device procedure is in effect during class regarding cell phones, Chromebooks, and other electronic devices as described in the 2021-2022 Student Handbook (p. 20). Students are not allowed to bring to class and/or attach to the school network any personal electronics, including laptops.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Please reference the 2021-2022 Student Handbook (p. 12).

Our Mission

At ConVal High School, we have opportunities to grow and learn, both individually and as an inclusive community. We strive to be respectful and show compassion for others. We work to be creative thinkers and problem solvers who communicate and collaborate in an effort to take responsibility for our learning. As we build resilience in a safe school environment, we also commit to developing skills and tools to become civic-minded citizens.

Learning Objectives/Competencies:

Reading: The ability to read a variety of literature fluently and critically that will promote their learning
in all disciplines.
Writing: The development of writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences is essential across all disciplines for effective communication.
Speaking/Listening: The ability to effectively communicate an argument using appropriate evidence and descriptive language.
Information Integration: The ability to gather relevant information for a variety of purposes, and present in diverse formats. (This includes citing evidence in essays, including visuals to present your findings, etc.)

Required Texts, Resources, and Materials

Primary Texts: Bear Brook Podcast produced by NHPR, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, Friday Night Lights BUzz Bissinger, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer.
Supplemental materials (texts, photos, videos, audio): Will vary per teacher discretion

Film Resources: Students may view: All the President’s Men, Quiz Show, Shattered Glass.

Requirements and Assignments:

Advertisement Unit Assessment
Bias Opinion Paper
Newspaper Article (written)
Podcast Unit Assessment
Checkology Assignments
Weekly Newspaper Reading Journal
Additional unit assignments as determined by the instructor.

Grading Procedure:

Grades will be updated in Powerschool every two weeks. Students and parents should regularly check grades in Powerschool.

Formative Assessments

“Check-ins” we do to determine where students are in the process of learning.
Formative assessments are required, and students are expected to complete all assigned work.

Up to 10% of term grade

Summative Assessments

The “final” opportunity a student has to demonstrate mastery of skills and concepts.
These assessments may be repeated to demonstrate further mastery with teacher approval; however, you MUST submit your work on the due date in order to be eligible for a re-do.
Quarters are NOT averaged together. You will continue accumulating points all year so that your final grade is based on the TOTAL points for the course, not an average of the two semesters.

At least 75% of term grade

Final exams/projects

15% of overall course grade

Communication Protocols: Information is shared with students via Google Classroom. All digital assignments MUST be submitted via Google Classroom (not e-mail or shared documents). Please email with questions or concerns, but time-sensitive issues should be addressed by a phone call or voicemail.

All students are expected to bring their charged Chromebooks for each class.

Attendance Policy and Procedure: Attendance Policy and Procedure: All work must be made up after a student’s absence. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what they missed while they were out and arrange to make it up. The time frame for makeup work will be proportional to the amount of time missed. Makeup work will NOT be allowed for class cuts or unexcused absences. I expect my students to be present, on time, and actively learning every day. See School Board policy JH (Attendance, Absenteeism, and Truancy) as well as the pertinent sections of the 2022-2023 Student Handbook (sections Student Code of Conduct> “Attendance,” pp. 9 and Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities (Clubs)>“Academic and School Attendance Expectations,” pp. 29).

Electronic Device Procedure:Cell phones and ear buds are not permitted in the classroom. Please see the 2022-2023 Student Handbook (p. 12) for this policy. Students are not allowed to bring to class and/or attach to the school network any personal laptops.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism: Please reference the 2022-2023 Student Handbook. ConVal Regional High School and the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national/ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or disability in its programs, activities and employment practices.

Class Specific Expectations/Policies

-Show up! (0n time)

-Work hard!

-Ask for help when you need it.

-Be respectful (to peers, adults, materials, and yourself).

-Be willing to collaborate and participate.

-Use E-Hall pass when you need to leave the classroom

Addendums

Classroom Breaks:

Bathroom/Water break: Two students are allowed out of the classroom at a time to reduce the amount of students in shared spaces. Students are required to use an online hall pass system: e-hall pass. Students will be trained to use the software that allows for digital passes. Bathroom/water breaks are fewer than 5 minutes and students are expected to use the 400-level bathrooms near the library unless otherwise requested for pre-established reasons. Additionally, students should not be leaving to use the bathroom during instruction. A typical class will have times of independent practice, during which requests to take a break can be made.

In the classroom: Students and teachers are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and honest manner. Both teachers and students are responsible for coming to class prepared and willing to participate. Students demonstrate a willingness to participate by demonstrating their attention, curiosity, and best effort. Students are also expected to come to class with their school-issued chromebook charged.

Absences and make-up work: If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to meet with me at an appropriate time (TASC or designated class time) to ask about what they missed or check Google Classroom. Extensions for deadlines will be determined on an individual basis, but students are expected to keep pace with the coursework in the event of an absence.

I encourage students to take the responsibility of getting schoolwork and assignments in advance if they know they are going to miss school for an extended period of time. Also, if email is available, students can email me at aharris@conval.edu and ask for the missing assignments as they can often be shared electronically or accessed through Google Classroom.

1. This statement is a reflection of the policies of the ConVal School District and refers to, but is not limited to, the provisions of the following laws: Title IV, VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and NH Law against discrimination (RSA 354-A).

Please see the high school website for the contact information of the individuals who have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies.