This is an asynchronous course that requires no specific meeting times. The video lectures and required online discussions will require a minimum total of 42 hours for students to complete over the seven weeks of instruction. Since there will be no face-to-face meetings it is essential that students check their e-mail as well as the Canvas site regularly.

The final course grade will reflect the extent to which the student demonstrates mastery of the subject matter as well as the quality of work put forth in assignments and discussions. In

general, average quality work that meets requirements will earn a grade of C; higher grades will be awarded for work that reflects greater overall quality and more thorough fulfillment of the requirements.

All assignments are due by midnight (11:59 pm) on the scheduled dates, with exceptions noted in the assignment descriptions. To avoid late penalties, students must decide with the instructor at least 24 hours in advance of the assignment due date. The late penalty is applied after the initial score for the assignment is determined. One day late: 10% grade reduction

• Two days late: 30% grade reduction

• Three days late: 60% grade reduction

• Four days late: 100% grade reduction / grade of zero awarded

Discussion board work is time sensitive. Consequently, late discussion board posts will receive no credit unless a prior arrangement with the instructor is made.

Graded Assignments (Total Points = 1000):

• Report Card #1...............................Points = 100  Due Date = Week #1

• Exam #1...........................................Points = 200  Due Date = Week #2

• Report Card #2...............................Points = 100 Due Date = Week #3

• The Daily Podcast Analysis............Points = 100 Due Date = Week #4

• NYT Visual Rhetoric Analysis.......Points = 100 Due Date = Week #4

• Email Conversation With Peer......Points = 100 Due Date = Week #5

• Final Exam......................................Points = 100 Due Date = Week #6

• Opinion Piece Draft........................Points = N/A Due Date = Week #6

• Opinion Piece..................................Points = 100  Due Date = Week #7

• Opinion Piece Recording.................Points =  100  Due Date = week #7

Grading Scale: A: 930-1000 A-: 900-930; B+: 870-899; B: 830-869; B-: 800-829; C+: 770-799; C: 730-769; C-: 700-729; D+: 650-699; D: 600-649; F: Below 600

Per the University Catalog, individuals who have any situation/condition, either permanent or temporary, that might affect their ability to perform in class or access class assignments, are encouraged to inform the instructor at the beginning of the term. UW Oshkosh has resources with disability information, such as Project Success. Students are also encouraged to visit the UW Oshkosh ADA website. Canvas is an ADA compliant course management software suite.

Integrity is one of the Core Values of UW Oshkosh. All students share with the faculty the responsibility for academic honesty and integrity. The University expects its students to do their own academic work. In addition, it expects active participation and equitable contributions of students involved in group assignments. The following acts of academic dishonesty are not acceptable: 

• Cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise (e.g. an exam). For purposes of this course, the use of artificial intelligence is considered a form of cheating unless (1) the student receives prior approval from the instructor and (2) the student clearly cites the usage in his or her work. (see AI statement in next section). 

• Fabrication: unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise (e.g. a paper reference). 

• Plagiarism: representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise (e.g. failing to cite references appropriately or taking verbatim from another source), whether it is done with the intention of being dishonest or not. 

• Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: helping or attempting to help another to commit academic dishonesty (e.g. allowing another to copy from your test or use your work). 

Violation of the Academic Integrity Policy shall result in sanctions commensurate with the nature of the violation which can include (in any order) a zero on the assignment or failure in the class. 

Students are advised to read the disclosure statements about essential consumer protection items required by the Students Right to Know Act of 1990. 

In COMM 388 you will be assigned another student as a discussion partner for one assignment. Respect for that person, their points of view, and their experience is essential. The most productive way to disagree with another is to say, “I disagree with you because . . . “ and explain and justify your position.  Although everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, the reality is that some opinions are better supported and more reasonable than others. Be prepared to explain why you hold the opinion you do and why you think yours is better supported than another’s. Engage each other in a reasoned exchange of ideas. In other words, present an argument (a claim supported by data, with reasons/warrants as to why the data is relevant to the claim). 

Much of this course will be spent engaging the New York Times. Try to approach the paper in your SCHOLAR persona.  That is, forget anything you may have been told about the Times (e.g. it's "liberal," "fake," "profit driven," etc.) and instead let your thoughts about the rhetorical acts found in the paper be guided by insights gained from applying course concepts. 

A major feature of critical thinkers is that on their travels to understand the world, they always resist taking what in our course will be called the "peripheral route." The peripheral route is a mental shortcut, a way of merely repeating back what we have heard so that we can avoid the hard work of thinking independently. If your professor senses that you have gotten lost on the peripheral route, he will invite you to have a conversation about it.