Embedded Files
Course Overview
Course Overview
A major focus of our coursework this fall will be around Media Literacy. The last several years have been fraught with political tension, with a lot of misinformation flying through the virtual air. No matter where we land on the political spectrum, too much of what we are exposed to is incorrect or heavily biased.
My goal is to help you find and use tools to make informed decisions and choices. We will avoid talking directly about our political views, but I will challenge you to explore how language in the media is used and how that drives our reactions and formation of opinions.
Together we will explore
how to approach opposing viewpoints without making ourselves crazy
social media, its use and its impact
the tremendous growth of a virtual world in large part due to a global pandemic
multiple platforms and writers and theorists
theories of privacy and surveillance
Catalog Description
Catalog Description
This course will offer instruction in argumentation and critical writing, critical thinking, analytical evaluation of culturally diverse texts, research strategies, information literacy, and proper documentation.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student Learning Outcomes
When the course is complete students will be able to:
Apply skills in elementary inductive and deductive reasoning.
Identify the components of arguments and construct complex argument structures in verbal and written forms.
Develop and utilize an understanding of basic formal and informal fallacies of language and thought.
Required Materials
Required Materials
This is a zero cost course. You will be provided with electronic access to all reading and other course materials free of charge. This means open access books, online articles and videos.
As a fully online class, you will need regular and consistent internet access. Expect to spend lots of time "in" the Mendocino College Library.
Important Dates
Important Dates
First day of semester-length classes January 21, 2025
Last Day to Add w/signature January 31
Last Day to Drop with a Refund January 31
Last Day to Drop without a "W" February 2
Spring Break March 24-28
Last Day to Drop with a "W" April 18
Last Day of the semester May 23
Other important dates can be found on the Academic Calendar
Student Contact Hours
Student Contact Hours
I set aside 5 hours every week to meet informally with students; I call them Student Contact Hours, but they are also known as Office Hours. You are welcome to drop into my office on the Ukiah Campus (on the first floor of the Library Learning Resource Building in room 4152), or join me via Zoom.
To join me in Zoom use the appropriate link below (the links also have their own module in Canvas). Once you have joined the meeting, you will enter a "waiting room" and I will "bring" you in. If I have not yet started the meeting (you will see a message about it on the screen) hang tight. I will open the meeting for you within 5 minutes. If I don't show up, send me an email or Canvas message to make sure there isn't a technical issue.
If I cancel Student Contact Hours, I will post an Announcement.
Honestly, this is my favorite time of the week. 😃
You can stop by and ask questions about the course or assignments, get some feedback for assignments, or hang out and chat. If no one visits my student contact hours, then I spend my time bored and scrolling through social media feeds 😟.
If none of these times work for you, send me an email, Canvas message or voicemail and we will find another time to meet.
You can access the Zoom links in the Student Contact Hours module or by following these links:
Mondays 12:30-1:30
You can come to my office in the Library Learning Resource Center
or join me via this link: Zoom Meeting
Tuesdays 4-5:00PM
You can come to my office in the Library Learning Resource Center
or join me via this link: Zoom Meeting
Wednesdays 12:30-1:30PM
You can come to my office in the Library Learning Resource Center
or join me via this link: Zoom Meeting
Thursdays 12:30-2:30
About Your Instructor
About Your Instructor
I was a first-generation and non-traditional college student. My mother managed to finish high school on time, but my father dropped out to run off and join the circus (true story). I was raised by my maternal grandparents who never believed they were smart enough for school. As you can imagine, all this had an impact on my view of my own scholarly pursuits.
I tried attending college directly out of high school and hated it. I tried a few more times, but life choices, mental health issues, and family responsibilities didn’t mix well with college pursuits. Once I was really ready to dive in, I was more successful.
By the time I was done with my newly discovered educational path, I had earned an Associate of Arts degree from Santa Rosa Junior College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sonoma State University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from Antioch University-Los Angeles. I have since earned a certificate as a Trauma Informed Specialist through CSU East Bay.
I have been teaching at the community college level since 2008. I have been teaching full-time at Mendocino College since 2014. I gave birth to two children, helped raise several others and have a slew of grandkids I adore. I live with my husband, dogs and (too many) cats.
Communication and Making Contact
Communication and Making Contact
I want to be here to support your learning. To make that easier, you can make contact by
Emailing me at gbuccelli@mendocino.edu
Messaging me directly through Canvas inbox
Calling my office and leave a voicemail at 707-468-3137
If you would like a call back, make sure to include your phone number in your voicemail; if I am off campus, I will likely return your call from a blocked number.
Visiting me during Student Contact Hours (see links and directions above)
Monday through Friday, I will respond to messages and voicemails fairly quickly and rarely take more than 24 hours. I try to stay completely away from my computer and devices on Saturdays. I generally don’t monitor my courses between 9pm and 7am. That means that if you are working late at night and have a question, you should definitely send me a message, but don’t expect a response until the next morning. If I don't respond within 24 hours, please (gently) remind me that you need a response.
When you email or message me, please be very clear. Canvas messaging always includes your name, but email does not. Please begin each correspondence with a greeting (Hello Professor Buccelli) and end with at least your name (Thank you, Jose). If you send me an attachment, make sure you let me know in the body of the message/email exactly why you are sending me an attachment.
That first email should have a clear subject, a proper greeting, your best attempt at spelling and grammar and a respectful closing. As we continue to correspond back and forth, we can move into less formal structure and leave the greeting and closing off (much like a spoken conversation). I want to be able to understand what you want/need, so proofread before hitting send. Even I make mistakes sometimes, but I do expect that we will all make an effort to be clear and respectful.
Email
Email
Yes, email is super important. The college communicates with students through email; most businesses rely heavily on email to function. The system has assigned you a college email account and they will send all correspondence to that new address. You can set up your college email to automatically forward to your regular email address. Be sure to check your college email often anyway, as the forwarding system is not perfect.
Get used to checking your email daily. This is a habit and skill you will need in your working life.
Be careful of Auto-Correct! <<< this is a link to an example of sometimes very funny auto-correct problems. Be warned, it includes some swearing. 🤭
Canvas
Canvas
When new modules are open, important changes are made (such as new due dates), or important information is shared, it will be sent out as an Announcement in Canvas. Make sure you have these Announcements forwarded to your email account so that you are in the loop.
Mendocino College offers a free self-paced Canvas Quick-start guide. You can self-enroll. The course offers tons of helpful information about how to navigate and use Canvas. It does not need to be completed in order, but it is a good resource.
You can also access Eagle Connect via the Canvas menu. It is a new system we use to help make sure students are getting the support they need.
The first video offers an overview for using Canvas:
Announcements and Notifications in Canvas
Announcements and Notifications in Canvas
The video show you how to change your notification settings.
Late work and Absences
Late work and Absences
All due dates and times are contained on Canvas. Please don’t let a little tardiness get in the way of handing in your work. Communicating with me from the beginning means that we might be able to work out due date extensions. Late work is accepted, at times there will be some restrictions. I expect that you will make every effort to complete the work to the best of your ability.
Let's be honest, despite our best planning, incidents and issues sometimes gets in our way. If you have a personal problem that will temporarily preclude your participation, and you wish to remain enrolled and active in the course, you MUST contact me directly. In most instances, we can work something out. BUT you must be pro-active and responsible. If I can help, I will.
Absences
Absences
The college catalog says that, "A student may be considered excessively absent from a class and may be dropped when the cumulative absences exceed the total number of hours that the class meets during a week."
I could do all sorts of math here, but for an online class, it really comes down to one week. If you disappear for a full week without completing any work or making contact with me, I CAN drop you from the course.
I will always do my best to make contact if you stop showing up, but the best thing to do is communicate with me.
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