COMM 491 - SYLLABUS – Spring 2012
 
Description Syllabus  Course Notes Questions Assignments Cases Resources


last updated 4/8/2012
Discussion/Panel Groups
DATE Topic/ Preparation Readings Group
Mon. 1/23 Introduction to the Course / Free Speech Survey  "FIRE" #1  
Wed.  1/25 The Idea of Free Expression:  Themes
    and Principles;   Origins of the Tradition
   PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 1
 		 --
       
Mon. 1/30 Ethical Perspectives on Communication
    PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ & BRING TO CLASS:
  Ethical Traditions  -  Analyzing Ethics Cases		 A

Ethics and Communication
Wed. 2/1 Ethical Perspectives, continued.
   PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Karl Wallace (handout) & 
 N.C.A. Ethics Credo,  &  N.C.A. Democratic Society Credo,  &  PRSA Code		 B
Mon. 2/6 The Philosophy of Free Expression          "FIRE"  #4
   PREP:  Discussion Questions
          		READ:  Mill - On Liberty Ch. 2;  Milton summary Tedford, Ch. 2 C
Wed.  2/8 Introduction to Free Expression and Law
Control of Political Expression
    PREP:  Discussion Questions
    Ethics Case Paper Due		 READ:  Tedford, pp. 452-456
    The American Legal System;
    Introduction to Free Expression Law
READ:  Tedford, Ch 3		 D

Freedom and Control of Expression
Mon. 2/13  Control of Political Expression, continued       "FIRE" #2
               PREP:  Discussion Questions		 Sedition A
Wed. 2/15 Defamation and Privacy
    Major Quiz (second half of the hour) 		READ: Tedford, Ch. 4  |  Defamation Concepts  
Mon. 2/20 Privacy.          "FIRE"  #3
   PREP:  Discussion Questions 		  Privacy Concepts   |   The War on Cameras B
Wed.  2/22 From Blasphemy to Obscenity
    PREP:  Discussion Questions  		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 5
    From Blasphemy to Obscenity		 C
Mon. 2/27 From Blasphemy to Obscenity, continued
    PREP:  Discussion Questions 		  Illinois Obscenity Law (excerpts) D
Wed. 2/29 Provocation to Anger
     PREP:  Discussion Questions 		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 6
    Fighting - Wounding		 A
        
Mon. 3/5 Review for Exam 1 READ:  Tedford, pp. 455-459  
Wed. 3/7 Exam 1 -- Trotter Lab    
   3/10 - 3/18                                         Spring Break

 

DATE Topic/ Preparation Readings Group

Issues in Freedom of Expression
Mon. 3/19 Words that Wound    B
Wed.  3/21 Prior Restraint               "FIRE"  #6
     PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 8
     Prior Restraint		 C
       
Mon. 3/26 Prior Restraint, continued
 		   D
Wed. 3/28 Time, Place and Manner       "FIRE" #7
     PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 10
    Time, Place, Manner  		A
       
Mon. 4/2 Commercial Speech
     PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 7
    Commercial Speech		 B
Wed.  4/4 Problems of the Free Press
      PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 9
     Problems of a Free Press		 C
Mon. 4/9

EASTER BREAK

  
       
Wed. 4/11 Free Press, continued    D
       
Mon.  4/16 Institutional Constraints        "FIRE"  #5
      PREP:  Discussion Questions		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 11
     Institutional Constraints		 A
Wed. 4/18 Institutional Constraints, continued  
    Campus Network limits		   B
       
Mon.  4/23 Copyright    PREP:  Discussion Questions READ:  Tedford, Ch. 12
    Copyright		 C
Wed. 4/25 Copyright, continued
          Major Quiz (second half of the hour) 		   
       
Mon.  4/30 Broadcasting, Cable, & Access
     Internet censorship and teens		 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 13
    Broadcasting and Cable		 D
Wed.  5/2 Free Expression and the Internet READ:  Tedford, Ch. 14
   The Internet		  
       
Mon. 5/7 Theories of Free Expression         "FIRE" #8 READ:  Tedford, Ch. 15  
Wed. 5/9 Review and Farewell    
       

Final Exam:  1pm, Friday, May 11