last updated 9/30/2014

MID-TERM EXAM STUDY GUIDE

   The 1st exam will be composed of questions and topics taken from the material described below.  Nothing will appear on the test that is not mentioned on the study guide.  There will be some terms to define and one, two or three essay questions. The essay questions (all questions below except #4) will appear on the exam in the exact form they are shown here.
   The exam will be open-book, open notes.  Because of the fact you will have resources available, I will expect your answers will be well-organized, original and thoughtful - not mere regurgitation - and I will grade accordingly.  If you merely repeat information that is on the web or in the Jamieson text you will not do especially well.
 

1.     Terms to define (in three or four sentences):  Primary Orality, Elite Literacy, Mass Literacy, penny press, interpretive themes (or schemata), hard news, soft news, pre-packaged news. on-the-record, not-for-attribution, check-quotes, deep background, off-the-record, conscious experience, predispositions, market/audience segmentation, behavioral targeting.

LARGE ESSAY QUESTIONS:

2.  Explain the thesis (central arguments) of Jim Leach's Speech on "The Tension Between Speaking and Listening" and indicate why you agree or disagree.  Then pick at least two of his "two minute courses" and explain the central idea of each and how it applies to current political communication.

3.  Describe the 4 eras of media development (based on Haynes essay), indicating and explaining the characteristics of each era and the relationship of dominate medium to governement ans social structure.  Then indicate your expectations of what will change in our society as a result of our recent move to digital/electronic media as the dominate form.  (course notes & web page)

4.  Explain the theory, “ $ + TECHNOLOGY --> CONTENT,” as a method that accounts for the nature of content in a particular medium at a particular time.  After explaining the theroy in abstract terms, illustrate how this theory explains types of content in at least two specific, extended examples (e.g. content such as music videos, stories of violence in 19th Century newpapers, partisan attack essays in 18th century newspapers, rock and roll, blog sites on the web, etc.)   At least one of the examples must be something that is not one of the three examples on the "Two Big Ideas II" web page.     (course notes & web page).

5.  Taking a news story you are familiar with, describe what you imagine must have occurred as that story tracks it's way through the "Model of Media / Political Interpretation" as a way of explaining the model and the way it works.  Be sure you define and illustrate each of the 6 steps (three for media and three for citizens) and all of the included terms on the model.

SMALLER ESSAY QUESTIONS

6.  Discuss "What Makes News 'News.' "  In your answer use specific examples of news stories to account for why a story may be "news" in some locations, or in some media or in some time periods, and not in others.

7.  Construct an essay that explains the six steps (skip step 7) for the process of influencing media to give favorable news coverage to a campaign by Monmouth students to register and vote in the general election on Nov. 4.  (see Jamieson text, pp. 279-281).

8.  Discuss how advertising can distort social reality and how this process affects you and those around you for better or worse.

9.  Discuss "How Public Opinion Shifts" over time for complex issues according to Yankelovich using a concrete example of an issue you are aware of (e.g. gay marriage, medical marijuana, etc.)

The Mid-term Exam occurs in class on Thurs., Oct. 9