English 452

Antonio Serra, Ph.D.

Universidad Metropolitana
Fall n 2015 Cupey Campus
Prerequisites: ENGL 101,102
ENGL 103,104

3 Credit Hours
antonioserra@gmail.com

787/766-1717 ext. 6730

(Office/Voicemail)

aserra@suagm.edu
www.suagm.edu/umet

787/766-1717 ext. 6435

English 452 url: cetedonline.suagm.edu

Dept. of Humanities
Metropolitan University

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday

4:00 p.m. 5: 30 p.m.
2nd floor Morales Carrion Bldg

PLEASE NOTE:
DURING LECTURES & DISCUSSIONS in class, cell phones, tablets, and laptops should be off and stored away
from desktops.
- Instructor reserves the right to amend course syllabus at any point, providing notice to students.

Topics to be discuss in English 452

1) Discussion of weekly current events.
2) Design a blog and update it in a weekly basis doing the following:
a) Write an editorial about a current social issue.
b) Write a creative news story lead.

c) Write a news story for a newspaper, radio, and television.

d) Write an effective headline for print or broadcast media.
e) Write memos, reports, and e-mails for customers and personnel.
f) Write feature and sports stories.
g) Analyze and evaluate the news and identify unethical and immoral principles which are
against the best interest of the public.
h) Use of Social Media in the field of Communications.

3) Write an in-depth report and make a formal presentation of your Blog using technology to
prospective clients.
4) Design a web page to share information, advertise a media project, or a public relations
campaign.
5) Create a public relations campaign and/or a pitch for a media project and present it to the
class using computer based technology.
Due Dates:
a) Blog presentation December 3, 2015
b) Web page presentation December 8, 2015
c) Final Presentation December 10, 2015
REQUIREMENTS: Students must perform satisfactorily in all other areas of course work, such as reading assignments,
practice exercises, and class participation.
CLASS ATTENDANCE IS IMPERATIVE.
STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT BY EMAIL A WEEKLY REFLECTION OF THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the course the students will:

1. Develop an awareness of objectivity and propaganda in the media.

2. Create their unique writing style.
3. Set goals for their writing performance, and establish criteria to self monitor their progress.
4. Clarify their responsibility as media workers to inform, and promote public awareness of issues
which are relevant to contemporary society.
5. Develop awareness of the importance of truth and ethical conduct in their profession.
6. Pro-actively seek answers to clarify doubts and take steps to clarify them.

7. Demonstrate their attitudes toward social injustice, civil, and human rights violations expressing their
opinions in writing.
8. Demonstrate their awareness and knowledge of world issues concerning, politics, economics,
underdeveloped countries, environment, womens rights, human rights, education, health, etc.

GRADING: Final grades will be determined by the following percentages: (100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 590=F), One grade will be class attendance and weekly reflections, three presentations, design of blog and web page, and
discussion of current events.
With all work, students must adhere to the principles of academic integrity, which obviously and simply means students
must do their own work, complete their own exams, compose their own papers, and give proper credit for ALL
ideas/words of others used in any assignment. If the instructor observes evidence which indicates such principles may
have been violated, actions will be taken in accordance with the Universitys Academic Integrity Policy. One specific
violation of academic integrity, plagiarism, is becoming more problematic as a result of Internet sites offering research
papers to students. The use of such papers is intentional and blatant plagiarism and a flagrant violation of academic
integrity and will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the Universitys policies. Additionally, plagiarism can be committed
by failing to properly attribute the words/ideas of others or failing to adequately paraphrase source material. Deliberate
or not, plagiarism is an immensely serious academic offense. More information on avoiding plagiarism is available online
at http://turnitin.com/research_site/e_what_is_plagiarism.html .
EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE OF CHEATING WILL RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT ON THE FIRST OFFENSE, AND
AN F IN THE COURSE FOR THE SECOND.

ATTENDANCE: Students who do not attend class simply will not be able to do well in this course. As per the GHC
Catalog: Regular, punctual attendance at all classes is the students responsibility. Students are expected to account for
absences to each instructor and, at the discretion of the instructor, to make up all work missed because of the absence.
Final approval of any class absence remains with the individual instructor. Four absences, whatever the cause, are the
most any student might have without seriously hurting his/her chances of passing the course. If students arrive late to
class, it is their responsibility to ensure the instructor noted their arrival, and this should be done immediately after class.
YOU WILL BE PENALIZED WITH A MINUS 5 POINTS FOR EVERY UNJUSTIFIED ABSENCE. EX. THREE ABSENCES = 15
PTS. 100 15 = 85% ATTENDANCE GRADE.
DUE DATES: Unless the instructor has been notified prior to the due date for any assignment and written verification of
the extenuating circumstances precipitating late delivery is provided (i.e. copy of doctor's excuse, military orders, court
documents, etc.), all late work will be penalized WITH A MINUS 10 PTS. OF THE FINAL GRADE OF THE
ASSIGNMENT. THIS IS THE INSTRUCTOR PREVILEGE, NOT A STUDENTS RIGHT. Late assignments will not be
accepted beyond the last DUE date.

RECOMMENDE TEXTBOOK:

Lehman/Dufrene.(2009), BCOM, (First Ed.). Southwestern: Cengage

Learning Ferguson, Donald. Patten Jim (1998), Journalism Today Wordbook, National Textbook
Company
ADA STATEMENT: Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should make an appointment with the UMET Vice-Chancellor of Students Affairs, Carmen Rosado
um_crosado@suagm.edu at 787)766-1717 Ext. 6521 to coordinate reasonable accommodations.