Course Syllabus Page 1

ATEC2321
Writing and Research for Emerging Media
Fall 2014
ATC 2.918
TTH 5:30-6:45

Contact Information

Angela M. Lee, Ph.D.
Phone: 972-883-7539
Email: angela.lee@utdallas.edu
Office hours: TTh 1-2 p.m. or by appointment
Office: ATC 1.403

Course Description

The rise of digital media is revolutionizing how we produce, transmit, consume, and
evaluate information. This course seeks to help students understand these differences and
master the art of writing for and doing research on emerging media.

Learning Objectives

In this course, students will:

Acquire basic understanding of technical skills needed to work in a variety of new
media formats;
Become comfortable producing digital content on different platforms and for
different audiences;
Study the effects of new media on society and communication processes.

Required Readings

There are no assigned textbooks for students to purchase. Instead, all of the readings are
available online and their links can be found on the course calendar below. Be sure to
check the course calendar regularly and complete all assigned readings before class.

Additional Course Requirements

Access to a computer (some in-class exercises will require that you bring a laptop
to class)
An active email account that is checked regularly
Be in class on time

Course Policies

Course Syllabus Page 2

Students should familiarize themselves with official UTD course policies, which
can be found here: http://provost.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/
No plagiarism. In particular, you should familiarize yourself with the concept of
plagiarism see the Avoiding Plagiarism section from the link above.
Plagiarism is NOT tolerated in this course. If you have any questions about this,
ask me before you turn in an assignment.
No late assignment. Many assignments are due in class. Unless otherwise
arranged with me prior to the deadline, late assignments are not accepted and will
automatically result in a zero.
Attendance. Our class meetings are an integral part of the learning experience for
the students. As such, you are expected to attend class, complete in-class
exercises or quizzes, and participate actively in class discussions. Arriving more
than 30 minutes late or leaving more than 30 minutes early will be marked as
absent.
Religious holidays. You must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen
days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a
class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a
religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work
within a reasonable time after the absence.
Disruptive behavior. Disruptive behavior is defined as behavior that interrupts
or interferes with daily functions of the University of the education processes by
the Dean of Students at UTD. To create a safe and welcoming environment for
learning, no disruptive behavior is allowed in this class. Students who make
inappropriate (e.g., hostile or threatening) remarks in class will be reported to the
Dean of Students. Also, Please silence your phone so it does not disrupt other
students learning experience.
Communication. In this class, e-mail will be used as a means of communication
with students. Students are responsible for checking your e-mail every day for
class work and announcements.

Grading Policy

Class Participation (30%) This course is designed to be interactive and
participatory. Students are expected to attend class, arrive on time, participate in
class discussions and debates, and respond to class readings regularly. All
students are permitted three class absences over the course of the semester, no
questions asked, but there will be no make-ups for in-class exercises or quizzes.
Students who miss more than five class meetings will receive a zero for
participation. You are asked to use all electronic devices for class purposes only.
Students who are caught surfing the Internet in class, for example, will lose
participation points and be reported to the Dean of Students.
Assignments (30%) To put what you learned in class and from readings to
practice, you will complete a number of take-home assignments that include
writing reading responses. As course policies indicate above, no late assignments
are accepted.
Course Syllabus Page 3

In-class Exam (20%) Nov. 11 (Tue.). This closed-book exam will cover major
concepts covered in lecture and readings. No make-up exam is allowed unless it is
for medical reasons, which requires a doctors note. The exam comprises of
multiple choice and T/F questions. Make-up exams, on the other hand, may entail
fill-in-the-blanks and short answer questions in addition to a different set of
multiple choice and T/F questions to ensure that the exam is fair to all students.
Final Presentation (20%) To be discussed in class.

Grading Scheme

A = 94 or above
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87-89
B = 84-86
B- = 80-83
C+ =77-79
C = 74-76
C- = 70-73
D+ =67-69
D = 64-66
D- = 60-63
F = 59 or below

Please form a study group of three and write down the contact information of two other
members here (Name, email and/or phone number).

1.

2.

Our course blogs URL is: http://atec2321f14.blogspot.com

Course Calendar & Readings

Week 1


Aug 26 (Tue)
Introduction

Aug 28 (Thur)
Understanding the Web-
Basics

Read before class
A learning secret: dont take notes with a
laptop:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-
learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-
laptop/
6 degrees of plagiarism and the crisis of
originality: Why so many just cant stop:
http://stackstreet.com/6-degrees-plagiarism-
crisis-originality-many-just-cant-stop/
What is blogging?:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_
Blogging
Familiarize yourself with UT Dallas Writing
Center services (workshops and tutorial,
Course Syllabus Page 4

etc.):
http://www.utdallas.edu/studentsuccess/writi
ng/

Due in class
Set up Twitter and Blogger accounts
Week 2 Sept 2 (Tue)
Understanding
contemporary media
landscape Part I

Read before class
Digital-age dilemma-how to cope with
information overload:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237689984/Digit
al-Age-Dilemma-how-to-Cope-With-
Information-Overload
Attention economy -- A new perspective on
business chapter:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237690242/A-
New-Perspective-on-Business-Attention-
Economy
Sept 4 (Thur)
Understanding
contemporary media
landscape Part II

Read before class
The real media divide Marcus Prior:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/07/15/AR20070715
01110.html
Selective perception is what makes people
fight about TV:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237547102/Selec
tive-Perception-is-What-Makes-People-
Fight-About-TV
People selectively remember the details of
atrocities that absolve in-group members:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/237548026/Peop
le-Selectively-Remember-the-Details-of-
Atrocities-That-Absolve-in-group-Members-
Science-of-the-Spirit-Sott-net

Due in class
Assignment 1
Week 3 Sept 9 (Tue)
New media literacy Part
I
o Wikipedia
o Google search results
algorithm
o Terms of services
Read before class
Googles Stealthier search ads are a hit:
http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-
stealthier-search-ads-are-a-hit-2014-7
OKCupid reveals its been lying to some of
its users. Just to see whatll happen:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235408718/OKC
upid-Reveals-It-s-Been-Lying-to-Some-of-
Its-Users
The insidiousness of Facebook Messengers
Course Syllabus Page 5

android mobile app permissions:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-
fiorella/the-insidiousness-of-
face_b_4365645.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Dont freak out about the Facebook
Messenger app:
http://mashable.com/2014/08/11/stop-
freaking-out-about-facebook-messenger-app-
permissions/
Sept 11 (Thur)
New media literacy Part
II

Read before class
A fake Nelson Mandela quote is already
making the rounds:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/12/
05/people_are_tweeting_fake_nelson_mande
la_quotes.html
5 best fake news stories of the year:
http://www.salon.com/2012/12/20/5_best_fa
ke_news_stories_of_the_year/
22 viral pictures that were actually fake:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tomphillips/22-
viral-pictures-that-were-actually-fake
Fake and overused weather photos:
http://www.weather.com/news/fake-
overused-weather-photos-20140421
Due in class
Leave constructive comments on your group
members assignment 2 blog post before
class
Week 4 Sept 16 (Tue)
Understanding social media
Part I

Read before class
Why computers wont be replacing you just
yet:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235314178/Why
-Computers-Won-t-Be-Replacing-You-Just-
Yet
EQ matters more than IQ on social:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/buzzfeed-
emotional-quotient-matters-more-than-iq-on-
social/s2/a556214/
Sept 18 (Thur)
Understanding social media
Part II

Read before class
I liked everything I saw on Facebook for
two days. Heres what it did to me.
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/i-liked-
everything-i-saw-on-facebook-for-two-days-
heres-what-it-did-to-me/?mbid=social_fb
Media report whats trending on Twitter
may not be trending at all:
Course Syllabus Page 6

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/
26/media-report-big-bad-
data/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&
_type=blog%20s&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1
Everything we know about Facebooks
secret mood manipulation experiment:
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archi
ve/2014/06/everything-we-know-about-
facebooks-secret-mood-manipulation-
experiment/373648/
Week 5 Sept 23 (Tue)
Understanding social
media marketing

Read before class
5 not-so-secrets to writing great headlines:
http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/5-not-
so-secrets-to-writing-great-headlines_b83427
How to optimize headlines using the 65
character rule:
https://econsultancy.com/blog/8196-how-to-
optimise-headlines-using-the-65-character-
rule#i.1pp0uq0he6djyx
5 ways news sites are using Most Popular
features to help readers surface more
content: http://www.poynter.org/latest-
news/top-stories/144879/5-ways-news-sites-
are-using-most-popular-features-to-help-
readers-surface-more-content/
Sept 25 (Thur)
Understanding mobile,
apps, and other
multimedia platforms

Read before class
Mobile is the future of everything:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/201
4/02/12/mobile-is-the-future-of-everything/
Why mobile is the future of advertising and
marketing:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-
lowery/why-mobile-is-the-future-
_b_4796928.html
Google: 6 reasons why nobody uses your
app:
http://www.fastcodesign.com/3033092/googl
es-6-reasons-why-nobody-uses-your-app
Due in class
Leave constructive comments on your group
members assignment 3 blog post
Week 6 Sept 30 (Tue)
News consumption
o Why should we care?
o Who is reading what
and why?
Read before class
The page view just wont die:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mylestanzer/why-
wont-the-page-view-just-die-already
Cell sets fire to pillow, story sets fire to TV
Course Syllabus Page 7

station website:
http://www.poynter.org/latest-
news/260610/cell-sets-fire-to-pillow-story-
sets-fire-to-tv-station-
website/#.U9bu_Lur27g.twitter
Were missing the story: The medias
retreat from foreign reporting:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235401536/We-
re-Missing-the-Story
Due in class
Assignment 2
Oct 2 (Thur)
Understanding news
aggregators

Read before class
Murdoch wants a Google rebellion:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/235823646/Murd
och-Wants-a-Google-Rebellion
Brazilian newspapers leave Google News en
masse:
https://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/00-
11803-brazilian-newspapers-leave-google-
news-en-masse
Why Google may be industrys best friend:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/236656647/Why
-Google-May-Be-Industry-s-Best-Friend
Week 7 Oct 7 (Tue)
Understanding the web -
advanced
o User data
o Google Analytics
Tracking Online
in/visibility?

Read before class
A lot of top journalists dont look at traffic
numbers. Heres why:
http://blog.hubspot.com/opinion/journalists-
dont-look-at-traffic-numbers
How The Guardian uses attention analytics
to track rising stories:
http://www.fastcolabs.com/3026154/how-the-
guardian-uses-attention-analytics-to-track-
rising-stories
The David Petraeus Scandal, explained:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/12/politics/petr
aeus-timeline/
What you think you know about the web is
wrong: http://time.com/12933/what-you-
think-you-know-about-the-web-is-wrong/
Oct 9 (Thur)
Debates preparation
Due in class
Assignment 3
Week 8 Oct 14 (Tue)
Class debates
Due in class
Debate assessment
Leave constructive comments on your group
members assignment 3 blog post before
Course Syllabus Page 8

class
Oct 16 (Thur)
New media platform
assessment
o Does speed matter?

Read before class
The pressure to be the TV news leader
tarnishes a big brand:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/236731219/The-
Pressure-to-Be-the-TV-News-Leader-
Tarnishes-a-Big-Brand-NYT
When news breaks, scanners and social
media can create a cloud of errors for news
outlets:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/sty
le/news-outlets-often-stumble-in-quest-for-
speed-and-accuracy/2013/09/16/e5444820-
1f19-11e3-8459-657e0c72fec8_story.html
Question everything you hear about the
Boston Marathon Bombing:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/0
4/boston-marathon-bombing-
misinformation-911-newtown
Week 9 Oct 21 (Tue)
Assignment 4 Q&A

You should start thinking about how you
would do assignment 4 so you can make best
use of the class library visit tomorrow
Oct 23 (Thur)
Library visit

*Class meet at lobby of McDermott Library
at 5:30pm*
Week
10
Oct 28 (Tue)
Assignment 4 field work
Research day
Oct 30 (Thur)
Final presentation briefing
Due before class
Assignment 4
Week
11
Nov 4 (Tue)
Once upon a time
In-class exercise
5-min presentation of assignment 4 in class
Nov 6 (Thur)
Exam Q&A
If you have any questions or concerns about
the exam, this would be a good time to bring
them up.
Week
12
Nov 11 (Tue)
In-class exam
Exam date
Nov 13 (Thur)
Final presentation
consultation
Due in class
Bring your ideas for presentation proposal
Week
13
Nov 18 (Tue)
Consultation (continued)
Due in class
Bring your ideas for presentation proposal
Nov 20 (Thur)
Group meeting for final
presentation
Due in class
Presentation task delegation

Week Nov 25 (Tue) No class
Course Syllabus Page 9



The descriptions and timelines contained in this syllabus are subject to change at the
discretion of the Professor.

14 Fall break
Nov 27 (Thur)
Thanksgiving break
No class
Week
15
Dec 2 (Tue)
Final presentations
Due before class
Team evaluation form
Dec 4 (Thur)
Final presentations
Due before class
Team evaluation form
Week
16
Dec 9 (Tue)
Warp-up