English Seminar 上級　Autumn 2014: Studying the Media

Note: This syllabus is subject to alteration. Check this page regularly.

Office hours: I will see students by appointment. You can arrange an appointment either in person (in the classroom) or by e-mail.

Note that each topic will involve:
1. Homework: reading relevant parts of the textbook with some summarizing/answering of questions/defining of keywords etc.; research into the topic and other forms of preparation; a writing task related to the topic.
2 General class work: activities based on homework; discussions.
3. Presentations on aspects of the media in Britain and Japan, followed by question and answer sessions.


For a sample vocabulary test, click here.

Topic	Date/Class no.	Class Activities (Alterations in this colour)	Homework/ Preparation for next class
Orientation	Wed. 9/24 no. 1	Distribute schedule, record cards etc. Skills introduced: Reading, Discussing	1. Buy the textbook and read Chapter 1 2. Download the questions from 授業支援　and answer them. 3. Download the preferences form from 授業支援 and fill it in. 4. Fill in the record card.
What is the media?	Fri. 09/26 no. 2	Submit record card and preferences form. Discuss chapter 1	Media journal Read Chapter 2 (questions for period 4 ; questions for period 5)
The Language of the media	Wed. 10/02 no. 3	Discuss chapter 2 and media journals.	Activities: Choose and analyze an advertisement. Instructions: period 4 class, period 5 class.
	Fri. 10/03 no. 4	Activities (analyzing advertisements)	Start reading Chapter 3 (Questions for period 4 ; questions for period 5.)
	Wed. 10/08 no. 5	Finish analysis of advertisements Explain short written assignment Skills introduced: Academic writing (introductions and conclusions)	Short written assignment Deadlines: peer review, class no. 9; submission of first draft, class no. 10 Read Chapter 3 (Questions for period 4; questions for period 5.)
The media and 'reality'	Fri. 10/10 no. 6	Discuss Chapter 3 Skills introduced: Giving academic presentations	Prepare the stereotypes activity
	Wed. 10/15 no. 7	Discussion about stereotypes	Read Chapter 4 (Questions for period 4; questions for period 5)
Who owns the media?	Fri. 10/17 no. 8	Discuss Chapter 4 Skills introduced: Writing a term paper	Carry out investigation of media ownership. For details, see here (period 4 class), or here (period 5 class). Write your term paper plan (deadline 10/26)
	Wed. 10/22 no. 9	Activity (Investigating media ownership) Peer review of written assignment	Read Chapter 5 (questions for period 4 class, here; questions for period 5 class, here).
The media and us	Fri. 10/24 no. 10	Submit written assignment Discuss Chapter 5	Prepare for Activity
	Wed. 10/29 no. 11	Activity Peer evaluation of term paper plans	Optional rewrite of term paper plan (deadline for submission: Class no. 11)
	Fri. 10/31 no. 12	Presentations (First Session)	Read the case-study chapter assigned to you. Guidelines for reading are here.
Case Study I (Cinema) and and Case Study II (Music Industry)	Wed. 11/05 no. 13	Feedback on term paper plans. Discuss chapter.	Prepare conclusions concerning what you talked about today. Prepare activities: Period 4; Period 5 (If necessary, rewrite term paper plan)
	Fri. 11/07 no. 14	Activities related to case study/studies Skills introduced: How to use the Internet for research	Prepare for Activities:Period 4; Period 5 Summary (Deadline: Class no. 16)
	Wed. 11/12 no. 15	Main task to be decided later. Skills introduced: How to avoid plagiarism, and how to quote	Start reading the second case-study chapters as assigned. Fourth period students should look here; fifth period students should look here. Start to work on term paper (deadline for first draft: Class no. 21) Do plagiarism quiz
	Fri. 11/14 no. 16	Presentations (Second Session) Submit summaries	Prepare for activities and finish reading assigned chapter
Case Study III (Newspapers etc.) and Case Study IV (TV News)	Wed. 11/26 no.17	Vocabulary test Discuss chapter.	How to prepare for Class no. 17: period 4 class; period 5 class.
	Fri. 11/28 no. 18	Activities	Prepare to compare news bulletins: period 4; period 5
	Wed. 12/03 no. 19	Comparing news bulletins Skills introduced: Methods of Citation	Practice citation methods.
	Fri. 12/05 no. 20	Presentations (Third Session)
	Wed. 12/10 no. 21	Presentations (Fourth Session)	Read the third case-study chapter assigned to you. Period 4 students should look here for instructions; period 5 students, here.
Case Study V (Media Technology) and Case Study VI (Advertising)	Fri. 12/12 no. 22	Discuss chapters	Prepare for Activities
	Wed. 12/17 no. 23	Activities	Click here to find out how to prepare for the activity.
	Fri. 12/19 no. 24	Advertising Activity (ASA)	Final preparations for first draft of term papers. For advice, click here. Remember to add citations.
.	Wed. 12/24 no. 25	Peer evaluation of first drafts of term papers. Skills introduced: How to turn a paper into a presentation.	Prepare final presentation. Continue to work on your term paper during vacation
	Wed. 1/07 no. 26	Term papers returned 1st session of final presentations	Read my comments on your term paper and start to prepare the final draft.
	Fri. 1/09 no. 27	2nd session of final presentations	Prepare questions about your term paper for the feedback session.
	Fri. 1/16 no. 28	Feedback on term papers Evaluation of the course	Finish preparing final draft of term paper (deadline to be decided).

To view the outline.
To view the guidelines.