Jour 2500 comp #: 4568       Spch 2500 comp #: 3066       Class schedule:: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 - 10:45
Class room: 307 Classroom South
Office hours:  Monday   10:30-11:30   /   Tuesday     2:30-4:00   /   Thursday   2:30-4:00 - And by appointment   
Required Reading
Berger, A.A. (1998).  Media research techniques (2^nd edition).  Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
A required reading packet is available at the Bestway Copy Center on Decatur Street.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of communication research.  Library and online research venues will be discussed, as well as the various tools, methods, and procedures required in the research discipline.   The course is broken down into four sections: (1) overview of communication research and technology; (2) quantitative research; (3) qualitative research; and (4) writing style and APA.

Grade Policy 
Your grade will be determined by your performance on 4 exams and a group project, with the following breakdown:
Exam 1:    75 points               A = 450 POINTS
Exam 2:   100 points              B = 400 POINTS
Exam 3:   100 points              C = 350 POINTS
Final exam  125 points          D = 300 POINTS
Group Project: 100 points    F = <300 POINTS
TOTAL 500 POINTS                                                             THE FINAL EXAM IS COMPREHENSIVE
Group Project
Each group will create a prospectus for a research project.  This means you will design a study that could feasibly be executed as a student here at Georgia State.

Course Policies
* There will be no extra credit assignments given.
*         Each group will keep a group-research logbook.  This logbook will, in detail, reveal the progression of the project, and the contributions of each member.
*  Attendance is essential to performance.   Also, much of the group project will be done in-class; if you fail to show up and help out, expect to be penalized accordingly.
* Students who miss class are responsible for all changes in schedule and class information.  Work is not considered an acceptable reason for missing a test.
* Grades of Incomplete will be given at my discretion and only for appropriate reasons, such as hardship circumstances.
* Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other potentially noisy devices before entering class.
* Do not work on your computer during lecture or class discussion.  Also, do not use your computer for personal emailing, coursework for other classes, games, etc.  If it is necessary, I will instruct the entire class to shut down their computers.
* Any student requiring special assistance due to a disability is urged to let me know.  I assure you that anything told to me in confidence will remain between you and me.
* Academic dishonesty is uniformly forbidden and will be dealt with most severely--see the attached university policy for details.
* Finally, and I stress this: You are prohibited from telling me what grade you need for this course.  As mentioned previously, your grade is determined by how you perform on your exams and your group project--I will not "tweak" the results because you "need" a specific grade.
*   It is imperative that you do the reading before you come to class.  Also, I will lecture over material that is not on the syllabus,         
               but will be on the exam.
*   Any student having perfect attendance will receive five bonus points added to His/her final grade. 
          Perfect attendance means never missing class for any reason whatsoever.
*   Arrive to class on time!!!
BE ON TIME FOR ALL EXAMS.  IF ANY STUDENT HAS TAKEN THE EXAM AND LEFT BEFORE YOU GET TO CLASS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THAT EXAM, BUT WILL BE GIVEN ANOTHER EXAM, WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE IN ESSAY FORMAT.

Tentative Calendar: Note that changes in the schedule may be necessary as the semester progresses.  You will be notified of any changes.  Also, check my website for changes.