ATEC 3325: Introduction to Computer Mediated Communication

Second Summer Session 2008, Section 09M (M-R, 10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., JO 4.504)

Dr. Gooch
Office Number: JO 4.128
Office Hours: Monday, 1:15-3:15 p.m. and by appointment
Office Phone: (972) 883.2038
E-mail: john.gooch@utdallas.edu

Course Description
This introductory course on computer-mediated communication (CMC) will explore ways in which
human-to-human communication interactions have been influenced or altered through the use of
computer technology. How has the mediation of computers affected the substance and processes
of our interactions with each other? How are virtual communities related to geopolitical
communities? How do our understanding of language and communication change with CMC
activities? We shall survey and study established and emerging modalities of computer mediated
communication and mediums such as email, egroups, bulletin boards, and real-time chat rooms.
While this course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of CMC, we will also
analyze CMC from other theoretical perspectives such as that of communication and cultural
studies, to name a few.

ATEC 3325 is a reading intensive course, as are most introductions to theories, and furthermore,
it is a writing intensive course. Your progress in this class will depend significantly on 1) your
demonstrated ability to respond to the readings in an informed and timely manner and 2) to
apply any of the theoretical frameworks to CMC activities for analysis in an informed manner, and
3) submitting assignments and other requirements in a timely manner. I will give detailed written
feedback on all assignments except the homework and class work. You must rigorously proofread
all work for spelling, grammar, and mechanical errors. The student must meet and exceed
expectations to earn an “A” on any given assignment.

Course Goals and Objectives

Upon successful completion of ATEC 3325, students should be able to:

• Write effectively using appropriate organization, mechanics, and style;

• Construct effective written arguments addressing CMC-related themes;
• Gather, incorporate, and interpret source material in their writing;
• Analyze CMC from different disciplinary perspectives (communication, cultural studies,
history) and communicate that analysis in class discussions and in writing; and
• Analyze and evaluate in writing the arguments of CMC theorists.

Required Textbooks

Kawamoto, Kevin. Media and Society in the Digital Age. Allyn and Bacon, 2003.

Vitanza, Victor J. (Ed.). CyberReader (Abridged Edition). Pearson Longman, 2005.

Wood, Andrew F. and Smith, Matthew J. Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, &
Culture. Second Edition. Lawrence Erlbaum and Associates, 2005.

Course packet – available at Off Campus Bookstore

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Other Course Resources
This semester, I will also use three web resources for teaching this course: Turnitin.com, my
personal web site (http://www.utdallas.edu/~john.gooch), and a blog site
(http://jcgooch.squarespace.com).

Note: I reserve the right to modify this syllabus at any time during the course to suit the needs
of the students and the course objectives. Any modifications shall be given to you in writing.

Assignments
Important Notes about Assignments. College level writing is expected in this course. Assignments
that do not reflect college level writing will not earn high grades.

Any writing you submit to me for this course (major paper, in class writing, online responses, or
rough/preliminary drafts) will be subjected to scrutiny for academic and scholastic dishonesty.
Please see page 5 of this syllabus regarding UTD’s policy on “Academic Integrity.”

Do not use Wikipedia or Sparknotes as sources for papers in this class.

You will double-space all essays and use only 11 or 12 point font.

Assignment Points % Due Date

Personal Reflection (3 pages) 100 10% July 10
Position Paper/Argument (4 to 5 pages) 200 20% July 21
Analysis of CMC Theory/Concept (8 to 10 pages) 300 30% Aug 4
Works Cited Page (MLA Format) 100 10% Jul 30
Attendance 100 10% NA
Participation, In Class Writing and Online Responses 200 20% NA

Grading Scale
930 – 1000 = A 730 – 769 = C
900 – 929 = A - 700 – 729 = C-
870 – 899 = B+ 670 – 699 = D+
830 – 869 = B 630 – 669 = D
800 – 829 = B- 600 – 629 = D-
770 – 799 = C+ 599 and below = F
(Grading scale is consistent with the UTD Undergraduate Catalogue, 2006-08.)

ATEC 3325.09M, Summer II, 2008

Jul 7 Introduction to the Course
Expectations, Assignments
Jul 8 Understanding CMC
Identity
Susan McKee, Judicial Affairs Officer, UTD
Wood and Smith, Chapters 1-3

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Jul 9 Identity
Turkle, page 57 (CyberReader)
Online Communities
Wood and Smith, Chapters 4 and 6
Unit 5, “Explaining CMC: Group Dynamics” (Course Packet)
In Class Workshop, Personal Reflection Essay
Jul 10 Personal Reflection Essay Due (11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com)
Online Communities
Norris, “The Bridging and Bonding Role…” (Course Packet)
Rheingold, page 89 (CyberReader)
Jul 14 Internet Addiction
Wood and Smith, Chapter 5
Gender
Chapter 3 (CyberReader)
Jul 15 Gender
Kantrowitz and Herring (Course Packet)
Digital Divide
Wood and Smith, Chapter 8
Jul 16 Virtual Reality and Cyberspace
Chapter 1 (CyberReader)
Jul 17 In Class Workshop, Argument Paper
CMC and the Media Environment
Kawamoto, Chapters 1 and 2
Jul 21 Argument Paper Due (11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com)
News Media and CMC
Kawamoto, Chapter 3
Jul 22 News Media and CMC
Kawamoto, Chapter 8
Jul 23 Media Ecology Tradition
Lum, “Notes Toward….” (Course Packet)
Morrison, “Marshall McLuhan….” (Course Packet)
Jul 24 Media Ecology Tradition
Gencarelli, “Neil Postman…” (Course Packet)
Jul 28 Law and Cyberspace
Kawamoto, Chapter 7
Starke-Meyerring, Burk, and Gurak, “American Internet Users…” (Course Packet)
Jul 29 Law and Cyberspace
Chapter 4 (CyberReader)
Topic 2, “Legal Communication in CMC” (Course Packet)
Politics and Power in Cyberspace
Wood and Smith, Chapter 9
Stromer-Galley, “Will Internet Voting Increase…?” (Course Packet)
Jul 30 CMC and Consumer Culture
Tentative Works Cited Page Due
In Class Workshop, Analysis of Theory Paper
Wood and Smith, Chapter 7
Kawamoto, Chapter 6
Jul 31 CMC and Popular Culture
Wood and Smith, Chapter 10
Kawamoto, Chapter 10
Elmer-Dewitt, “Cyberpunk” (Course Packet)
Aug 4 Analysis of Theory or Concept Essay Due (11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com)
CMC, the Cyberpunk, and the Future
Maddox, “Snake Eyes” (Course Packet)
Leary, page 77 (CyberReader)
Leary, page 87 (CyberReader)
Kawamoto, Chapter 11
Bainbridge, “The Future of the Internet….” (Course Packet)

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Policies
General Policies and Course Expectations
• Students must submit all major assignments (not including homework/class work) to
pass the course. Students who fail to submit all major assignments will not pass the
course, regardless of the number of points the student has earned.
• Cell phones and digital pagers must be powered off during formal class hours.
• I will not accept late homework/class work regardless of the excuse.
• Please do not bring meals to class. Students should eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a
time other than class time.
Room and Equipment Use
• Tampering with or destroying any of the computers, printers, Smart Board, white boards,
modems or wiring in the classroom is strictly prohibited. Violations will result in
disciplinary action by the Dean of Students’ office.
• The room may be used only for ATEC 3325 related activities. You may not work on other
class projects, check your e-mail, print, work for other classes, burn CDs that are not
part of ATEC 3325 assignments, install software (games, music, executables,
programming languages, or any other software that has not been approved). Any
violation of the above restriction would refer a student to disciplinary action with the
Dean of Students office. A second violation will result in the student receiving an “F” in
the course regardless of the quality of class work.
Absence Policy
Because successfully completing ATEC 3325 depends upon your attendance and participation,
even absences resulting from seemingly legitimate circumstances can hinder your overall
performance. I will allow students one (1) day as a personal/free/sick leave for this summer
term. For every absence over (1), the student’s “attendance” and “participation” grades will be
reduced by 20 points. Students who accumulate three (3) or more absences should seriously
consider withdrawing from the course.

I will consider excusing absences for extended illness and/or hospital stay on an individual and
case-by-case basis. Students should consult with me privately regarding such circumstances.

Punctuality
It is important to attend class on time. Persistent and reoccurring tardiness is disrespectful to me
and to your fellow peers. If you continually arrive to class late, it will affect your final grade in the
course. Student may leave early with instructor permission; however, such occurrences should be
very infrequent. I will consider the student absent if he or she arrives more than 30 minutes late
to class.

Field Trip Policies

Off-campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law
and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities.
Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address
http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional
information is available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description of any
travel and/or risk-related activity associated with this course.

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Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility
of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and
regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is
provided to all registered students each academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the
Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the
university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations
are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are
available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-
6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of
citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the
Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to
discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or
off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty.
Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the
work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a
high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related
to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s
own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty
involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying
academic records. Students suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary
proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from
any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on
plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of
turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication
between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email
raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email
exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent
only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email
from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the

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 university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual
corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each
student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university
personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level
courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog.
Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle
withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any
student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final
grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other

fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a
serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or
committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”).
Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and
evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be
submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If
the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the
student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved
by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of
Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an
Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The
results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean
of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules
and regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably
missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed.
An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove
the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is
changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in
room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to

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 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable
adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example,
it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals
(in the case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment
requirement may be substituted (for example, a research paper versus an oral
presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with
mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or
university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty
members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations.
Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or
during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required
activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose
places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas
Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible
regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so
excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a
reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a
maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed
exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to
complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing
grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the
purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about
whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed
assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling
from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief
executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC
51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.

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General Grading Criteria
Analysis of Audience and Purpose
Any written assignment you prepare for this class should present a clear purpose (i.e., what you
are attempting to accomplish). An introduction, generally speaking, should establish your purpose
for the paper. You should also write to address an audience. For example, the audience might be
those whom you can likely convince of your position on an issue.

Organization and Development (Overall Content)

It is important to organize effectively the content of your paper and also provide adequate
support for ideas and arguments through evidence and analysis. Effective writing also
necessitates that you effectively structure each paragraph and each section.

Thesis or Main Point

Any piece of writing should support a main point, central claim, or thesis. Your written essays
and essay answers on exams should support a main point that you are communicating to an
intended audience.

Style
Word choices, use of language, and sentence structure become very important for a piece of
writing’s overall effectiveness. Writers should maintain an appropriate level of style for the
audience and also for their intended purpose.

Format (Delivery and Design Features)

Formatting concerns relate to certain and specific visual features such as font size and type, font
style, white space, and use of color. Writers make a multitude of basic formatting decisions when
preparing content.

Professionalism
I expect you to proofread and edit carefully all work you submit in this class. I also expect you to
adhere to conventional English grammar and mechanics on all assignments. Professionalism also
means that you use appropriate source citation wherever and whenever necessary so that you
avoid violations of copyright – even if those violations are inadvertent.

Personal Reflection
Value: 100 points or 10%
Due: Friday, July 10, 2008 by 11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com
Length: 3 pages, double-spaced

Assignment Expectations and Description

For the first writing assignment in the course, you should consider your own experiences using
computer-mediated communication technologies. In doing so, consider the following questions:

• What role does CMC play in your own life?

• How do you use CMC
• What have you experienced – both positively and negatively – in using CMC?
• When did you first begin using CMC?
• What CMC technologies do you no longer use?
• Do you see the online world and CMC use moving in a positive direction?

In writing this paper, you might relate a narrative or story about your experiences. Explain to the
audience how your perception of CMC has evolved since you first began using it.

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Criteria
I will assess your paper according to the following criteria:

• Thesis: Does the paper contain an explicit or implicit central claim or main point?
• Organization and Development: Does the paper possess structure? Are points and ideas
clearly presented and supported?
• Style: Has the writer chosen effective words to express his or her ideas? Is the writer’s
sentence structure effective? Does the essay reflect college-level writing?
• Focus: Does the paper address the same topic throughout or does the paper shift from
one major theme or topic to another?
• Grammar and Mechanics: Does the written document adhere to conventional grammar?
• Analysis, Critical Thinking: Does the paper show that the writer has analyzed issues?
• Audience and Purpose: Is the audience for this essay clear? Can the user or reader
clearly identify your purpose or what you are attempting to accomplish in the essay?

Argument Essay/Position Paper

Value: 200 points or 20%
Due: Monday, July 21, 2008 by 11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com
Length: 4-5 pages, double-spaced

Assignment Expectations and Description

For the argument essay, you will choose one issue from the course and write a well-reasoned,
substantively developed paper that supports a thesis. You will also use readings from the class
and/or additional research as evidence to support your thesis.

Your paper should first clearly define the important issue or issues in its introduction. Then, the
body of the paper should present supporting arguments and evidence for the position. Finally,
the conclusion will summarize the thesis and state the importance of the overall topic.

Criteria
I will assess your paper according to the following criteria:

• Thesis: Does the paper contain an explicit or implicit central claim or main point?
• Organization and Development: Does the paper possess structure? Are points and ideas
clearly presented and supported?
• Style: Has the writer chosen effective words to express his or her ideas? Is the writer’s
sentence structure effective? Does the essay reflect college-level writing?
• Focus: Does the paper address the same topic throughout or does the paper shift from
one major theme or topic to another?
• Grammar and Mechanics: Does the written document adhere to conventional grammar?
• Analysis, Critical Thinking: Does the paper show that the writer has analyzed issues?
• Audience and Purpose: Is the audience for this essay clear? Can the user or reader
clearly identify your purpose or what you are attempting to accomplish in the essay?

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MLA Citation and Plagiarism
Please correctly use Modern Language Association (MLA) for parenthetical (in-text) citation and
format concerns. You must include a “Work” or “Works Cited” page – in this case, a
“listing” – with your essay. An essay that does not provide adequate source documentation is
not acceptable for this assignment and therefore potentially subject to a failing grade.
The “Work” or “Works Cited” page should meet MLA requirements as stipulated in the MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition. Please review policies regarding
plagiarism from the ATEC 3325 policy statement and syllabus for Spring 2008.

Other Important Notes

Your essay or paper must meet and exceed expectations to earn the “A” grade. The paper should
not merely present a summary of readings or summary of an authority’s position on the subject.
It is understood that you may need to summarize a particular perspective or aspect of an issue;
however, I should be able to read your arguments and thoughts as substantiated by evidence
and reasoning. In other words, your voice should come through clearly.

Other Helpful Links/Information

MLA Citation

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/mlaparen.html

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html

http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite5.html

Toulmin Model for Argumentation

http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/rgass/toulmin2.htm

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~digger/305/toulmin_model.htm

Works Cited Page

Value: 100 points or 10%
Due: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 by 11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com
Length: 5 sources minimum (primary or secondary)

You will submit to me a working bibliography for your final paper. The bibliography must be
correctly formatted according to MLA guidelines (see MLA Sixth Edition). This list of sources does
represent a tentative bibliography; your final “Works Cited” page for the paper will most likely
reflect changes.

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Analysis of CMC Theory or Concept
Value: 300 points or 30%
Due: Monday, August 4, 2008 by 11:55 p.m. to Turnitin.com
Length: 8 to 10 pages (not including Works Cited), double-spaced

This last paper requires you to explain and analyze a theory and/or concept from the course. You
will choose one of the following theories or concepts from this list; I will also approve a topic not
appearing on this list as long as it represents a theory or concept related to CMC.

agonistic and utopian rhetoric Media Richness model

Bentham’s panopticon orality
consumerism Reduced Social Cues model
corporate convergence resistance
Cuelessness model SIDE Model
cybernetics Social Presence Theory
cyberpunk Social Context Cues Theory
cyberspace Social Influence Model
technological determinism Social Information Processing (SIP) model
diffusion of innovation synesthesia
digital divide technopoly
hot and cool media telepresence
A theory of community (e.g., Quentin Jones

Your paper should explicitly address the following:

Summary and explanation. Not every audience will understand clearly the theory you have
chosen for the paper. You will need to provide ample and detailed explanation of the theory or
concept. Explain first the theory/concept in general; then, relate its specific aspects with clear
and accurate references to both your textbooks and other sources.
Analysis. A portion of the paper should relate how the theory has evolved over the years. Who
has challenged the theory? Does it represent the dominant thinking among scholars in
communication or sociology, for instance? Who are the major contributors to this theory and how
have they advanced it? Is the theory controversial and, if so, why?
Applicability. The paper should also clearly identify the theory or concept’s applicability for
CMC. How does it relate to this field of study? Why do we consider it in a discussion of CMC?
Evaluation. Make sure you assess the theory/concept. Is it valuable? Is it flawed in some way?
What does it contribute?
In addition, your essay should provide a clear introduction identifying the subject and providing a
thesis for the paper. It should also have a strong conclusion summarizing the point of the paper
and the significance of the particular theory. This assignment will require additional research;
your textbooks will not provide everything you need for effectively completing it.
As with the previous assignments, you are responsible for accurate and appropriate citation of
sources as well as a correctly formatted Works Cited page according to MLA guidelines.
Evaluative criteria from previous assignments also pertain to this assignment.

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