McDaniel College - COM1103 Introduction to Mass Communication (Online) - R. W. Dillman
Paper Assignment #4

Mass Reality

The Writing Assignment

Write an essay that explains the relationship between mass media and human culture.

Your essay should emphasize the subjects that we have discussed in weeks 9 through 13, but it should also show your understanding of the entire course.

My Goals For This Assignment

I am looking for two kinds of understanding on your part:

1. A general understanding of the nature of mass communication and the role it plays in current human civilization.

2. Details that show me that you have read and understood the various assignments that we have done throughout the course and in particular during the last half of the course. I expect that you will quote from the texts that you have read during the course.

This assignment is worth 15 points - 11 points on content; 4 points on format and style. There are no limits on the length of the paper.

Tips and Hints

1. You are to write an essay. Your overall theme has been assigned as: "the relationship between mass media and human culture". You need to define the terms "mass media" and "human culture" and then expand on the theme by showing how the two relate to one another.

2. Organization is the key to success. A collection of disorganized paragraphs will receive poor marks.

You must lay out an argument that demonstrates how the two ideas relate to one another. Each paragraph should contribute evidence to support your argument.

• Your first section should introduce the theme. It will include your definitions of the two terms. It will conclude with the main assertion of your argument that claims that the two terms are related.
• The next few sections should all support your theme by providing details (observations, quotations, other evidence) that further describe your theme.
• If your argument is long and/or complicated, divide the paper into sections - give each section a subtitle.
• The last paragraph should review your key points and restate your final conclusion.

3. Vague, general "bullshit" sentences are very, very bad. It is worse to say something vacuous or meaningless than it is to say nothing at all. Be careful not to repeat yourself. Avoid big, general claims, such as: "culture has been with us since the dawn of human life" -- instead, stick to narrow, specific claims and observations.

4. It is extremely important that you provide quotations to support your observations and arguments.

What I Expect From You - Or, How I Will Grade Your Writing

1. As always, you will need to provide quotations and cite your sources.

2. Format and style as are they were for your other papers.