SYLLABUS

COM 240 Introduction to Radio and Television Production

Credit hours: 3

Pre-requisites: none

Janet L. McMullen

CB121 Ph 765-4914, hm 7575-2831


Updated: 11/15/2001

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Thomas Burrows, Donald N. Wood and Lynn Schafter Gross, Television Production: Disciplines and Techniques, 8th ed. (Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co., 2000).

Hausman, Benoit and O'Donnel. Modern Radio Production, 4th ed. Wadsworth, 2000.

Broadcasting and Cable Magazine Student Subscriptions will be available through Dr. Mc.

Optional Reading: (Strongly encouraged by not required; recommended for extra credit reading to build your professional library.)

REQUIRED SUPPLIES:


DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE:

The basic techniques of equipment operation and production of motion picture, visual and sound messages in the appropriate format for cable, broadcasting and film distribution. Students will learn the primary responsibilities of operations personnel in all three areas.

Subject areas include:

Radio:

Television:

Students will be assigned to production teams for lab practice and projects.

EVALUATION:

There will be two major exams, one on the radio unit and one on the television and film unit. Quizzes will be frequent and unannounced. Quizzes and exams will comprise approximately 30% of your grade. Exams will be valued at 100 points each and consist of both objective and subjective items.

The remaining 70% of the course grade will involve production evaluations, based on mastery of equipment, technique and production principles. Responsibility, ability to work as a team member, and creativity will be factors in this evaluation. Improvement over the course of the semester may also be considered where warranted.

EXTRA CREDIT may be earned to supplement exam and quiz grades by completing either a book report or a mini-research paper valued at 25 total points. Extra-credit points will not add to the total points possible for all students, and affect only the student who completes the extra credit work.

ATTENDANCE is expected at ALL class meetings, and failure to attend class will jeopardize your grade and could result in failure. Failure to attend on the day of production will result in an "F" for that assignment and will reflect a lack of responsibility and poor attitude and thus will seriously impact your final grade.

READING ASSIGNMENTS will be given in advance and are to be read PRIOR to the class date assigned. A quiz over assigned reading material should not come as a shock to intelligent students.

It is advisable for students to keep a NOTEBOOK for class materials, production assignment sheets and rotations, scripts, and handout materials. The notebook should be a loose-leaf binder which accommodates 8 1/2 x 11" paper.

Your GRADE will be determined by the following projects/exams:

Grades will be determined on the following scale: A+=12, A =11, A =10 ........ D+=3, D =2, D-=1

Average the point values for the grades you have received, and you will have a good idea of your present grade. At the end of the semester all quiz and exam grades are totaled, grades assigned on a 90-100% scale with A+=24 for that segment of the grade.

Dr. Mc's Office Hours are listed on the current semester web page.

The Course Calendar will provide a day by day schedule of this semester's course activities. (Will be posted shortly)



These lectures may need to be updated.  Be sure to check for an '01 update date or have clearance from Dr. Mc before you print them off or down load them.

Links to Lecture Notes and Other Info on the NET!

Radio Lecture

Microphones

Television Lecture : Part 1

Television Lecture: Part 2

Television Lecture: Part 3

Television Lecture: Part 4

Television Lecture: Part 5

Assignment Sheets and Course Handouts on the Web 

Radio Script Form

Sound Effects Handout

P-1 Radio Commercial

Radio Commercial Guidelines

P-2 Radio Interview

P-3 Radio Board Shift

Study Guide for Radio Exam

Television Script Form

P-4 Television Commercial   

P-4 Rotation

P-5 Television News-Interview   

P-5 Rotation

Television Production Report Form

Teleprompter Instructions

Extra Credit Audition Tape


Copyright, 2000 Janet McMullen

At HOME on AOL: drmcrtf@aol.com

At UNA: jmcmulle@unanov.una.edu

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