Social Media

Professor	Dr. Leeann Hunter leeann.hunter@wsu.edu
Office Hours	Avery 202B (509) 335-2627 TBA or by appointment
Class Meetings	MWF 2:10-3:00 Bryan 406
Website	www.leeannhunter.com/socialmedia

In this course, we will examine how we communicate via multimedia authoring across various social networking platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. In our study of social media discourse, we will analyze non-linguistic forms of communication, adapt content across platforms to meet the needs of various audiences, and examine issues of culture and identity in online communities. We will consider contemporary problems in social media, relating to privacy, economics, ethics, and health, while also measuring the credibility of information spread through social media. As we look toward the future of social media, we will experiment with ways of redesigning social media tools and platforms to meet the needs of diverse 21st-century audiences.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university. Any student who attempts to gain an unfair advantage over other students by cheating will fail the assignment and be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Cheating is defined in the Standards for Student Conduct WAC 504-26-010 (3). Read more

WSU Safety Statement

Classroom and campus safety are of paramount importance at Washington State University, and are the shared responsibility of the entire campus population. WSU urges students to follow the “Alert, Assess, Act” protocol for all types of emergencies and the “Run, Hide, Fight” response for an active shooter incident. Remain ALERT (through direct observation or emergency notification), ASSESS your specific situation, and ACT in the most appropriate way to assure your own safety (and the safety of others if you are able).

Please sign up for emergency alerts on your account at MyWSU. For more information on this subject, campus safety, and related topics, please view the FBI’s Run, Hide, Fight video and visit the safety portal.

Reasonable Accommodation

Students with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please either visit or call the Access Center (Washington Building 217; 509-335-3417) to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center.

Discrimination and Harassment

Discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct (including stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence) is prohibited at WSU (See WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct (Executive Policy 15) andWSU Standards of Conduct for Students).

If you feel you have experienced or have witnessed discriminatory conduct, you can contact the WSU Office for Equal Opportunity (OEO) and/or the WSU Title IX Coordinator at 509-335-8288 to discuss resources, including confidential resources, and reporting options. (Visit oeo.wsu.edu for more information).

Most WSU employees, including faculty, who have information regarding sexual harassment or sexual misconduct are required to report the information to OEO or a designated Title IX Coordinator or Liaison. (Visit oeo.wsu.edu/reporting-requirements for more info).

Attendance

The number one way to succeed in this course is to attend class regularly. This course is designed to be delivered face-to-face, and while many of the instructional materials are available online and in print, the key learning methods and objectives are practiced through interactive lesson plans. Regular attendance is crucial for student success, roll will be taken daily, and on-time arrival is expected.

Your attendance grade will be determined by the number of unexcused absences you have accrued (grading scale: 0=100, 1=95, 2=85, 3=75, 4=65, 5=55, 6+=0). Three (3) unexcused tardies are equivalent to one (1) unexcused absence. Note that after six (6) unexcused absences, your chances for success in this course decline considerably. It is your responsibility to make sure your attendance is recorded if you arrive after roll has been taken.

Surprises sometimes get in the way of regular attendance, but don’t let them destroy your chances of success in this course. Contact me if you run into any obstacles this semester. You may receive two (2) excused absences during the semester that may be used toward university-sponsored activities, professional opportunities, or illness of any kind. To receive an excused absence, please submit a written email request at least one full day prior to the class meeting for scheduled events, and at least one hour prior to the class meeting for illness. Exceptions to these protocols may be made in special cases or emergencies.

Make-Up Work

Work may be made up for approved absences on a case-by-case basis. Please make an appointment with me for consultation.

Project Submission Guidelines

Learning to stick to a deadline, however arbitrary, is good practice that will lead to long-term healthy work habits. To help you develop these habits, any work submitted after the deadline will receive a grade penalty of one-half letter grade. After 12 hours, the penalty will be one full letter grade. After 24 hours, the penalty will be two full letter grades. After 48 hours, the work will no longer be accepted, and you will receive a zero for the assignment.

You will submit most of your materials to Blackboard Learn. You are responsible for keeping additional backups of all the work you submit for assessment. Specific submission instructions may vary; always consult the course schedule for details.

Technology

Important announcements, course information, and project directions will be delivered via the course website or by e-mail. Please check your university email at least twice-daily so that you stay up-to-date on all information relevant to this course. Follow up any important oral communication with your instructors by e-mail. All e-mail correspondence between instructor and student must be conducted in a professional manner.

Mobile Devices and Laptops
To create an inclusive and interactive learning environment, use of mobile devices and laptops is not permitted during class time, unless otherwise announced. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis. When use of mobile devices and laptops is permitted, all content displayed on the screens must be appropriate for the academic setting.

WSU Grading Standards

The grading follows WSU standards:
A: Outstanding achievement-awarded only for the highest accomplishment
B: Praiseworthy performance-above average in most respects
C: Satisfactory performance-work meets the standards for competency
D: Minimally passing-effort and achievement less than satisfactory.

Assignment of Grades

All grades will be assigned on a holistic basis (A, B, C, etc). However, when points are averaged to calculate final course grades, they may result in half grades (A-, B+, B-, etc.).

Letter	Points	Range
A	95	94-100
A-	95	90-93
B+	85	87-89
B	85	84-86
B-	85	80-83
C+	75	77-79
C	75	74-76
C-	75	70-73
D	65	64-69
F	55	0-63
Missed	0	0

Project	Weight
Portfolio	40%
Project 1	10%
Project 2	10%
Project 3	10%
Response Papers	10%
Engagement	20%

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