COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

ILS 2385  Visual Literacy and the Sociology of Perception

Ken Harmon                                                        kenny.harmon@jwu.edu

MW 11:00-12:15 ACAD 426                                  Office:  Suite 530, Gateway Center, 5th floor

3 Credit Hours                                                     Office Hours:  TR 11:15-12:15 

Spring 2023                                                                                    & by appointment  

                                            

Welcome to Visual Literacy and the Sociology of Perception! 

COURSE DESCRIPTION 

Human perception of the social world is studied from both a communications and sociological perspective. In this interdisciplinary course (Humanities and Sociology), elements of “picture-based media” as a means of molding cultural perceptions, social biases, and personal views of reality will be studied. Through a series of exercises, students will critically examine images in art, history, still photographs, television, advertising, film, and documentaries to determine their sociological messages. Using the language of visual literacy and an understanding of perception, students will test assumptions about their world.

This is a reading and writing intensive course.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

All course readings provided by professor in ulearn

You will need to pay for at least one film rental.  The best option is Amazon Instant Streaming Video (avg. cost = $4.99).

Recommended Items:  

A laptop, a tablet (such as an Ipad), and/or a smart phone. You should bring one of these items to class every day. These will be used to complete in-class course work such as blogging, electronic quizzes, etc.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, a student should have the ability to:

1.Define and employ terms associated with visual literary and sociological perception to respond to and analyze visual images.

2.Identify, analyze, and explicate the distinguishing characteristics of how the human eye works like a camera to take in images and transmit those images to the brain, which, in turn, interprets those images. 

3. Evaluate the impact of visual media on personal interpretations of social norms, values, stereotypes, cross-cultural biases, and other perceived realities.

4.Address how new forms of digital production are reshaping the perception, social function, and consumption of visual media.

5.Discuss how visual experience is mediated and how “reality” is a constructed representation.

6.Explore the extent to which visual culture helps construct and refashion a person’s identity, desires, historical knowledge, and political affiliations.

REQUIREMENTS

Students will:  

•   Attend class meetings and complete all reading, writing, and editing assignments.
  

•   Read extensively critical essays by peers and experienced writers with attention to audience, purpose, tone, style, grammar, and punctuation.
  

•   Complete daily blog entries 
  

•   Actively participate in daily reading discussion groups. 
  

•   Complete homework as specified during the term. Homework may include exercises, shorter writing assignments, and other work that develops writing skills. Students should expect to write during or after every class. Students will be expected to participate in collaborative activities and class discussions and listen to lectures.
  

•   Demonstrate competence in basic grammar, punctuation, mechanics, sentence structure, paraphrasing, and essay writing as defined through class lecture, model writings, practice, and rubrics.
  

•   Conduct, compile, document, and present a research project.
  

•   You will compose three major argumentative writing projects along with some more informal writing assignments. I will be more specific about the assignments as their assignment date approaches (see course schedule).
  

All written work is to be typed, including most in-class writing. All paper assignments will be covered in detail well before they are due. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12pt., with 1” borders on top, sides, and bottom according to MLA format.

5

Each major written assignment will include planning, drafting, revising, editing, and reflection. You are responsible for turning in all materials related to an assignment. This includes: invention strategies, draft versions, peer critiques, a final version, and a reflection. Failure to submit drafts, peer critiques, or reflections on the due date will affect your grade.

You must complete all major writing assignments in order to pass the course. Failure to complete any of the required assignments will result in a final course grade of F.

EVALUATION

The following assignments will be graded. You can accumulate 400 points, which are distributed as follows:

CLASS PARTICIPATION (36.25%)  

Blog Entries                                   12.5%        (50 pts., 10@5 points ea.) 

Quizzes                                          1.25%       (5 pts., 1@5 points ea.) 

Reader/Viewer Responses            22.5%      (80 pts., 8@ 10 points ea.)

Discussion Boards                          2.5%       (10 pts., 2@ 5 points ea)

PAPERS/ASSIGNMENTS (75%)

Essay 1                                              10%        40 pts.                                                    

Essay 2                                              15%        60 pts.   

Essay 3                                              25%        100 pts.

Portfolio                                        13.75%        55 pts.

Final Grades:

360 - 400 A

320 - 359 B

280 - 319 C

240 - 279 D

  0 - 239 F

SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR ACADEMIC GRADES:

Official academic grades can be accessed via jwuLink. Grades maintained in the ulearn course management system are for tracking purposes only and may not reflect all of the criteria considered with calculating a student's final grade.

MY EXPECTATIONS:  

Taking classes is your job here at the university. Thus, you should treat the work and requirements accordingly. In the workplace things such as absences, tardiness, and not doing your work properly have negative consequences. This is the case in my class as well. Many students’ low grades are a result of not following directions or policies as well as not expending enough effort. It is your responsibility to be aware of the policies on this syllabus. If you miss class it is your responsibility to check with your classmates to find out what you have missed. And though you are always welcome to follow up with me if you are absent, do not ask me if you “missed anything important.”

Your grade is dependent on a number of factors that, together and holistically, inform the evaluation and assessment of your performance. In summary, these criteria include attendance, participation, reading responses/journal entries, reading quizzes, discussion questions, a presentation, and the successful completion of any other reading and written assignments.

Note: The reading load is quite heavy and the pace fast. Also, because writing is a means of discovery and a pathway to understanding, it is an important activity in this class in conjunction with the reading. Indeed, you should think of your writing as a mode of reading that will help you begin to understand the literature at hand. When essays, journals, and in-class assignments are considered together you will be doing some kind of writing assignment every week. Be prepared to spend much time carefully reading, considering, discussing, and writing about the texts in the course. If you cannot devote the time necessary to keep up with the assignments, and to do so in a critical manner, you will not do well in this class and may want to consider if this is the right class for you.

NOTE ABOUT ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, AND REMOTE CLASSES:

Remote classes are scheduled at particular times and take place in Zoom. All students are expected to be present and actively participate in all course activities (no exceptions).  This means you are to be properly dressed and groomed just as you would be for an on campus course and all cameras are to be on during break out sessions. The expectation is that each student will have a working camera. You can access Zoom on your laptop or from any smartphone or tablet. See your app store for free Zoom app.

All attention must be solely devoted to what is taking place in the Zoom meeting (and nothing else), and you should be prepared for the day's class meeting. This means all assignments should be completed beforehand. Not being prepared for class, or not actively participating, will negatively affect your grade. This active participation is solely your own responsibility. Every student is expected to contribute to class discussions.

NOTE: NOT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN A COURSE WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR GRADE.

MY AVAILABILITY

I'm available to answer questions or address your concerns between 10am and midnight 7 days a week. You will find my cell number under the "Professor Info" link in Ulearn. Please feel free to text if you have a question that needs an immediate answer. Quite often questions don't occur until one sits down to work on assignments. You may also contact me via email. If I don't answer right away, I'm busy with other things, but I will respond as soon as I'm free. Don't assume I'm ignoring your message. You also shouldn't wait to ask questions right before an assignment deadline.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT AN ASSIGNMENT OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COURSE FOR ANY REASON, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO ME IMMEDIATELY.

I will respond to most texts immediately, but within several hours at most. I typically quickly respond to emails; however, at most it should never be longer than 24 hours.

If I don't respond within these stated time frames, please message/email me again.

A NOTE ABOUT ZOOM RECORDINGS

While a Zoom recording of each class session will be available in ulearn, these are not a substitute for being present and participating in class activities.  A great deal of learning takes place as a result of group activities inside of the breakout rooms, and this is not recorded. YOUR PRESENCE AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CLASS WILL HELP YOU GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF COURSE MATERIAL. WRITING PRACTICE AND PRACTICE ANALYZING TEXTS THAT TAKES PLACE IN BREAK OUT SESSIONS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO LEARN SKILLS WITHOUT THE SPECTER OF A LARGE GRADE AND LEAD UP TO LARGE ASSIGNMENTS WHERE YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WRITING AND ANALYSIS (AND ARE ASSOCIATED WITH HEAVILY WEIGHTED ASSIGNMENTS).

PLAGIARISM: All course assignments ask you to write using what you have learned in the course and using your own thinking and writing skills. If you use any ideas, paraphrases, or exact wording from a source other than yourself (including the textbook), you must document the source using MLA parenthetical documentation style (see handbook or ask instructor). Any source used but not documented will be considered plagiarism, for which you will receive a failing grade for the course. You might also be placed on probation or expelled from the university. If you have any questions about plagiarism, ask before you act. Ask me; see Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism.

 FEW VERY IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT PLAGIARISM

A. Plagiarism, a SERIOUS, academic violation, which can lead to an F for the course, is the use of WORDS, IDEAS, or STRUCTURES of others (published sources, friends, relatives) without acknowledgment. There is no excuse for willful plagiarism.

B. Except where appropriate (quoting or paraphrasing from primary or secondary sources), your work is presumed to be totally your own writing (i.e. original).

C. When you QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE FROM ANY sources, you MUST cite them with appropriate specific documentation (usually author and page number in parentheses + Works Cited list at end). This includes subject matter of the essay. If you quote or paraphrase precisely from a work of literature, you must cite the author of that work.  

D. If you do not understand the format for documenting sources, see me for help before turning in an essay. Refer to your handbook for further clarification.

http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/cas/english/CorrectUseBorrowedInfo.pdf

TURNITIN.COM: All major essays written for this course must be submitted electronically to turnitin.com no later than class time on the date that an assignment is due. Essays that are not uploaded to turnitin.com will not be accepted. 

SMARTHINKING TUTOR:  Students are required to submit each draft of an essay assignment to the Smarthinking tutor a total of two times per essay for feedback and are expected to use that information to revise each essay assignment.   If a student fails to do so, they will lose one letter grade per each assignment not submitted to the tutor.  See the Smarthinking link in ulearn for submission details.

SUBMITTING COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:  You are required to electronically submit all assignments to ulearn, Flipgrid, or a blog for this course.  Assignments not submitted in the manner will not be accepted.  Any items sent by email will be deleted.

ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time and remain for the entire class period, and report to class fully prepared with all required materials. While active learning will take different forms in different classroom contexts, students are expected to demonstrate active engagement in the classroom. Missed in-class assignments will be recorded as a zero and cannot be made up. Your success in this course is tied to regular attendance.

SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR ACADEMIC GRADES:

Official academic grades can be accessed via jwuLink. Grades maintained in the ulearn course management system are for tracking purposes only and may not reflect all of the criteria considered with calculating a student's final grade.

J&W WITHDRAWAL POLICY

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate procedures leading to a formal withdrawal (“W”) in order to avoid a failing (“F”) grade. To receive a W, a student must withdraw prior to March 17, 2023.

TARDIES: If a student is more than 10 minutes late for class or leaves more than 10 minutes before class is over, they are counted absent for the day. 

ETIQUETTE: Students are expected to respect their classmates’ time and learning environment. Therefore, show up for class prepared and on time. ALL CELL PHONES SHOULD BE SET TO SILENT BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASSROOM. Each time a cell phone disrupts class the entire class will take a pop quiz. Also, if a student leaves the classroom to answer a call, they will be counted absent for the day and not allowed back in the classroom that day. Other disruptive classroom behavior, defined as anything that would interfere with “an instructor’s ability to conduct the class” or “The ability of other students to profit from the instructional program,” is strictly prohibited.   This includes texting while the professor is lecturing or during group work when students should be focused on completing the task at hand.

NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE CLASSROOM

NOTE: Persons other than registered students are not allowed to attend academic sessions, laboratory classes, computer labs, and other University academically supported areas.

LATE PAPER/ASSIGNMENT POLICY: Turn in all your assignments on their scheduled due dates. You must submit the final drafts of all essays and their associated process work (critique, reflection, etc.) in Blackboard. NO PROCESS, NO GRADE. Keep a duplicate copy of all assignments you turn in and save all of your files in several locations (flash drive, hard drive, email, etc.). I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS.

REVISION: You may rewrite one failing essay (original grade of D or F); the rewritten essay may receive no higher than a “C.” Revision must accompany the original graded copy.

GRADED ESSAYS: All essays for this course are graded electronically. Please see the Turnitin Grademark Feedback video for instructions to obtain the comments and grading rubric for your essay. 

STUDENT E-MAIL: Students are required to obtain and use a JWU e-mail account for University communication and to access my public folders. You must obtain your password to do so. Student accounts are created automatically for those who are active and in good standing. Student email addresses are available through link.jwu.edu. Immediately contact the Help Desk at 1-866-598-4357 if you need assistance. Take care of this the first day of class. Students are expected to maintain an email account throughout the semester and check it daily for important information regarding upcoming assignments, course announcements, etc.

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Students will often complete in-class assignments and short writing projects. In-class projects and quizzes are team-based and scheduled for a specific class period and cannot be made up after that class date.

WORKSHOPS: All essays will be critiqued by peer groups in class. Essays without workshop response will drop one full letter grade.

PARTICIPATION: Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Contribute productively to discussion. Quizzes and in-class writings are usually based on the readings.

CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT

WRITING CENTER: Located in the academic building, 4th floor, the writing center is open to all Johnson & Wales University students who need help with writing, whether they are taking an English course or not. Students are encouraged to seek assistance with essays, research projects, and related assignments. Students are asked to make an appointment with a Writing Center staff member in order to receive prompt assistance. The center provides 30 minute appointments and is staffed from 8:30-2:30 M-R. Consultants work with students on any part of the writing process -- planning, drafting, focusing, organizing, revising, or editing, and with papers from all disciplines. Please do not hesitate to use the tutor’s assistance. Remember to bring a copy of your assignment and your drafts to any Writing Center conference.

Going to the Writing Center does not guarantee you a good grade because tutors will not proofread your papers. The Writing Center’s goal is to improve your overall writing skills (organization, thesis & supporting paragraphs, audience/assignment issues, as well as teaching punctuation and grammar rules after reviewing big picture issues), which sometimes takes several sessions, depending on your existing writing skills. For more information, you may contact them at acadsupport.clt@jwu.edu

You may also visit the Center for Academic Support website at:  

http://www.jwu.edu/content.aspx?id=8776

ALTERNATIVE CONTENT FORMATS IN ULEARN:

Alternative format options are available for many types of content in ulearn course sites. You can download course content in formats that work best for you, such as tagged PDFs (for screen readers), HTML, ePub (eBooks), electronic Braille, audio (mp3), and BeeLine reader versions. Download alternative formats by clicking the icon of an "A" with an arrow next to any item in ulearn. See the Alternative Content Formats webpage for more details.

These alternative formats are not a substitute for accommodations. If you need an accommodation for this class, please use the contact information below:

Providence and Online: Accessibility Services, 401-598-4660, accessibility.pvd@jwu.edu. 

Charlotte: Center for Academic Support, Academic Center Suite 410, 980-598-1500, charlottecasstaff@jwu.edu 

ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:

Johnson & Wales University supports all students’ academic needs. Students with documented disabilities interested in accommodations and/or auxiliary services must contact Accessibility Services, meet with an Accessibility Services advisor, and together complete an Accommodation Agreement. Students are encouraged to speak privately with their professors regarding their academic accommodations. Contact Accessibility Services at https://academicsupport.jwu.edu for campus-specific information including office location and contact number.

CAMPUS-SPECIFIC STUDENT POLICIES:

All students are required to read, understand, and abide by the provisions of the Catalog and Student Handbook applicable to their campus, which can be found at http://academics.jwu.edu/catalogs/. 

In particular, students should be aware of the following university policies:

General Information and Policies

Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment

Withdrawal

University Holds

Academic Policies:

Academic Integrity/Academic Integrity Review Process/Turnitin Notification

Attendance

Occupancy in Class

Outcomes Assessment  

Student Affairs:

Student Code of Conduct 

Student Services:

Center for Academic Support/Services/Students With Disabilities

A FINAL NOTE: I want you to use your time and effort as positively as possible, to read and write about topics relevant to your personal and academic interests. Whenever possible, I will encourage you to learn and write about all the other subjects you are taking. If at any time you have a question about your writing, please talk to me after class, at my office, or via email.

“If you want to write, you can. Fear stops people from writing, not lack of talent, whatever that is…You’re a human being, with a unique story to tell, and you have every right. If you speak with passion, many of us will listen. We need stories to live, all of us. We live by story. Yours enlarges the circle.”

-Richard Rhodes

“Everybody is talented, original and has something important to say.”

-Brenda Ueland

“Follow your curiosity and passion. What fascinates you will probably fascinate others.”

-Diane Ackerman

“A writer… is someone who has found a process that will bring about new things.”

-William Stafford

“Writing and rewriting are a constant search for what one is saying.”

  -John Updike

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