1. After studying the assigned reading The Handbook of Communication Science, Second Edition: Chapter 15: Mass Media Effects, consideringone of the five categories of media effect theories mentioned in thearticle (learning, socialization, selective exposure, selectivepresentation, and perceived effects—remember, these are the categories,not the names of the theories themselves) identify one of the theorieslisted in the article and answer the following questions or prompts.

A) Does media directly influence individuals? Explain your answer

B)Which of the mass communication theories do you feel most accuratelyportrays your media experiences? Why? Be sure to provide an example thatsupports your opinion.

C) How involved should the government bein protecting us from media effects? Where do you draw the line betweenfree speech and indecency? Is censorship ever warranted?

Theresponse should be in 12pt type, at least 1-1.5 pages in length,double-spaced. I suggest that you make sure that you have information onthe second page to be safe and avoid loss of points.

Supportyour responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APAin-text citations where necessary, and cite any outside sources that youuse. Class reading resources should be a primary source, but you arewelcome to use outside resources too. Create an APA Bibliography/Reference Sheet at the end of your document. 5 pages

2. After studying the assigned reading 21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 65: The Changing Nature of “News”considering the concepts of timeliness, proximity, unusualness,prominence, impact, conflict and human interest, provide a currentexample of a compelling news story. Answer the following questions orprompts:

A) Why is it compelling? Which of the concepts does it exemplify?

B) In general, how have these concepts been challenged by the advent of immediacy in news release?

Theresponse should be in 12pt type, at least 1-1.5 pages in length,double-spaced. I suggest that you make sure that you have information onthe second page to be safe and avoid loss of points.

Supportyour responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APAin-text citations where necessary, and cite any outside sources that youuse. 5 pages

3. After studying the assigned reading The Handbook of Communication Science, Second Edition: Chapter 20: Media Entertainment, considering the topic of parasocial relationships, answer the following questions or prompts.

A)Identify a character in a show with whom you have developed (in thepast or present) a parasocial relationship. Remember, this personal canbe “real” or a character role. Explain why this character/person iscompelling to you.

B) How do you “know” or view this characteroutside of their role on the show? Have they influenced you in any waybesides the aspect of entertainment?

C) Explain any emotional attachment to the character or person. Have they disappointed you? Motivated you? How and why? 5 pages

4. After studying the assigned reading 21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 54: Traditional and New Media, and then reading "The Impact of New Media on Inter cultural Communication in Global Context"complete the following assignment by synthesizing the readings.Considering the statement “technologies are simply tools” write a shortessay that incorporates answers to the following prompts:

A) Explain how that statement relates to the key words describing new media: "manipulate, converge, and instant."

B)How does the concept of intercultural impact of new media increase thecomplexity of the statement? You should especially consider the newexperiences, for human beings that the convergences of new media andglobalization bring about. 5 pages

5.Search online and find a website for an organization which has acampaign promoting a core issue that interests you (For example: The RedCross and need for blood donations–You may not use this example).

Startyour essay with a short overview of the organization and the issue(just a few lines) and then consider the topics we have covered in thisweek’s readings and discuss how they are reflected in what you see onthis website.

What clear messages do you see?

What audiences is the institution trying to reach?

How has technology affected the way this organization presents itself?

Considerissues of Media Ethics and how they are represented or manifested inthe website. Draw on examples offered on that website to support yourobservations. Specifically consider the content of 21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 77: Theories and Effects of Public Relations,under the section “Assumptions and Lay Theories.” Which of thesetheories does the content of your chosen site most closely align with?Why? Explain your answer. 5 pages

6. After studying the assigned reading, Sociology: The Social Construction of Gender, considering the concept of “gender as socially constructed,” answer the following questions and prompts.

A) How does media create meanings about gender?

B) Provide examples of how this is manifested in our everyday lives.

C)Provide a link to a commercial/ad that stereotypes gender. Even thoughit is natural to find humor in some of these portrayals, in what ways isthis problematic.

Also, consider that sex is a system ofclassification based on biology and physiology, while gender reflectsthe cultural meaning that is ascribed to a person’s sex, thus resultingin labels of “masculinity and femininity.” Furthermore, our biology isnot distinctively male or female and a significant number of people areborn “intersex” with variations in chromosomes or sexual organs. Mostbiological researchers agree on the estimation that intersex people areabout as common as encountering someone with green eyes. It is importantto understand that masculinity and femininity are not oppositional,although it seems to be portrayed so in media. In Western society (suchas in the U.S. and Western Europe) we typically adhere to certain ideasand values that define masculinity and femininity as we perform theroles. What if the list was different? All of us, in honesty, couldreveal that we interchange among the qualities. Take a look at the listand answer the following questions:

Masculinity	Femininity
strength dominance aggression independence empowerment active rational thought production breadwinner subject outdoors technology	weakness submission compliance/vulnerability dependence disempowerment passive emotion consumption nurturer object indoors nature

Provide answers to the following questions or prompts in your assignment submission.

D) How is the list being currently challenged?

E) What traits do you have that are typically considered “on the list” of the other sex?

F) What examples do you see in your daily life of people challenging the historic list?

G) What about examples in media of characters or people challenging the list?

H) Finally, do you agree or disagree that gender is socially constructed? Provide evidence that backs your opinion.

7. After studying both of the assigned readings, Chapter 55: Media Portrayals and Representations and 21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 57: Agenda Setting and Framing, answer the following questions and prompts regarding your favorite program or other chosen media content.

1.What device do you most often use for your favorite program watching orother chosen media? Do you agree that you favor the device that givesyou access to the information and programming that most meets yourneeds? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

2.How does the program meet your specific needs and goals? Who else doyou know that also seeks out this programming (movie, tv, radio show,game) and do they do so for the same reasons as you? Why are their usesof this programming similar or different from your own? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

3.What does this program or other media tell you about your place in theworld in relationship to how much access you have to things you want inthe "real" world? When you are stressed out, do you turn to thisprogramming more or less? Why? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)

4.What does this programming tell you about people who are different fromyou in terms of race, age, sexual orientation, political beliefs,socio-economic status, gender, religion or nationality? Are theyportrayed in a positive or negative light? What kinds of power do theyhave? (add support from the class readings/outside resources)6 pages