Discussion

SPC 3544 DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT #2 ASSIGNED: 10/8/21

DUE: SUNDAY 10/17/21 by 11:59 PM EST (uploaded to Canvas)

DIRECTIONS: Please answer completely all questions. Note that questions contain multiple

parts and your answers should clearly indicate which part of the question you are responding to

(e.g. 2b). Questions 1-3 ask for short answers. Question 4 asks for a formal essay. Your typed

answers should be uploaded as one word document to Canvas by Sunday, October 17, 2021

at 11:59 PM EST. This discussion assignment is designed to be completed independently. You

may consult your notes and course readings as you formulate your responses. This discussion

assignment is worth 50 points.

1. Based on our course discussion of radio/audio media, explain what electronic eloquence is. Using either the Mayor LaGuardia or President Roosevelt examples from class, give one

example of how either the mayor or president attempts to use a “conversational style” that

is important for electronic eloquence. Explain how the example you provide illustrates the

“conversational style.” [5 points]

2. Visit the Internet archive for ESPN (https://web.archive.org/web/*/espn.com). Examine the homepage/landing page as it existed on April 8, 2003 and again on April 8, 2013. The older

version of the website may take a bit longer to load. [12 points total]

a. How does each version of the ESPN website illustrate the unique sender-receiver relationship of digital/new media culture? [2 points]

b. Identify three examples on the webpages of media interactivity. Explain how each of these examples illustrate media interactivity and how media interactivity on the website

evolved over a 10 year time frame. [5 points]

c. In class, we discussed how digital media culture reorients message control away from elites/authorities and toward lay audiences. Comparing the homepages over time, is

there evidence that ESPN gives users greater control over the ways audiences can

respond to and shape messages from 2003 to 2013? Explain your answer. [2 points]

d. We discussed in class the differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 as related to the available technology (e.g. dial up versus broadband internet speeds). Using this

background and comparing the ESPN websites, explain how the available technologies

of the medium shape the types of messages created on the ESPN sites. [3 points]

3. When we overviewed the media system in class, we discussed the logics of media content, including message hybridity. Apply the idea of message hybridity to the evolution of

content from print newspapers to digital newspapers. Your short answer here should define

message hybridity and apply this definition to one change from print to digital newspapers.

You may use the print and digital The New York Times (nytimes.com) as an example of the

changes you discuss. [3 points]

SPC 3544 DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENT #2 ASSIGNED: 10/8/21

DUE: SUNDAY 10/17/21 by 11:59 PM EST (uploaded to Canvas)

4. ESSAY PROMPT: Please watch the opening statement actor Seth Rogen gave to the U.S. Congress on Alzheimer’s Disease (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHqx3-mfHAY).

Based on our course discussions related to ethos and source credibility, write an essay that

assesses the extent to which Rogen is an “expert” on the topic. How credible is Seth Rogen to

speak about the topic of Alzheimer’s?

Specifically, your 600-750 word essay should assess his competence, trustworthiness, and

goodwill as conveyed verbally and/or nonverbally during his opening statement to answer the

extent to which Seth Rogen is a credible source in this instance. Your essay should include clear

definitions of the components of source credibility (competence, trustworthiness, and goodwill),

examples from his presentation that illustrate your main points, and references to course reading

and discussions on the topic. Your essay should be professionally structured and written

according to the rubric provided.

Essay Grading Rubric [30 points]

Introduction

 Includes a clear preview of the argument of the essay and main

points for whether Rogen is a credible source.

 Defines any course concepts that may be referenced

5 points

Body

 Main points clearly stated, developed, and integrated into

the broader direction/argument of the essay.

 Includes clear definitions of source credibility components

and examples from the presentation to illustrate main

points.

 References material support from class discussions and the

Borchers (2012) textbook.

15 points

Conclusion  Reviews direction/argument of the essay and main points.

5 points

Mechanics  In-text citations, additional sources cited in APA style  Professional spelling, grammar, and punctuation  Double-spaced, 1” margins, 12-point, Times NR font, 600-750

words

 Include word count with essay

5 points