Communication Studies 656

Seminar in Public Communication  --  Political Campaign Communication

Fall 2008

Dr. Bert Gross

 

Office: 

Office Hours:  5:30 – 6:30 Tuesday; other hours by appointment

Phone:  304-757-8712 (home); 304-542-7136 (cell)

E-mail:  gross@marshall.edu

 

Textbooks

Poole, S.  (2006).  Unspeak:  How Words Become Weapons, How Weapons Become a   Message, and How That Message Becomes Reality.  New York:  Grove Press.

 

Trent, J. S. & Friedenberg, R. V. (2008).   Political Campaign Communication:  Principles and Practices, 6th ed.   Lanham, MD:  Rowman & Littlefield.

 

Additional readings may be assigned as needed.

 

Course Requirements

 

  1. Attendance and Participation:  Since this class is an advanced graduate level seminar, my presumption is that each student will attend each class, having read and reflected on the assigned materials in order to be a ready participant in class discussion.  Should you be unable to attend class, please notify me as early in advance as possible.

 

  1. Completion of one of the following options:

 

  1. A research project on some important aspect of political communication.  My objective is that your paper will have the significance and quality that will make it, with further revision perhaps, acceptable for presentation at a professional meeting.  In order to earn an A for the project, you must meet that standard.  In general, fifteen to twenty-five pages, typed and double-spaced, using APA style (or some reasonable alternative), will be an appropriate target.  To meet the required standard of excellence, your essay should satisfy three important tests:
    1. Significance  --  The paper must address an issue or campaign that has some importance for other people.  That concern should be addressed in the introduction of your paper.
    2. Originality  --  Your paper should do more than repeat what has already been discovered by others.  You should be familiar with other related work and you should be able to distinguish your work from that of others.
    3. Quality  --  Your paper should develop a clear thesis that serves as the central organizing point.  The paper should present well supported arguments which advance the thesis.  Arguments should be developed in language which is clear, direct, and appropriate.

Students will be required to submit a prospectus for the project no later than October 14.  The prospectus should be three to five pages long and should describe the project and provide some indication of how the project is to be carried out.  On November 18, students are required to submit either an early draft or a complete sentence outline of the project.  If portions of the project are incomplete, a thorough description of the work that is yet to be done may be substituted.  The final project will be due no later than December 16.

 

  1. As an alternative to the research project, a student may elect to fulfill the course requirements by completing three shorter essays as follows:

 

    1. Book Review  --  Select a significant book in the field of political communication and write a review intended for a professional audience.  An extensive list of appropriate books may be found in the Select Bibliography in Trent and Friedenberg (pp. 423-425).  Books may focus on a particular campaign, e.g. The Making of the President, 1960 by Theodore White, or on a particular issue, e. g. Packaging the Presidency:  A History and Criticism of Presidential Campaign Advertising by Kathleen Jamieson.  You are welcome to consult with me about your choice of a book.  Sample reviews from recent journals will be distributed in class and should be used as models.  The book review should by four to five typed, doubled spaced pages, using APA style.  You should write for an audience of fellow graduate students.  To make that easier, provide each student in the class with a copy of your review.  Book reviews are due on October 14.  This assignment will constitute 30% of the final grade.
    2. Literature Review  --  Select a relatively narrow topic that has been studied in the field of political communication and prepare a review of the research literature.  Your essay should be six to eight typed, double-spaced pages, using APA style.  Once again, you should imagine your audience to be fellow graduate students and you should provide each student with a copy of your essay.  Before embarking on the project, be sure to submit a brief statement of what you intend to do to the instructor so that we can make sure that you are headed on the right track.  The literature review is due on December 2.  This assignment will constitute 40% of the final grade.
    3. “Unspeak” in the 2008 Campaign  --  Based on your reading of Stephen Poole’s book and your observation of the 2008 campaign, select an example from the campaign that illustrates Poole’s concept.  You should identify the concept and how it was used in the campaign, explain how it illustrates Poole’s concept of “unspeak” and analyze the effect that the concept had on the campaign.  Please note that this essay is an analytic work on your part;  it is not a piece which reports what others have said.  The essay should be four to five typed, double-spaced pages, using APA style.  This assignment is made in lieu of a final exam and is due no later than the time for the scheduled final exam on December 16.  This assignment will constitute 30% of the final grade.

 

            All essays must be submitted by the due date.  Late work may not be accepted.  If it is accepted, it may be subject to a grade penalty.

 

 

  1. Oral Presentation

All students will be expected to present their work to the class at the end of the semester.  Students who select the first option will present the fruits of their research project.  Students who select the second option will present their literature review.

 

  1. Electronic and Paper Submission

All written work must be submitted in both electronic and paper form.  Electronic files can be sent to gross@marshall.edu.  Hard copies should be submitted by the beginning of class on the date due.

 

 

Tentative Course Outline

 

Aug 26             Introduction to the Course;  Communication Functions of Political Conventions   Read:  T&F, pp. 51-65.

 

Sep 2               Social Construction of Political Leaders and Events.  Read:  T&F, ch. 1; Poole, Ch. 1.

 

Sep 9               Communication Functions of Political Campaigns.  Read:  T&F, ch. 2.

 

Sep 16             Communication Styles and Strategies of Political Campaigns.  Read:  T&F, ch. 3

 

Sep  23            Dr. Susan Gilpin will conduct the class on “Unspeak” in political discourse.  Read:  All students should read Poole, Chs. 2 and 9 and either Ch. 3 or Ch. 4 as assigned.  Students should bring examples from any source that support or refute Poole’s claims.

 

Sep 30             Dr. Stephen Cooper will conduct the class on the role of blogs in political discourse.  Reading assignments will be provided later.

 

Oct 7               Political Debates  Read:  T&F, Ch. 8

 

Oct 14             An Historical Perspective on Mass Communication and Politics.  Read:  T&F, Ch. 4

 

Oct 21             Political Advertising,  Read:  T&F, Chs. 5 and 10.

Oct 28             Speeches and Speechwriting in Political Campaigns.  Read:  T&F, Chs. 6 and 7.

 

Nov 4              Audiences and Issues  Read:  TBA

 

Nov 11            News Coverage of Political Campaigns.  Read:  TBA

 

Nov 18            How well do political campaigns serve the electorate?  A review of 2008.  Read:  T&F, Epilogue, pp. 415-422.

 

Dec 2               Student presentations

 

Dec 9               Student presentations

 

Dec 16             Submit final essay in lieu of final exam