Session			Subject	Assignment
Jan	W	14	Introduction
	W	16	History	K Introduction (xiii-xvi); K1
	M	21	No Class	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
	W	23	History	S1; S 24-29
	M	28	Web Design	Meet in LB 202
	W	30	Innovations and User Base	TBA
Feb	M	4	Web Design	Meet in LB 202
	W	6	Innovations and User Base	K2; K4
	M	11	Content Analysis I	Web Project Due at 3 p.m.
	W	13	Content Analysis II	TBA
	M	18	No Class	Winter Vacation
	W	20	No Class	Winter Vacation
	M	25	Content Analysis III	TBA
	W	27	Social Impact	K3; S 29-49
Mar	M	3	Political Impact	K5
	W	5	Advocacy	K6
	M	10	Government	K7
	W	12	Midterm Exam
	M	17	Journalism	K8
	W	19	Journalism	S 17-24; S3
	M	24	No Class	Spring Break
	W	26	No Class	Spring Break
	M	31	Global	K13; K14
Apr	W	2	Cyberlaw - Introduction	K9
	M	7	Presentations	Paper Due at 1:15 p.m.
	W	9	Presentations
	M	14	Cyberlaw - Facilitate Crime	S4
	W	16	Cyberlaw - Indecency	S5; K10
	M	21	Cyberlaw - Remedies	S6: K 177-186
	W	23	Cyberlaw - Balancing	S7; S8
	M	28	Cyberlaw - Copyright	K 171-177
	W	30	Cyberlaw - Persistent Issues	K11
May	F	9	Final Exam	1:30- 3:30 p.m.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The course explores the politics of Internet communication. Topics include Internet development, communication techniques, access policy, citizenship, advocacy, government, journalism, and law. The course fosters an appreciation of how longstanding legal frameworks have been applied to the Internet. Ways of creatively applying content analysis are developed to gain a systematic understanding of the political use of the Internet. The opportunities and constraints of the website medium as a political resource will be experienced. The course seeks to enhance critical thinking about politics and promote an informed citizenship.

There are two required books for this course and both are available in the USM bookstore and through other distribution channels. The original research in The Politics of Internet Communication by Robert Klotz (K) published in 2004 by Rowman & Littlefield covers the wide intersection of the Internet and politics. A more focused book illuminating the many dimensions of online privacy is Daniel Solove's (S) The Future of Reputation: Gossip, Rumor, and Privacy on the Internet published in 2007 by Yale University Press. Throughout the semester, additional readings will be made available online or distributed in class. The interactive course website, which is available through http://internetandpolitics.com, offers supplemental information and the opportunity for anonymous feedback.

Students are expected to attend class. It is recognized that extraordinary circumstances may prevent a student from attending class. An extraordinary circumstance is assumed to have arisen on the first two absences of the semester. Beginning with the third absence, the attendance grade will be reduced 5% for each absence. Exemption from the attendance policy should only be sought by those representing the university with their talents in extracurricular activities (advance notification required) and for long-term emergencies (reasonable notification required).

Your grade is based on four components: 15% Involvement, 10% Website Project, 25% Paper, 25% Midterm, 25% Final Exam. The exam consists of short answer and essay questions. The involvement grade is divided equally between attendance and class participation.

Grades are based on the traditional 90-80-70-60 scale. Near the dividing lines, pluses and minuses are assigned with the exception of A+ which is not valid under USM grading policy.

Assignments should be completed in a timely matter. Any late work will receive an initial penalty of 5% if it is not submitted by the specified time on the date due. For each additional day late, there will be a 5% penalty (excluding weekends). If class is canceled, assignments will be due at 3 p.m. the next day that school is in session.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. Students who may need assistance due to a disability are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities located in Luther Bonney 242 at 780-4706 or TTY 780-4395.

Specific policies for this class supplement general academic policies of USM. Any breach of the academic integrity policy will be regarded as a serious offense carrying a minimum penalty of a zero on the assigned work.