MDIA 3331 - Popular Media: Text, Audience, Industry
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MDIA 3331 Course Popular Media: Text, Audience, Industry Coordinating Unit Media Term Semester 1 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites MDIA 2306 Assessment Weekly reading tests x 10, Group Textual Analysis, Group Audience analysis, Franchise report, Reflection on participation. Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Kim Barbour
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of htis course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the role of popular media franchises in the contemporary media environment.
2. Critically analyse popular mass media texts using a variety of theoretical lenses.
3. Critically engage with texts produced by media users.
4. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the interdependence of media industries, texts, and users.
5. Communicate key analytical findings clearly and in a form appropriate for the audience.
6. Work effectively in small teams to produce work to deadlines.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1, 2, 3, 4, 6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
5, 6 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
5, 6 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
There are no textbooks or books of readings that are required to be purchased for this course. All materials will be available for download from MyUni, which students will need to access on at least a weekly basis. Additional research materials can be sourced through the university library.
Written assessments and tests will be completed online using the MyUni system.
Due to the seminar style design of the course, there will be no recorded 'lectures'.
Students with laptops or tablets are encouraged to bring them to class to assist with group work and research.
Enthusiasm for popular culture is a must. A willingness to work collaboratively with your groupmates is also essential.Online Learning
Readings and other course materials are available on MyUni, as are the reading tests and written assessment submission. Group work will be managed through the MyUni system. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
This course is taught in on-campus mode. Occasional attendance via Zoom will be accomodated on a case by case basis in consultation with the course coordinator.
Please note that students work in fixed groups across the semester. Active engagement in group work, including outside of class time, is a requirement, and willingness to participate with enthusiasm is assumed.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Task Weekly time commitment Total time commitment Seminar 3 hours 36 hours Reading (including tests) 6 hours 72 hours Assignment preparation
(including group work outside
of class time)4 hours 48 hours Learning Activities Summary
From week 1, students work in fixed groups, focusing on a single media franchise for the whole semester. This franchise drives their engagement in and exploration of the course content. The weekly seminars consist of mini lectures, student activities, and assessment work.
The course is divided into three sections:
Teaching weeks Course focus 1-4 Media texts 5-8 Media audiences 8-12 Media industry -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment task Weighting Course learning outcomes Task type Due Reading tests 20% (2% each) 1, 4 Summative Weekly Group textual analysis 15% 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Formative & summative Week 5 Group audience analysis 15% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Formative & summative Week 8 Franchise report 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Summative Week 13 Peer evaluation 10% 6 Formative & summative Week 9 Assessment Related Requirements
Participation in weekly seminars is compulsory. Attending fewer than 80% of classes will mean you will be ineligible to pass the course. Excused absences can be requested from the course coordinator with appropriate documentation (medical certificates or similar) in some circumstances. Occasional attendance via Zoom or similar will be accommodated where appropriate. Attendance in week 8 for the group presentation is a requirement of all students, and alternative arrangements cannot be made except with direct approval from the course coordinator.
You will be required to complete group work for your assessments outside of class time, and need to be willing to make those arrangements in good faith with your group mates.Assessment Detail
Weekly Reading Tests:
Run in weeks 2-11, these weekly 2% tests (total 20%) assess student’s comprehension of the required readings. The tests will be completed prior to each week’s scheduled class, and be online, composed of multi-choice, multi-answer, true/false, and matching questions.
Textual Analysis:
Working in their franchise teams, students will produce a short textual analysis of one element of their chosen franchise product, in line with course content and discussion. 1500 words, 15%.
Audience analysis:
Working in their franchise teams, students will produce an audience analysis of one element of their chosen franchise product, in line with course content and discussion. 15 minute group presentation, 15%.
Franchise report:
Working independently, each student will build on their prior group submissions to create a substantive franchise report. This will include elements of the textual analysis and the audience analysis, substantially added to with industry analysis. The report will allow students to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of their chosen franchise media product, the interdependence of the text/audience/industry framework of the course, and the role of franchise media and popular culture in the contemporary media landscape. 2500 words, 40%.
Peer evaluation:
Reflective review of group work, including self and peer evaluation, 10%Submission
Tests and written assignments submitted through MyUni.
Group presentations will be submitted in class - pre-recorded presentations are possible with prior approval from the course coordinator, but the presentation format must be consistent across the group.
Grading and feedback on the group assessments will be allocated per group, with individual adjustment of grades only approved with substantive evidence of uneven contributions.
All grades and feedback returned via MyUni.
See MyUni for up-to-date information regarding extensions and late submission.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
This course was really well received when it ran in 2018 and 2020. Actionable feedback requested that quiz questions be adjusted to ensure they were clearer, which has been taken on board for 2020, and the group-work component (with students working in the same group of peers on the same franchise for all classes) to be highlighted more fully in the course outline so that students were aware of this structure. Based on experiences of students in 2020, it has been determined that this course is not appropriate for remote learners. -
Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.
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