CC 301-02 - INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS

BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE - FALL 2000

MWF 10:00-10:50 CAMPUS CENTER R110

Dr. Arthur Lizie alizie@bridgew.edu Office: Library L323

508-531-2170 Hours: M & W 11-12 & by appointment

Course Description

This survey course introduces public relations as a specialized and skilled type of public communication. The primary goals of the course are to

Develop an understanding of the historic and contemporary roles of public relations in society,
Explore the relationship among the individual, the group, and the public relations profession, including career opportunities,
Learn the public relations campaign process, including strategies and tactics.

Required Text

Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics, Sixth Edition (2000) by Wilcox, et al.

Attendance

You are required to attend all class sessions and individual meetings. More than three absences will adversely affect your grade, as will habitual lateness, leaving early, and leaving during class for non-health reasons (such as feeding a parking meter). Merely informing me of your absence or intended absence does not constitute an excused absence. You cannot learn if you are not here.

If you miss an exam without contacting me prior to the exam date, there will be no make-up – you will receive a 0 for that exam grade. For an excused absence (approved by me prior to the exam date), I may substitute an essay or research paper rather than give a make-up exam.

For late papers/presentations, I will drop a grade per day after the due date. Failure to show up for an individual meeting will severely hurt your attendance grade.

Academic Integrity

Students typically encounter a number of ethical dilemmas throughout their academic experience. Part of your responsibility as students and members of the BSC community is to act honestly when faced with such situations. Acts of academic dishonesty include but are not necessarily limited to: cheating on exams; plagiarism (using someone else’s work and passing it off as one’s own without properly identifying the source); presenting work previously presented in another course without consulting the instructor; purchasing exams or term papers; and submitting an exam or any other work that was completed by another person.

A first instance of plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment. Repeated incidents will result in an F for the course and possible administrative intervention. For more information, follow the Academic Integrity link Undergraduate Academic Policies at:

http://www.bridgew.edu/Catalog/ugpol.htm

CC 301-02 - INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS – SPRING 2001

E-mail

I respond promptly to e-mail and find it a useful way to communicate with students. However, DO NOT use e-mail for urgent messages such as a request for permission to miss an exam. Also, DO NOT use e-mail to send assignments without making prior arrangements – technical problems with e-mail will not be accepted as an excuse for late assignments.

Evaluation

In addition to the assignments listed, if I feel that people are not doing the reading, there is the possibility for periodic, unannounced quizzes based on the reading.

5 points – position paper (January 26)

5 points – press release (February 7)

5 points – letter to the editor (March 30)

5 points – outline/conferences (February 14-21)

10 points – speech (February 23-28)

15 points – first exam (February 12)

15 points – second exam (April 13)

15 points – final exam (TBA)

15 points – group presentation (April 25-May 4)

10 points – attendance and participation

100 points total

A	93-100
A-	90-92
B+	87-89
B	83-86
B-	80-82
C+	77-79
C	73-76
C-	70-72
D+	67-69
D	63-66
D-	60-62
F	0-59

Schedule of Discussion Topics, Readings, and Assignments

The following is a schedule of topics that will be covered in class. All reading assignments listed below are from Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics. This schedule does not account for materials passed out in-class, or special activities such as guest speakers, screenings, or in-class exercises that may rise; the schedule is subject to minor changes as the semester progresses.

DATE SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT

W 1/17 Introduction

F 1/19 1: What is Public Relations?

M 1/22 2: Evolution of Public Relations Work

W 1/24 3: Ethics and Professionalism

F 1/26 4: The Individual in Public Relations Position Paper due

M 1/29 5: Public Relations Departments and Firms

W 1/31 21: Written Tactics

F 2/2 22: Spoken Tactics

CC 301-02 - INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS – SPRING 2001

DATE SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT

M 2/5 22: Spoken Tactics

W 2/7 10: Public Opinion Press Release due

F 2/9 10: Persuasion

M 2/12 First Exam

W 2/14 Individual conferences Speech outline due

F 2/16 Individual conferences Speech outline due

M 2/19 President’s Day – No Classes

T 2/20 Individual conferences Speech outline due (Monday Schedule)

W 2/21 Individual conferences Speech outline due

F 2/23 Speeches

M 2/25 Speeches

W 2/28 Speeches

F 3/2 TBA

SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

M 3/19 23: Visual Tactics

W 3/21 20: The Internet and Other New Technologies Speeches

F 3/23 6: Research

M 3/26 6: Research

W 3/28 7: Program Planning

F 3/30 7: Program Planning Letter to the Editor Due

M 4/2 8: Communication

W 4/4 8: Communication

F 4/6 9: Evaluation

CC 301-02 - INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC RELATIONS – SPRING 2001

DATE SUBJECT/ASSIGNMENT

M 4/9 9: Evaluation

W 4/11 11: The Public and How to Reach It

F 4/13 Second Exam

M 4/16 Patriot’s Day – No Classes

W 4/18 12: Public Relations and the Law

F 4/20 13: Corporations

M 4/23 14: Politics and Government

W 4/25 Group 1 Presentation

F 4/27 Group 2 Presentation

M 4/30 Group 3 Presentation

W 5/2 Group 4 Presentation

F 5/4 Group 5 Presentation

W 5/9 8:00-10:00am Final Exam