COM2604/101/3/2021
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2021
Media studies: Mass communication and
Media theory
COM2604
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Communication Science
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 5
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 7
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 7
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 8
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 8
4.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 8
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 9
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 10
7 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Assessment criteria..................................................................................................................... 10
8.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 11
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................. 12
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ..................................................................................................... 12
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ...................................................................................................... 12
8.4 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................ 12
8.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 12
8.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 14
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 31
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 31
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 33
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 33
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 33
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 34
2
, COM2604/101/3/2021
DECLARATION OF OWN WORK
I,
(NAME and SURNAME) confirm that:
this MODULE contains my own, original ideas and work
those ideas, or work, that are not my own, have been cited through the prescribed
referencing system which I have familiarised myself with in the TL CMNALL/E/301
I have not submitted the ideas or work contained in this MODULE for any other tertiary
education credit
Policy on Research
Ethics.pdf
I have read the University’s Policy of Research Ethics
I have read and understood the PLAGIARISM POWERPOINT FOR UNDERGRADUATE
STUDIES (available under ADDITIONAL SOURCES on myUnisa)
I have familiarised myself with the library guides ON PLAGIARISM AND ETHICS offered
by Unisa’s library: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/research-support/plagiarism
I have read and understood Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism,
and I am aware that plagiarism is punishable in terms of the Copyright Act (Act 98 of
1978) and I have read the regulations of the University of South Africa in this respect,
available online:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/Apply%20for%20admission/Documents/
Policy_copyright_infringement_plagiarism_16November2005.pdf
_________________
STUDENT NUMBER
_________________ _____________
SIGNATURE DATE
_________________ _____________
WITNESS DATE
3
, Dear Student
As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and
the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels as a phased-in approach. You will notice
their implementation in your modules and we encourage you to fully embrace these changes
during your studies at Unisa.
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
We are pleased to welcome you to this module and hope that you will find it interesting and
rewarding. We shall do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be well
on your way to success if you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the
assignments properly.
Please make regular use of myUnisa and the internet. You must be registered on myUnisa to be
able to submit assignments, gain access to the library functions and various learning resources,
download study material and participate in online discussion forums. The discussion forums are
excellent tools that enable you to “chat” to your lecturers and fellow students about your studies
and the challenges you may encounter.
Tutorial matter
You will receive a number of tutorial letters during the year. A tutorial letter is our way of
communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Tutorial Letter 101 (the one you are reading) contains important information about the scheme
of work, resources and assignments for this module and assessment criteria, as well as
instructions on preparing and submitting the assignments. This tutorial letter also provides
all the information you need with regard to the prescribed study material and other
resources, and how to obtain them. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand
when working through the study material; preparing for the assignments; preparing for the
examination; and posing questions to your lecturers. We have also included certain general and
administrative information about this module (see section 3.1 of this tutorial letter for
information on the specific lecturers for this course as well as frequently asked questions
and answers in section 9). Please study these sections of the tutorial letter carefully.
Make sure that you read Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301, which explains the requirements for the
technical presentation of assignments.
Please read the introduction in Only study guide for COM2604/COM2059, since it gives you an
overview of this module, the structure and the content, and explains the learning outcomes.
Also, keep in mind that the study guide for COM2604 was finalised prior to the release of the
second edition of the prescribed book. So there are a few instances where incorrect references
are made to the prescribed book in the study guide. Addendum A at the end of this Tutorial
Letter 101 explains exactly how you should change your study guide to ensure that it refers to
the correct pages, figures and tables in the prescribed book. We wish you all of the best with the
module.
4
Tutorial Letter 101/3/2021
Media studies: Mass communication and
Media theory
COM2604
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Communication Science
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 5
3 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS................................................................................... 5
3.1 Lecturer(s) .................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 6
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 7
4.1 Prescribed book(s) ........................................................................................................................ 7
4.2 Recommended book(s) ................................................................................................................. 8
4.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ................................................................................................... 8
4.4 Library services and resources ..................................................................................................... 8
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................ 9
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 10
7 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Assessment criteria..................................................................................................................... 10
8.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 11
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................. 12
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ..................................................................................................... 12
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ...................................................................................................... 12
8.4 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................ 12
8.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 12
8.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 14
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 31
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 31
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 33
10 SOURCES CONSULTED ........................................................................................................... 33
11 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 33
12 ADDENDUM ............................................................................................................................... 34
2
, COM2604/101/3/2021
DECLARATION OF OWN WORK
I,
(NAME and SURNAME) confirm that:
this MODULE contains my own, original ideas and work
those ideas, or work, that are not my own, have been cited through the prescribed
referencing system which I have familiarised myself with in the TL CMNALL/E/301
I have not submitted the ideas or work contained in this MODULE for any other tertiary
education credit
Policy on Research
Ethics.pdf
I have read the University’s Policy of Research Ethics
I have read and understood the PLAGIARISM POWERPOINT FOR UNDERGRADUATE
STUDIES (available under ADDITIONAL SOURCES on myUnisa)
I have familiarised myself with the library guides ON PLAGIARISM AND ETHICS offered
by Unisa’s library: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/research-support/plagiarism
I have read and understood Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism,
and I am aware that plagiarism is punishable in terms of the Copyright Act (Act 98 of
1978) and I have read the regulations of the University of South Africa in this respect,
available online:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/Apply%20for%20admission/Documents/
Policy_copyright_infringement_plagiarism_16November2005.pdf
_________________
STUDENT NUMBER
_________________ _____________
SIGNATURE DATE
_________________ _____________
WITNESS DATE
3
, Dear Student
As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a transformation
charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this charter, we have also
placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. For your information, curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and
the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles will be
integrated at both the programme and module levels as a phased-in approach. You will notice
their implementation in your modules and we encourage you to fully embrace these changes
during your studies at Unisa.
1 INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE
We are pleased to welcome you to this module and hope that you will find it interesting and
rewarding. We shall do our best to make your study of this module successful. You will be well
on your way to success if you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the
assignments properly.
Please make regular use of myUnisa and the internet. You must be registered on myUnisa to be
able to submit assignments, gain access to the library functions and various learning resources,
download study material and participate in online discussion forums. The discussion forums are
excellent tools that enable you to “chat” to your lecturers and fellow students about your studies
and the challenges you may encounter.
Tutorial matter
You will receive a number of tutorial letters during the year. A tutorial letter is our way of
communicating with you about teaching, learning and assessment.
Tutorial Letter 101 (the one you are reading) contains important information about the scheme
of work, resources and assignments for this module and assessment criteria, as well as
instructions on preparing and submitting the assignments. This tutorial letter also provides
all the information you need with regard to the prescribed study material and other
resources, and how to obtain them. We urge you to read it carefully and to keep it at hand
when working through the study material; preparing for the assignments; preparing for the
examination; and posing questions to your lecturers. We have also included certain general and
administrative information about this module (see section 3.1 of this tutorial letter for
information on the specific lecturers for this course as well as frequently asked questions
and answers in section 9). Please study these sections of the tutorial letter carefully.
Make sure that you read Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301, which explains the requirements for the
technical presentation of assignments.
Please read the introduction in Only study guide for COM2604/COM2059, since it gives you an
overview of this module, the structure and the content, and explains the learning outcomes.
Also, keep in mind that the study guide for COM2604 was finalised prior to the release of the
second edition of the prescribed book. So there are a few instances where incorrect references
are made to the prescribed book in the study guide. Addendum A at the end of this Tutorial
Letter 101 explains exactly how you should change your study guide to ensure that it refers to
the correct pages, figures and tables in the prescribed book. We wish you all of the best with the
module.
4
