I have spent five semesters as a graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan in the Communication Studies Department and one semester as a grader.
The classes I have taught so far are:
• 2004 -2005 – COMM488 (Dr. Nojin Kwak)
• 2005 – COMM211 (Dr. Mike Traugott)
• 2006 – COMM111 (Bradley Taylor)
• 2006 – POLISCI385/COMM484 (Dr. Nick Valentino)
As a grader:
• 2006 - COMM488
Below are the course descriptions.
POLISCI385/COMM 484 - Mass Media and Political Behavior
This course focuses on the role and importance of mass media in the political process. The interaction between the press, politicians, and the public during political campaigns receives detailed attention. Topics include: how news is made; campaign strategies; political advertising effects; relations between Congress, the President, and the media; and the role of mass media in political campaigns. These topics are examined through a systematic review of research in both mass communication and political science.
COMM 488 - Principles of Strategic Communication and Research
This course will introduce core concepts in strategic communication, which have been developed in various persuasive communication settings, including political campaigns, advertising, and public relations. Furthermore, students will learn key research methods and interpretation of data utilized in these settings. Students will have some first-hand experiences in the research process, including sampling, telephone interviewing, and data analysis.
COMM 211 - Evaluating Information
This course teaches the fundamental thinking skills necessary for critical evaluation of research-based arguments, especially those based on quantitative information. Such skills are required for one to be a competent mass communicator of information, a critical consumer of information relayed by the mass media, or an intelligent scholar of media processes and effects. The course introduces generic logical and statistical concepts through analysis and discussion of specific cases drawn from reporting in the mass media (e.g., health and business news, public opinion polls), research on media effects (e.g., the impact of media violence), and audience research reported in the mass media (e.g., audience research). Students logical and quantitative reasoning skills are improved through a variety of hands-on exercises and projects (many involving computerized spreadsheet programs). The course is introductory in nature, and no prior statistical expertise is required. This course is one of four prerequisites required for students to have completed before declaring a Communication Studies concentration.
COMM 111 - Managing the Information Environment
This course is a hands-on workshop intended to develop student mastery of the rapidly developing and expanding electronic information environment. Skills developed include the use of electronic communication systems, data base searching, word processing, data management, and various research uses of public computer networks and the information superhighway. The course introduces students to a range of campus computing resources, including local area networks and available software, and remote access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. Problem-solving assignments are designed to teach strategies used in finding information and evaluating its validity and utility. This course is one of four prerequisites required for students to have completed before declaring a Communication Studies concentration.
