University of North Alabama

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Communication and Theatre


Course Syllabus

Communication 242: Credit Hours: Course Description: Placement: Class Schedule: Faculty: Textbook: Objectives: Teaching Methods: Student Grades: Important Dates: Reading Assignments by Teaching Units: Project:

Introduction to Television Production and Performance 3 semester hours The basic techniques of operation, production, and performance of television and visual media. Spring 2007 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 am to 8:50 am Avon Edward Foote, Ph.D. Associate Professor Room 108 Office: (256) 765-4489 E-mail: aefoote@una.edu FAX: (256) 765-4839 Office Hours: Monday 10-12, Wednesday 10-12, Thursday 1 to 5, Friday 10-12. And by appointment when necessary Zettl, Herbert, Television Production Handbook, 9th edition  Wadsworth, 2006. The student is expected to complete the following objectives: To be able to identify the basic operation techniques of lights, cameras, switchers, graphic systems, still stores, video servers and videotape recorders. To be able to identify and critique television compositional and transition elements and their application. To be able to identify and apply primary television performance styles. To be able to present effectively for several different television program types in practice lab sessions. To be able to list the primary decision-making criteria for television producing. To be able to give performance and production job descriptions and to fill the primary audio and video live television, production assignments in lab practice. To be to define different types of production, live television, ENG, field production, and digital cinematography. To practice performance and production in television lab/studio to improve skill levels. Assigned readings in text; lectures; class discussion; television programming projects; laboratory practice assignments; one on one evalutions of performance are available by appointment; and festival attendance outside class hours at Lindsey Film Festival. The following are methods by which the course objectives will be evaluated: Three exams will count 20% each. Final exam will be comprehensive over all readings, laboratory practice and in-class content. 20% of grade will come from lab projects. Class participation will count 10%. Additional project and/or festival/conference/meetings attendance assignments on campus will count 10% if written report is submitted to professor within one week of event. A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=<60 Attendance: Required by University policy. After four weeks of absences your grade will be become an "F" as announced in University literature. Grade will be lowered for excessive absences over three. Because of the importance of being on-time and meeting deadlines, tardiness will be noted on the roll and may affect the grade if it becomes a problem for an individual student. January 15 --- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day February 16 --- University closed for Winter break March 2 --- Middle of term March 1,2,3,4 --- Lindsey/UNA Film Festival March 26 to April 1 --- Spring Holidays April 6 --- UNA closed April 20 --- Last day to drop a class May 3 --- Study Day May 4 to 10 --- Semester Exams Television Production basics, Chapters 1,2,3,5,6,7. Unit I Test on February 21. Television Performance basics, read handouts and library reserve articles. Unit II Test March 21. Process of Television Production, Chapters 11,12,16,18,19. Laboratory Practice in Television Performance and Production, read handouts and library reserve book chapter. Units III and IV Test during final exam. Laboratory assignments will require time outside of class. These outside class obligations should average 20 minutes per week during the semester. Students will sign up for 40 minutes of laboratory studio time every other week to give them enough time to complete assisgnment. The day-of-week and location of sign-up forms will be announced in class.

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