Course coordinator
Dr Leah Henrickson
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course encourages you to identify and evaluate the relationships between media and society. You will learn foundational media studies concepts and theories that you will apply to analyses of media histories, current media contexts, and media futures.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
COMU2233
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Leah Henrickson
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide you with understanding of the roles media play in society. You will critically examine media institutions, practices, and technologies using significant concepts and theories from media, communication, and cultural studies. You will learn to apply these theoretical concepts in academic communication and argumentation.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe the roles media play in society.
LO2.
Critically analyse media environments and their sociocultural implications.
LO3.
Demonstrate effective academic communication and argumentation.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Tutorial Participation
|
25% |
Week 1 Tue - Week 1 Thu Week 2 Tue - Week 2 Thu Week 4 Tue - Week 4 Thu Week 5 Tue - Week 5 Thu Week 6 Tue - Week 6 Thu Week 7 Tue - Week 7 Thu Week 8 Tue - Week 8 Thu Week 11 Tue - Week 11 Thu Week 12 Tue - Week 12 Thu
Participation will be evaluated in Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 (i.e. all tutorials but those used for the In-Tutorial Critical Media Response and Essay Consultation). You must participate in your own scheduled tutorial unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator. |
| Examination |
In-Tutorial Critical Media Response
|
20% |
Week 9 Tue - Week 9 Thu |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique | Essay Outline | 15% 1,000 words |
13/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Final Essay | 40% 1,500 words |
10/11/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Tutorial Participation
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
Week 1 Tue - Week 1 Thu
Week 2 Tue - Week 2 Thu
Week 4 Tue - Week 4 Thu
Week 5 Tue - Week 5 Thu
Week 6 Tue - Week 6 Thu
Week 7 Tue - Week 7 Thu
Week 8 Tue - Week 8 Thu
Week 11 Tue - Week 11 Thu
Week 12 Tue - Week 12 Thu
Participation will be evaluated in Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 (i.e. all tutorials but those used for the In-Tutorial Critical Media Response and Essay Consultation). You must participate in your own scheduled tutorial unless otherwise approved by the Course Coordinator.
Task description
At UQ, a tutorial is a small group learning session run by a tutor. Tutorials are designed to help you explore and understand course material presented in lectures, sometimes through the introduction of additional academic information. Throughout the semester, you will be expected to regularly attend - and actively participate in - your scheduled tutorials. Through tutorial participation, you will enhance your understanding of media and society, as well as develop your ability to demonstrate effective academic communication and argumentation.
Each tutorial is worth 5 points:
- 2 points for completing the assigned activities
- 3 points for making a meaningful contribution to the tutorial
The activities required for completion each week will be clearly delineated in the weekly tutorial instructions, posted to Learn. Partial marks will not be given (i.e. you either get the points for completion of the activities or you don't; you either get the points for a meaningful contribution or you don't).
A 'meaningful contribution' may include, but is not limited to: asking a thoughtful and relevant question; sharing a thoughtful and relevant answer or comment; providing peer feedback; or helping a peer complete the assigned activities if they are struggling. Through your meaningful contribution, you are valuably contributing to the co-creation of knowledge in the class. The presiding tutor will assess whether or not your contribution is meaningful and worthy of points. If your tutor does not observe your meaningful contribution, it will not be counted.
While you will receive a mark for tutorial participation each week, only your best five tutorials will be added together to give you a final mark out of 25. We encourage you to participate in as many tutorials as you are able.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
In-Tutorial Critical Media Response
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
Week 9 Tue - Week 9 Thu
Task description
In the lectures and tutorials preceding this assessment, you will have learned about a range of media studies concepts and theories, and will have practised applying these concepts and theories to a variety of media stimuli.
In this assessment, you will individually demonstrate your ability to apply media studies concepts and theories to a media stimulus provided to you in your regularly-scheduled tutorial. You will have 60 minutes to complete a worksheet in the tutorial. This worksheet will be provided to you at least one week in advance. The media stimulus will be provided to you in the tutorial; each tutorial will respond to a different stimulus.
Through this critical response, you will demonstrate your ability to describe the roles media play in society, and to critically analyse media environments and their sociocultural implications. This is also an opportunity to practise clearly communicating your ideas in an academic tone.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Materials | Unless otherwise prearranged, no digital devices are permitted in this examination. |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
A deferred exam is available for legitimate reasons with appropriate documentation. The deferred exam will take place on Thursday, 9 October (Week 10).
Essay Outline
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 15% 1,000 words
- Due date
13/10/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
This assessment prepares you for the next 'Final Essay' assessment. In this assessment, you will individually hone your ability to effectively communicate with academic rigour.
You will complete an essay preparation worksheet provided to you at least one month in advance.
The worksheet will encourage you to critically consider your essay's thesis and argumentational approach before the essay's submission. This worksheet will also serve as the basis for your participation in Week 12's 'essay writing workshop' tutorial and Week 13's 'essay consultation' tutorial.
In this assessment, you will be required to:
- Propose a thesis statement, which makes an academic argument, for your essay.
- Identify two relevant course concepts or theories that support your proposed thesis, and explain their relevance.
- Identify two academic (i.e. peer reviewed) sources that you will use to support your argument, and explain what those sources argue and why those arguments relate to your own argument. To achieve a passing grade, at least one of these sources must be from the course reading list.
- Identify at least one relevant primary source (e.g. a media artefact) that you will use to support your point.
- Outline the paragraph structure you will use for your essay.
Your completed worksheet is to be 1,000 words, everything included (+/- 10%).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
This assignment will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
This essay outline must be submitted before the final essay.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 1,500 words
- Due date
10/11/2025 4:00 pm
Task description
This assessment builds upon the previous 'Essay Outline' assessment.
Throughout the course, we have considered how media inform and shape the ways we see ourselves, others, and the world. Pick one specific medium (such as a social media platform, film, television, newspapers, a form of advertising, a type of game) that you would like to analyse for this essay.
Write a 1,500-word (+/- 10%, not including the references list) essay about your chosen medium. Your essay must make an argument that is represented in a thesis statement that is included in your essay's introduction.
Your thesis statement should be specific. 'Social media are bad for society' is not a sufficiently specific thesis statement. 'Instagram filters negatively influence the self esteem of users' is better (as this thesis statement has been provided as an example you may not use it for your essay - doing so will result in a failing grade). Generally, the more specific your thesis statement, corresponding pieces of evidence, and discussion are, the easier it will be for you to achieve the critical depth we expect in this essay.
Your essay must meaningfully use at least one media studies concept or theory covered in the course to support your argument. Do not try to use all of the concepts and theories we have covered in the course; pick those that you feel are most relevant to your argument. If no course concepts are meaningfully integrated into the essay, you will not achieve a passing grade.
Your essay must include:
- An introduction, which includes an argument and signposting (i.e. a brief review of how you will make your argument in your essay).
- A clear, critical argument that is relevant to the course, supported with reference to at least one relevant primary source (e.g. a media artefact).
- At least three academic sources, used in meaningful ways and cited correctly, in accordance with APA style.
- A conclusion that briefly reviews the argument you have made in the essay, and clearly conveys to your reader why your argument matters.
Specific advice will be given in lectures and tutorials, and on Learn, about how you should research, structure, and write your essay.
You must reference at least three different academic sources, with at least one of these sources being from the course reading list, in order to achieve a passing grade.
Through this essay, you will demonstrate your ability to describe the roles media play in society, and to critically analyse media environments and their sociocultural implications. You will also demonstrate your capacity for effective academic communication and argumentation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 1: Introduction to media studies |
Tutorial |
Week 1: Everyday experiences of media |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 2: What are media good for? |
Tutorial |
Week 2: Semiotic analysis of media |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 3: No Lectures or Tutorials (Public Holiday) |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4: The emergence of media environments |
Tutorial |
Week 4: Old and new media |
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5: Media fragmentation |
Tutorial |
Week 5: Encoding/decoding model |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6: The emergence of convergence |
Tutorial |
Week 6: Debating digital developments |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 7: Current media contexts |
Tutorial |
Week 7: Algorithm(ic) analysis |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 8: Platforms and personalisation |
Tutorial |
Week 8: Engineering participation |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 9: Watching and being watched |
Tutorial |
Week 9: In-tutorial critical media response (assessment) |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break: No Lectures or Tutorials (Public Holiday) |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 10: No Lectures or Tutorials (Public Holiday) |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11: Media futures |
Tutorial |
Week 11: Playing with media futures |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12: Clear communication in academic writing |
Tutorial |
Week 12: Essay writing workshop |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Tutorial |
Week 13: Essay consultation |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.