2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

COMM1210 The History of Communication

20 creditsClass Size: 230

Module manager: Matthias Revers
Email: M.Revers@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is intended to provide an overview of the main themes in the history of communication. It has been designed to provide not only the story of communication and media, but also the context in which systems of communication were developed and used. The module provides the historical foundation to examine the processes and case-studies discussed in other year 1 modules, and should continue to inform your understanding as you progress through your degree.

Objectives

This module provides students with a background in the history of the media. It allows them to develop an understanding of the relationship between the media and social change, and to understand specific media texts within appropriate cultural, political and economic contexts. The assessment of the module requires students to link together macro-scale changes with individual textual products. Therefore, students are directed to form an understanding of the interconnectedness of texts and contexts essential to making sense of the communications industries and their products. The lectures, by taking a thematic approach, help students to situate changes in context and to make sense out of claims of novelty and continuity.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Explain the historical forces that have formed and framed the communications industries and their products
2. Examine media texts in their historical, social and technological contexts
3. Extract pertinent information from secondary sources and utilise them in a coherent piece of discursive writing
4. Organise evidence to support academic arguments relating to the history of communications

Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Research and critical thinking skills – The ability to search for and evaluate relevant information sources in the field of media and communications history
6. Academic writing – The ability to write in a clear, concise, focused and structured manner in an academic literature review and/or essay on media and communications history, supported by evidence.

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored in seminars primarily and they also have the opportunity for feedback in office hours. Students will also receive feedback on their annotated bibliographies prior to the submission of the more heavily weighted essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Essay	60.00
Literature Review	Literature Review	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Resit can be undertaken by re-submitting the original assignment.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2024

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