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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Quiz Sawsan Kazak: Due 5 pm May 2

Do your own work! This quiz is due before 5 p.m. Monday May 2. 


Create a Word document using this format: SK_Your4DigitGUSTID_YourFirstName.doc. Email this document to me by the deadline. Answer these questions in the document:
  1. What's the circulation of the Kuwait Times (according to guest speaker Sawsan Kazak)?
  2. How large is the editorial department?
  3. Sawsan explained that it was competitive to get a job at the Kuwait Times but she had no difficulty. Why?
  4. Describe the relationship between the Al Watan Daily, Kuwait Times and Arab Times.
  5. What's the risk of writing restaurant reviews in Kuwait?
  6. Sawsan said that an editor told her to develop "sarcasm" as her voice as a columnist. What does that mean?
  7. When Sawsan isn't writing a column for the Kuwait Times, what's her job entail?
  8. What is Sawsan's relationship with Kuwait?
  9. Where was she educated? 
  10. What are the sources that provide news for the Kuwait Times?

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Public Relations Quiz: Due 12 Noon 30 April

This is a graded Quiz. You may not collaborate (work with) another student to answer these questions. You may not copy another student's work. If I suspect your assignment was copied, or if it includes the same information submitted by one or more other students, all students involved will earn a zero for the assignment. Do your own work, and work alone.

Follow these steps to an A!
  1. Create a Word document. Name the file as such: 328_YourFirstName_Your4DigitGUSTID.doc.
  2. Open your textbook and turn to page 328. Read the Media Talk column.
  3. Do what it says . . . go online and access the video. Once you get to the Learning Center home page, click on Student Edition. Then click on Media Talk (NBC). Then click on Fit to Print?
  4. Watch the video.
  5. Answer the following questions:
  • Is the subject of this video an effective public relations tactic? Why or why not? Write 15 to 30 words. 
  • What, if any, ethical problems are involved in the use of this tactic? Write 25-50 words.
  • If the stories (published in Iraqi newspapers) are factual, has any harm been done? Explain your answer. Write 10 to 25 words. 
Meet the deadline
Submit your Word file (assignment) to me (use only this address) via email. The deadline is 12 noon Saturday 30 April 2011. 

Some Reminders To Help You Earn A Higher Grade On Solo Presentations

Do not read your slides to us!

Even though most of your classmates do not ask questions, they are capable of reading, and you do not have to read your slides to us when you make your solo presentation. Reading slides is boring and insulting, so don't do it!

Unfortunately, in the few solo presentations that we've seen to date, too often we've watched the presenter as he read to us. How did that make you feel? . . . Exactly! So don't do it when it's your turn. Use your slides to prompt your comments. And do not use too many words on one slide. The best slides include bullet points and single words or phrases rather than complete sentences. It's also fine to include images to dress up the slides.

Students who read their slides often have nothing to add but what's on the slides! That's a sign of shallow work, and often times it's a matter of a student copying words out of another source and placing them on slides. As you've seen (again unfortunately) some students use words and phrases that they cannot define -- don't do it because it's very likely that someone is going to ask you, "What does that mean?" and if you can't explain it, you lose points.

Follow these guidelines
Your solo presentation is your final assessment for this course . . . this is the most critical grade. Here are some other suggestions:
  1. Invest time in your project. Do the research. Collect information. Decide how you're going to present. You need to present for at least 12 minutes and not more than 20 minutes. That means you probably need to work on this project for 3 to 4 hours in advance. Considering the importance of the grade, that's not a lot of time, is it? 
  2. Spend time practicing your presentation. You should be able to talk to the class without even looking at your slides, other than glancing at them for a prompt. You need to share information with the class that's not on the slides. It's not a good idea to memorize the material, but you should practice it repeatedly so that you're familiar with it and you can deliver it in a conversational tone. Pretend that you're talking to a  small group of people who are sitting around a diwaniya. Practice!
  3. Speak clearly. If I can't understand you, your grade decreases. Don't mumble. Make sure your English is correct. It may be a good idea to practice your presentation in front of one or more people who can critique it for you and who know English.
  4. Come and see me at least a week before your presentation and review your content with me. If you deliver a final product that's filled with basic English errors, you lose points, especially since you could have come to me in advance and I would have reviewed the material with you. You would then have time to make corrections before you present.
  5. If you include a guest as part of your presentation, the guest cannot speak for more than 5 minutes and you must still present for at least 12 minutes. 
  6. If you include video/s in your presentation you must make certain that the video will load quickly. Do not include more than 2 videos and do not use a video that's longer than 4 minutes. Bring the URL to class so that you can easily locate the video if need be. 
  7. Involve the audience in your presentation. Granted, your colleagues are difficult to motivate. They do not ask questions. A couple may even fall asleep while you present! However, there are several students in the class who take the course seriously and they're earning As. These are students who frequently ask questions and participate. Look at them and engage them in your presentation. Your grade increases when you can get other students to participate. 
  8. Be ready to present when your name is called. If you don't know when you're presenting, find out! Then be prepared. We're running a day behind with presentations, but we could easily catch up in one evening, especially if someone fails to show up and present. You get one chance to present -- and if you miss that slot your grade is a zero. If we have time at the end of the semester to include missed presentations we'll do so, but if you miss your slot you will have earned a low grade for the course. 
  9. When you present you must give me a hard copy of your presentation. You cannot give it to me after the presentation. You cannot email it to me before or after the presentation. Give me a hard copy at the time you present. 
You CAN earn an A
It's not difficult to earn an A on the solo presentation -- but you won't earn an A without following the directions above.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Kuwait Times' Columnist, Sawsan Kazak, Will Speak To You 27 April!

Sawsan Kazak was born in Kuwait and moved to Canada at age 4. She spent 20 years in Montreal, attending elementary and high school in French, and then continued her education at John Abbott College and Concordia University in English. Sawsan holds a bachelor's degree in psychology. A few years ago, she returned to her native Kuwait and began working at the Kuwait Times. She's a columnist, reporter and editor at the English language newspaper. She'll speak to you during the first part of MCM 103 on Wednesday 27 April! Your assignment: Visit Kuwait Times, search on "Sawsan Kazak" and read several of her most recent articles -- then be prepared to ask her questions. 

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Online Quiz Due 25 April

Please note: Numerous students earned Fs on the last quiz because they copied from other students. This is a violation of University policy. Do your own work!


This quiz is due no later than 5 p.m. Monday 25 April. It can be submitted only via email to me. Late submissions will not be graded. Answers in the body of an email are not acceptable -- follow the directions.

1.  Create a Word document and name it: MCM103_(Your4DigitID)_(YourLastName).doc . . . so if I were creating the file the name of my file would read: MCM103_0011_Hayes.doc.

2.  Answer the following questions (the answers were discussed in class by our guest speaker on Wednesday afternoon). You must write in complete sentences and your grammar, spelling and punctuation will be graded:

  • What's a new name for PR?
  • Describe social media?
  • Who was Ivy Lee?
  • Name three social media used by VIVA?
  • If you were a social media director for a business, how would you foster relationships with bloggers?
  • How would you characterize Kuwait blogging?
  • Why should a business use social media?
  • What are the social media job prospects in Kuwait?
  • Our guest speaker, Hindh, graudated in what field of study?
  • Why do companies use Linkedin? 

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Online Quiz Due 20 April

Michael Mans-Combrinck, founder of the e-magazine, EEK! (Expats Express Kuwait), spoke to MCM 103 students last night. Based on the information he provided, here's a quiz for you to complete and email to me no later than Wednesday 20 April at 5 p.m. 

Open Word and save a document in this format: MCM103_Your4DigitID#_YourLastName.doc. Type your name and ID number at the top of the page. Title the Quiz: EEK! This quiz will be graded.

During his presentation, Michael provided answers to the 10 questions below. You are now to provide the answers (number each one according to the list below). Write in complete sentences. Basic English will count, of course. 

Quiz Questions
1.  What is EEK!? (Describe it in a complete sentence or two).
2.  Where is Michael from?
3.  What form of media does EEK! utilize?
4.  Is EEK! a blog?
5.  Explain in one paragraph why EEK! is of value and to whom it's of value.
6.  How much does it cost to subscribe to EEK!?
7.  How many people currently subscribe to EEK!?
8.  Who writes the contents of EEK!?
9.  How does EEK! make money?
10.  How much money would you need to invest to become an online or e-publisher?


Email the completed quiz to me by the deadline.



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Social Networker To Speak To You On 20 April

Hind Al Nahedh
Hind Al Nahedh, president of Ghalia Group, Global Investment House, an investment banking company in Kuwait, will speak to MCM 103 students on Wednesday 20 April.

Ms. Alnahedh is experienced in communications and social media, and served as Social Media & Integrated Marketing Manager for VIVA Kuwait where she was involved in both internal and external communications.

Come and learn about communications and social media from one of Kuwait's most experienced practitioners! Click here to learn more about our speaker.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Al Watan Daily GM Will Speak To You 11 April

Dina Al-Mallak visits MCM 103
on Monday 11 April

Dina Al-Mallak, general manager of Al Watan Daily, Kuwait's leading daily English newspaper, will speak to MCM 103 students on Monday 11 April. 

Several years ago, Dina single-handedly led the Al Watan Daily team to launch the newspaper. After four years in publication,  Al Watan Daily has managed to exceed other English language newspapers in terms of market share, news coverage, and increased circulation. Come and learn about the newspaper's emergency in Kuwait from the general manager!

Dina is a graduate of Ryerson University  in Toronto,  Canada where she double-majored in  Journalism and Graphic Communication Management. Her minor is Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Prior to moving to Kuwait to launch Al Watan Daily, Dina worked in radio, television and print production.