C&J 393 Dirk C. Gibson
Special Topics: The
Communication Associate
Professor
Paradigms of Serial Murder
Sara Reynolds Room 102 dirkcgib@unm.edu
Spring Semester, 2006 agibson878@msn.com
Office Hours: 12-1:00, M&W
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with the rhetorical nature of serial murder. Two broad, general types of communication characterize serial murder; rhetoric and mass communication. Students will learn about nearly thirty types of serial murder rhetorical behavior, ranging from writing on walls in victim’s blood and sending body parts through the mail to writing letters, keeping diaries and making telephone calls. The mass communication aspects of serial murder include stakeholder identification and interaction, benefits of mass media coverage of serial murder investigations, problems caused by media coverage of serial murder, and the public relations dimensions of serial murder cases. Students will be invited to participate in their choice of the instructor’s ongoing serial murder communication research projects.
COURSE INTERNS
Ms. Andrea Clark and Mr. Zach Fowler are our undergraduate education assistants. They will work with instructional technology, lectures, examinations, and coordinate presentations. They will also direct break-out groups, as necessary.
COURSE TEXTBOOK
Dirk C.
Gibson, Clues from Killers: Serial Murder
& Crime Scene Messages (
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This course is being taught in a partly-experimental instructional mode. In an attempt to offer students some autonomy and control over their education, and to individualize instruction as much as possible, five main options are provided. Below is the standard, “default” option. Other options are provided in Attachment B.
Position/Reaction Paper # 1………………...10 points
Position/Reaction Paper # 2…………………10 points
Midterm Examination……………………….20 points
Final Examination………………...................30 Points
Research
Paper………………………………30 points
TOTAL 100 possible points
COURSE POLICIES
Grading: 100-98 =A+, 97-94=A, 93-90=A-, 89-88=B+, 87-84=B, 83-80=B-,79-78=C+, 77-74=C, 70-73=C-, 69-68=D+, 67-64=D, 63-60=D-, below 60 is failure.
Papers: All papers should be typed, double-spaced, and proofread, conforming to an academic style such as MLA, APA, Turrabian, Strunk & White, etc. There is a one point per day deduction for late work. Please turn in TWO copies of all papers.
Attendance: All students receive two unexcused absences. After that there is a deduction of one point per day for each unexcused absence. Documentation is expected of all excused absences.
Conduct: Students are expected to arrive at class punctually, prepared to discuss assigned chapters and/or other reading, and to remain for the entire class session. Courtesy and professionalism will characterize class discussion, and no one will be permitted to make rude, sexist, racist, or otherwise disrespectful comments or engage in behavior inimical to education. Inability to arrive at class punctually or remain for the entire session will be deemed an absence.
Academic Honesty: No student shall give or receive assistance not explicitly authorized by the instructor in the preparation of ANYTHING submitted for academic credit; tests, papers, projects, assignments and anything else. All work should be individual, unless explicitly noted. Anyone caught engaging in any type of academic dishonesty WILL AUTOMATICALLY FAIL THE COURSE, and additional penalties may be pursued. Anyone with questions regarding assignments, tests, or anything else should ask the instructor, NOT A CLASSMATE.
Late Work: Do not put late work in my office mailbox, or
under my office door. All late work must be given to the staff in the
Department of Communication &
Journalism office. They will give a receipt if requested.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week I Wednesday, January 18, & Friday, Jan. 20
Introduction to Course; Introduction to Summerhill
Week II Monday, Jan. 23, Wednesday, Jan. 25, & Friday, Jan. 27
Competitive (or) Cooperative Paradigms/Theories of Serial Murder
The Psychological Paradigm
The Sociological Paradigm
The Rhetorical Paradigm
The Mass Communication Paradigm
Quantitative Significance of Serial Murder
Qualitative Significance of Serial Murder
Week III Monday, Jan. 30, Wednesday, February 1, & Friday, Feb. 3
Week IV Monday, Feb. 6, Wednesday, Feb. 8, & Friday, Feb. 10
Twenty-seven Specific Types of Serial Killer Communication are
Identified, Quantified, and Discussed.
Pre-murder conversation Videotapes
Pre-murder letters Drawings Pre-murder telephone calls Diaries
Crime plans Documents
Crime scene notes Crime records
Wall writing Notes about victims
Body messages Maps
Crime scene conversation Public declarations
Subsequent letters Slave contracts
Subsequent telephone calls Advertising
E-mail Audiotapes Notes found on killers Photographs Body part transmission Telegrams
Subsequent conversations
Week V Monday, Feb. 13, Wednesday, Feb. 15, & Friday, Feb. 17
Major Conclusions and Generalizations About Serial Murder Rhetorical Behavior
Week VI Monday, Feb. 20, Wednesday, Feb. 22, & Friday, Feb. 24
Student
Position Paper Reports; Position Paper # 1 Due
Week VII Monday, Feb. 27, Wednesday, March 1, & Friday, Mar. 3
Review for Midterm Examination; Midterm Examination;
Discuss Midterm Examination Results
Week VIII Monday, Mar. 6, Wednesday, Mar. 8, & Friday, Mar. 10
The Murderer/Media Synergy
Serial Murder Stakeholders
How Murderers Use the Media
How the Media Uses Murderers
The Public Factor
Stakeholder Relationships
Week IX Monday, Mar. 13, Wednesday, Mar. 15, & Friday, Mar. 17
SPRING BREAK
Week X Monday, Mar. 20, Wednesday, Mar. 22, & Friday, Mar. 24
Positive Consequences of Media Coverage of Serial Killers
Disseminates Public Safety Information
Motivates Law Enforcement
Facilitates Apprehension of Killers
Week XI Monday, Mar. 27, Wednesday, Mar. 29, & Friday, Mar. 31
Negative Consequences of Media Coverage of Serial Killers
Motivates Serial Killers
Interferes With Police Investigation
Becomes Directly Involved In Case
Promotes Checkbook Journalism
Celebritizes Ordinary People
Creates ‘News Zones’
Influences Case Outcome
Week XII Monday, April 3, Wednesday, Apr. 5, & Friday, Apr. 7
The Effects of Serial Killing on the Media
Media Obsession With Serial Murder
Inconsistent Serial Murder Coverage
Media Misbehavior
Manipulation of the Media
Week XIII Monday, Apr. 10, Wednesday, Apr. 12, & Friday, Apr. 14
Counter Communication: Theory & Strategy of Police Messages to Serial Killers
Media/Police Relationships
Publicity Increases Tips
Police Media Relations Practices
Polygraph Keys
Police Public Relations Functions
Police Public Relations Strategies
Serial Murder Public Relations Theory
Week XIV Monday, Apr. 17, Wednesday, Apr. 19, & Friday, Apr. 21
Serial Murder Public Relations Tactics
Campaigns Releases
News Conferences Briefings
Outdoor & Transit Television
Magazines Radio
Posters Fliers
Newspapers Media Events
Demonstrations/Displays Direct Mail
Telephone Brochures
Paid Ads Meetings
Internet Speakers
Interviewee Preparation Media Centers
Specialized Communication
Week XV Monday, Apr. 24, Wednesday, Apr. 26, & Friday, Apr. 28
Major Conclusions and Generalizations About Serial Murder Investigation Mass Communication Behavior; Position Paper # 2 Due
Week XVI Monday, May 1, Wednesday, May 3, & Friday, May 5
All Assignments Due; Course Evaluation
FINAL EXAMINATION: Wednesday,
May 10, @