Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

COMM 6240 - Section B80 - Current Issues in Communication - Image Repair and Maintenance Strategies (Online)

COMM 6240-B80

Course: COMM 6240-B80
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: COMM
CRN: 11669

Course Description

Catalog Description: Current issues in communication discussing contemporary communication topics varying by semester. Repeatable with different topics up to 18 credits toward the master’s degree. Check with department for upcoming topics. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 18 Registration Restriction(s): MA in Professional Communication majors only
Description of this Topics Course: This course explores the rhetoric of attack (kategoria), image repair (apologia), and responses to image repair (antapologia). Students will study the central strategies in each of these domains, learning how attacks are constructed, how individuals and organizations defend their reputations, and how various audiences respond to those defenses. Through case studies and primary research, students will gain the tools to both analyze and construct persuasive messages in moments of personal or corporate wrongdoing. The course emphasizes critical evaluation and effective message construction, preparing students to navigate situations where reputations and credibility are at stake.

Required Texts

Benoit, W. L., Stein, K. A., & Barton, M. H. (2024). Persuasive attack: Threatening reputations in public discourse. Peter Lang.
Benoit, W. L. (2024). Accounts, excuses, and apologies: Image repair theory extended. SUNY Press.
Other readings as assigned.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify the strategies used in the speech-set first identified by Halford Ross Ryan: Kategoria, apologia, antapologia.
  2. Evaluate which strategies are appropriate in light of the offense, the situation, and the relevant audiences.
  3. Construct an attack that considers the ethical dimensions of kategoria in the public domain.
  4. Create three cases for the website Public Apology Central.
  5. Write an analysis applying one of the three frameworks to a specific case and interpret the effectiveness of the discourse.
  6. Construct an antapologia message that considers ways to strengthen the attack or weaken the apologia.
  7. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the speech-set through course exams.

Course Requirements

  • Quiz: Understanding Attack (Kategoria)
  • Discussion: Introductions
  • Assignment: Construct an Attack Using an Assigned Case
  • Quiz: Understanding Image Repair (Apologia)
  • Assignment: Create Three Cases for Public Apology Central
  • Quiz: Understanding Responses to Image Repair (Antapologia)
  • Assignment: Construct a Response to the Apologia
  • Assignment: Analyzing a Case Using One Theory in the Speech-Set

Course Outline

Module 1: Why We Study Pop Culture?
Module 2: Marxism and Class in Pop Culture
Module 3: The Frankfurt and Birmingham Schools of Thought
Module 4: Women in Pop Culture
Module 5: Music and Mashup Culture
Module 6: Film as a Site of Pop Culture
Module 7: TV as a Site of Pop Culture

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work is not allowed except for extenuating circumstances that will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
There is no makeup work or extra credit in this course.
Online classes provide unique challenges for interaction. For messages sent to the instructor, a response will be provided within the specified amount of time. Feedback is an important part of learning; please look for feedback on your assignments in the specified amount of time. For help viewing feedback, see: How do I view assignment comments from my Instructor.
  • Respond to student messages within 1 business day.
  • Provide grades and feedback within 7–10 days from the due date.

Attendance Policy

Students are not required to be present in class and will complete assignments from wherever they are located.


Statement of Risk

I want to provide a bit of a warning about the content of some of the material you will be viewing as part of this course. Although a compelling argument can be made that artistic works should never be tampered with, I have decided to refrain from showing material that would likely be deemed “R” or "MA" rated. If I provide a clip to illustrate a concept from an “R” rated movie or an "MA" rated TV show, I will edit it first so that the most offensive aspects of the clip are cut out. I won’t, however, edit everything offensive out of these various movie, music, and television clips. You may see some material that contains a degree of violence, sexually suggestive material, or profanity, but it shouldn’t exceed a PG-13 level (although I will be applying my own subjective standard for what that means).

Department AI Policy

Any use of artificial intelligence software (A.I.), including visual (e.g. Midjourney), textual (e.g. chatGPT), or audio (e.g. voice.ai) to aid on assignments will be considered an infringement of academic integrity. Unless explicitly designated and outlined in assignment instructions, students should avoid using these aids, entirely. All faculty have access to CopyLeaks which detects plagiarism, including the use of AI software. Consequences for violating this policy are consistent with SUU Policy 6.33 regarding academic integrity, and may include a failing grade in the course, and expulsion from the program.

Unreadable Submissions

Occasionally, students will submit files that are corrupted, blank, unreadable, accidental duplicates of past work, etc. It is your responsibility as the student, not mine, to ensure that this doesn’t happen. If you submit a file that I cannot grade, it will be considered unsubmitted and the resubmission will be considered late. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Two ways you can prevent this from happening are to 1) submit PDFs, and 2) always double check your work after you’ve submitted. 

Incomplete Grades

Students will occasionally request an I (Incomplete) near the end of the semester for a variety of reasons. An Incomplete can only be given if these three circumstances have been met. 1) Student has completed over 75% of the required coursework. 2) Student has attended over 75% of classes (not applicable in this online class). 3) Student has experienced a documentable crisis or event that will prevent them from finishing the coursework by the end of the semester. If these three circumstances have been met, we can discuss the possibility of an Incomplete.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.