COM3704/101/3/2021

Tutorial Letter 101/3/2021

New Media Technology

COM3704

Semesters 1 and 2

Department of Communication Science

This tutorial letter contains important information

about your module.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page
1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 3
2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 7
3 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS ..................................................................................... 7
3.1 Lecturers....................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 Department ................................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 University ...................................................................................................................................... 8
4 RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 9
4.1 Prescribed book ............................................................................................................................ 9
4.2 Recommended books ................................................................................................................. 10
4.3 E-reserves .................................................................................................................................. 10
4.4 Library services and resources ................................................................................................... 10
5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES .............................................................................................. 11
6 STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................. 13
7 PRACTICAL WORK ................................................................................................................... 13
8 ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................... 14
8.1 Assessment criteria..................................................................................................................... 14
8.2 Assessment plan ........................................................................................................................ 15
8.3 Assignment numbers .................................................................................................................. 17
8.3.1 General assignment numbers ..................................................................................................... 17
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers ...................................................................................................... 18
8.4 Assignment due dates ................................................................................................................ 18
8.5 Submission of assignments ........................................................................................................ 18
8.6 The assignments ........................................................................................................................ 23
8.7 Other assessment methods ........................................................................................................ 41
8.8 The examination ......................................................................................................................... 41
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ........................................................................................ 42
10 IN CLOSING ............................................................................................................................... 42
ADDENDUM .......................................................................................................................................... 43

2
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Dear Student

As part of this tutorial letter, we wish to inform you that Unisa has implemented a
transformation charter based on five pillars and eight dimensions. In response to this
charter, we have also placed curriculum transformation high on the agenda. Curriculum
transformation includes the following pillars: student-centred scholarship, the pedagogical
renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the s cholarship of teaching and learning,
and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. These pillars and their principles
will be integrated at both the programme and module levels as a phased-in approach. You
will notice the implementation thereof in your modules, and we encourage you to fully
embrace these changes during your studies at Unisa.

1 INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the Department of Communication Science and to this module, COM3704:

New Media Technology. New media technology is ever becoming relevant to our day-to-day
operations be it work, school or at home. It is a dynamic sphere which has diverse social,
economic, as well as political implications. Moreover, society today is ever changing when it
comes to new media and technology. The world is rapidly evolving into a web-based society
where time and space are no longer constraints. It is therefore becoming more vital than ever
to be better prepared in the spectrum of new media. We hope that you will find the content
of this module interesting and that your understanding of the impact of new media
technology on human communication (in all its forms) will be enhanced. You will be well on
your way to success if you start studying early in the semester and resolve to do the
assignments properly.

Start your studies by working through this tutorial letter, paying careful attention to the
assignments that you are required to do. In the assignments, we refer you to relevant chapters
in the prescribed book and to corresponding study units in your study guide.

This tutorial letter (101) and Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 contain all the most basic and
important information for your studies in COM3704. We expect you to read, and to take note of,
all aspects covered in the two tutorial letters, in particular. Below, and later on in this tutorial
letter, we also indicate other important resources and information about the module.

Note that we approach this module through a blended learning approach, which means that
teaching is delivered both online and in hard copy formats, with the latter format being used for
this tutorial letter and for the study guide, which you might receive in printed form. However, you
do require internet access to access important information on myUnisa, including study material
and tutorial letters, as well as to update yourself on important announcements and on additional
material that we will place on the myUnisa platform every now and then.

Take note of the following important things:

 You need to familiarise yourself with the contents of the Unisa Rules for Students
document each year, as it contains vital general information on your studies, the
supplementary examinations, the aegrotat (i.e. deferred) examinations, as well as remarks
and details regarding examination script purchases, among several other aspects that
should prove to be of interest to you.

3
 You also need to take note of the Unisa policy on Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement.
Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 contains important information and guidelines of which we
will expect you to be aware. Furthermore, for your convenience, the Department of
Communication Science has created a web page on Writing for Academic Integrity, which
covers all aspects of plagiarism and referencing, so please ensure that you watch all the
videos that are made available to you on this site at:
https://sites.google.com/a/unisacommscience.co.za/writing-for-academic-integrity/
home?pli=1.

 We endeavour to answer your queries as soon as possible. If you are anxious to receive a
reply as soon as possible, you are welcome to send a follow-up e-mail within 48 hours
after sending your original e-mail. We sometimes need to follow up on certain issues, or to
intervene in some way to respond to your queries. As doing so may cause delays in our
response time, please bear with us.

 Your lecturers are available from Monday to Friday from 07:45 to 13:00, and again from
14:00 to 16:00 for queries/calls.

Note that, as we sometimes have to attend meetings, or else are engaged in various
academic activities, we might not be immediately reachable by phone. If you are unable to
reach us telephonically: 1) try calling again later in the day, or 2) send an e-mail indicating
that you have tried to call, and stating your exact query, always providing your student
number.

ALL your e-mails to us must contain your student number.

 Your lecturers are also available for face-to-face consultation, but preferably only by
appointment. If you are coming to campus, you need to make an appointment with us in
advance to ensure that we will be available for you. Although we will strive to
accommodate “walk-ins” if we are available at the time, we cannot guarantee that we will
be able to see you if you have not booked an appointment with us.

 Please let us know of any module-related or Unisa system problems as soon as they arise,
such as in the unlikely event that myUnisa crashes when you try to submit your
assignment. Always e-mail a screenshot of the issue to us as proof of any related difficulty
that you have.

 Check myUnisa frequently, as it is our most important point of contact with you. We post
announcements and additional resources on the site that you need to see.

 Check your myLife Unisa student e-mail account frequently, as the university will contact
you through it with important information, such as whether you have been granted a final-
year concession examination (i.e. an FI concession). You will also be notified of myUnisa
announcements via your myLife account. Note that Unisa neither keeps record of, nor
communicates to you via, your personal or business e-mail account (Gmail/Yahoo!/Eskom,
etc). Even though, if you contact a lecturer with a query via your personal or business e-
mail account, they will respond to it, do not assume that all further university
communication will go to the personal or business e-mail account that you have used. If
you cannot access your myLife e-mail account, for whatever reason, resolve the matter as
soon as possible, as Unisa will otherwise assume that all communications sent to your
myLife e-mail account are reaching you.

4
 COM3704/101/3/2021

 We send you module-specific SMS (text) messages from time to time, if the need arises to
do so. You need to ensure that Unisa has your current cellphone number, otherwise you
will not receive the vital messages concerned. Also note that it is your responsibility, under
all circumstances, to ensure that the university has your most current and complete
contact details, including your address, your work telephone number and other important
details.

 If you are abroad, you may not be able to receive SMS (text) messages. Therefore, please
let the module coordinator know where you are, so that we can arrange for you to receive
these messages by another means. Also, if you are overseas and cannot access myUnisa
or your myLife e-mail account, please let the module coordinator know, as we assume that
all students can access these communication channels, unless you indicate otherwise.

 If you are ill, or if you have a family, or other emergency, and it is affecting your ability to
meet an assignment or examination portfolio deadline, please let the module coordinator
know immediately. In most cases, we will require a medical certificate / doctor’s note or
some kind of proof of your emergency. (We will also accept police reports, accident
reports, etc, where applicable.) Send this proof through to the module coordinator on or
before the due date for an assignment or portfolio, as we only consider
medical/family/emergency-related excuses after the due date under extreme
circumstances. If you are unable to send us an e-mail, you may call the module
coordinator, or you can have someone call/e-mail us on your behalf, but they must provide
us with your full details, including your student number, if it is possible to do so at that
point. We will need the full name under which you are registered with Unisa, at the very
least.

 To gain examination admission, you need to submit Assignment 01 on or before the due
date indicated in this tutorial letter. If the module coordinator grants you an extension to
Assignment 01, also enquire about the due date for examination admission, and whether
you will still meet it if you are granted the extension.

 To be awarded a supplementary examination, you need to have gained admission to the

examination, and attempted it, meaning that you would have attained at least 40% in your
examination.

 Note the specific rules for aegrotat (deferred) examinations given in the Unisa Rules for
Students document. Not all circumstances will be accommodated in this regard, so you
need to familiarise yourself with the set rules and requirements. If you are unsure, you may
contact the module coordinator, or e-mail [email protected].

 We are able to provide you with letters confirming the due dates of your assignments or
exams if your employer, or anyone else, requires official proof of your timetable. Contact
the module coordinator in this regard, including your student number. Give us at least a
week’s notice of your need for such a letter. If you cannot give us a week’s notice, indicate
to us by when, specifically, you will need the letter, in your requesting e-mail. As you will
need a separate letter for each module for which you are registered, you should contact all
the relevant module coordinators individually.

5
 We are aware that students sometimes create WhatsApp groups – please take note of the
following in this regard, however: 1) Your lecturers (for COM3704, in particular) neither
participate in, nor moderate, these WhatsApp discussions. So, consider the discussions
and all information received via the platform as being “unofficial”. All official communication
from our side will be sent to you via myUnisa, via SMS text message (to the cellphone
number that Unisa has on record for you), or via your myLife student e-mail account.

2 PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES

2.1 Purpose

The purpose of the module is to equip you with

(1) theoretical knowledge of the meaning and nature of new media technology as mass
communication;

(2) critical attitudes and skills to analyse theories explaining the role of new media in the
public sphere and business and the impact of new media on culture and language;

(3) skills to use new media for interpersonal communication, knowledge management, and
bridging the digital and information divides;

(4) skills to formulate and analyse information and communication technology (ICT) policy
at national and global level, and use new media for the purpose of product marketing,
electronic government (egovernment), and community development.

In this module you will learn how ICT has brought all these changes into our lives. The study of
new media technology and its influence on human communication forms a part of the field of
communication science and therefore cannot be studied in isolation. Thus, this module is
also closely related to other modules offered by our department, namely International
Communication (COM3705). In addition, society today is ever changing when it comes to new
media and technology.

The world is rapidly evolving into a web- based society where time and space are no longer
constraints, and as a result the social structure is changing. It is becoming vital to be
better prepared in the sphere of new media. Thus, the purpose of this module is also to
better enable you to function in the information society and to encourage you to be
competent and competitive in this society. Once you have completed this module you should
be critical participants in the new media environment and be able to live meaningfully as a
citizen – in a democratic society – through the use of new media in a technologically vibrant
and changing society. The qualities gained from the module should in turn encourage you to
be employers as well as to be employable.

6
 COM3704/101/3/2021

2.2 Outcomes

After completing this module, you should be able to demonstrate your knowledge of the

 historical development of new media technology

 social impact and uses of new media technology
 cultural impact and applications of new media technology
 applications of new media technology in political systems
 legal and technical solutions to ICT problems
 ICT regulation in South Africa and in Africa in general
 future policy directions for international ICT regulation

3 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS

3.1 Lecturers

The lecturers responsible for this module are as follows:

Ms M van der Walt Ehlers

E-mail: [email protected]

Ms CP Moncho
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms S Sindane
Tel: +27 012 429 3783
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms M Bvuma
Tel: +27 012 429 3508
E-mail: [email protected]

3.2 Department

If you need to leave a message for your lecturers and the above (for example, the voicemail
service) are not available for technical reasons, contact one of the following departmental
administrators:

Mrs Martha Malefo

Tel: +27 012 429 6565
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms Annelize Vermeulen
Tel: +27 012 429 6016
E-mail: [email protected]

7
You can also contact the Department of Communication Science as follows:

 In writing

Address all written enquiries concerning your studies of COM3704 to

The Module Coordinator (COM3704)

Department of Communication Science
PO Box 392
UNISA 0003

When you write to the Department, write your name, student number, the module (New Media
Technology), the specific module code (COM3704) and your postal address, telephone number
and email address clearly at the top of each letter.

 Personal visits

You are welcome to visit your lecturers if you have any problems with the content of this
module. However, we ask that you make an appointment beforehand. Lecturers are usually
available in their offices or by phone from Mondays to Fridays between 08:00 and 16:00. By
making an appointment, you will ensure that your lecturers are available when you visit.

3.3 University

If you need to contact the university about matters not related to the content of this
module, consult the publication Study @ Unisa, which you received with your study material. It
contains information on how to contact the university (e.g. to whom you can write for
different queries, important telephone and fax numbers, addresses and details of the times
certain facilities are open). If you did not receive this document and have access to the
internet, you can find it on myUnisa under the Resources option. Remember to always
have your student number ready when making an enquiry.

Other means of contacting the university are as follows

Physical address

University of South Africa

Preller Street
Muckleneuk
Pretoria
City of Tshwane

Postal address

University of South Africa

PO Box 392
UNISA 0003

8
 COM3704/101/3/2021

4 RESOURCES

4.1 Prescribed book

The ONLY prescribed book for COM3704 is:

Lesame, Z, Mbatha, B & Sindane, S (eds). 2012. New media in the information society.
Pretoria: Van Schaik.

It is of the utmost importance that you purchase the prescribed book as soon as possible,
since both the assignments and the examination are based on the contents of this book. You
CANNOT pass this module if you only use the study guide. Unisa does NOT provide you
with the prescribed book – you have to PURCHASE it yourself.

Refer to the list of official booksellers and their addresses in the Study @ Unisa brochure.
If you have difficulty in locating your prescribed book at these booksellers, contact the
Prescribed Book Section at Unisa on 012 429 4152 or e-mail them at [email protected].

ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRESCRIBED BOOKS

The Department of Communication Science commits itself to promoting the highest standard of
professional ethical norms and values when prescribing textbooks authored and/or co-authored
by staff members.

Norms and values

To create a spirit of openness, transparency and trust, we will

 openly communicate to our students whenever textbooks authored by members of the

Department are prescribed.
 publish the peer review reports for these textbooks on our Departmental
website.
 accept constructive criticism from students and other stakeholders.
 explain and take appropriate action regarding significant risks that can affect students’
perception of the Department and/or our module offerings in relation to prescribed books.

Peer review
To submit our prescribed textbooks to a peer review process by colleagues other than
ourselves who are experts in a specific field of study, we will ensure that prescribed textbooks
authored by members of staff have gone through a rigorous process of peer review to
ascertain their suitability for the module and level for which they are prescribed.

Honesty
To be forthright in dealings with students, we will prescribe books of value that do what we
claim in our communications.

9
Responsibility
To accept the consequences of our decisions, we will

 strive to serve the needs of students and our respective fields of research.
 avoid coercion from the marketplace, i.e. reject manipulations and sales tactics that might
impact negatively on trust.

Tutorial letters for this module

This tutorial letter (numbered 101) contains all of the assignments that you will need to complete
to pass this module (i.e. two assignments and the portfolio examination).

After you have submitted your assignments, you will receive another tutorial letter (numbered
201), with detailed feedback on both the assignments and the examination preparation. You will
also be able to access the tutorial letters on myUnisa as soon as they become available.

4.2 Recommended books

There are no recommended books for this module.

4.3 E-reserves

There are no electronic reserves for this module.

4.4 Library services and resources

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources:

 For detailed Library information, go to

https://unisa.ac.za/library
 For research support and services (eg personal librarians and literature search services),
go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-support
 The Library has created numerous Library guides:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za

Recommended guides:

 Request and download recommended material:

https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request
 Postgraduate information services:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/request/postgrad
 Finding and using Library resources and tools:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/research-support
 Frequently asked questions about the Library:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/ask
 Services to students living with disabilities:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/disability
 Assistance with technical problems accessing the Unisa Library or resources:
https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/techsupport

10
 COM3704/101/3/2021

You may also send an e-mail to [email protected] (add your student number in the subject
line).

5 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Since you have chosen to enrol at Unisa, which is an open distance learning (ODL) institution
of higher education, have you really thought about what this means? This university is
often selected by people to obtain a qualification, because it is ‘open’ to everyone who might
not want or be able to attend lectures at a residential university, or sometimes people have
been out of the education system for a long time and want to acquire new skills in their own
time. Thus, Unisa offers these people the ideal opportunity to obtain an academic
qualification on a part-time basis.

However, many people are not used to studying completely in isolation from the university,
their lecturers and their fellow students. As a result, many distance education students feel
lonely and drop out. This is not necessary, though, since Unisa offers various resources to
support you and to bridge this distance.

For detailed information on the various student support systems and services available at
Unisa (for example, counselling, tutorial classes, language support), consult the brochure
Studys @ Unisa.

 myLife student email account

Once you have registered as a student at Unisa, you are automatically assigned a Unisa
myLife student mail account. This email account consists of your Unisa student number:
[email protected] (for example, if your student number is 2841452, your
Unisa myLife e-mail address will be [email protected]). It is very important that
you regularly access the information that is sent to this e-mail address since this is the only
e-mail address that your lecturers have access to. Also ensure that you use this e-mail
address when interacting with Unisa and your lecturers.

We do, however, understand that it is sometimes difficult to access your Unisa myLife e-
mail account on a regular basis. In order not to miss out on important communications, Unisa
gives you the option to forward all your myLife e-mails to an alternative e-mail address of your
choice (for example, your work e-mail address). Consult the brochure Study @ Unisa on how
to forward your myLife e-mails to another e-mail address.

 myUnisa

If you have access to a computer or other devices that is linked to the internet, you can
access resources and information on the various Unisa websites. The myUnisa learning
management system is the university’s online campus that will help you to communicate with
your lecturers, other students and the administrative departments of Unisa.

You will be able to access administrative information such as your biographical details,
academic and assignment records, examination dates and results, and financial records.
Academic information that is available comprises study material (such as tutorial letters and
study guides), subject-related academic guidance, discussion forums, announcements by
your lecturers, and so forth.

11
To register for myUnisa, click on the Join myUnisa link on the left navigation panel at
the following address: http://my.unisa.ac.za.

To go to the myUnisa website, start at the Unisa website (http://www.unisa.ac.za), and

then click on the Login to myUnisa link on the right-hand side of the screen. This should take
you to the myUnisa website. Alternatively, you can go there directly by typing
http://my.unisa.ac.za into your internet browser.

The myUnisa online facility is a very important point of contact between you, your lecturers and
the other students. We strongly encourage you to make regular use of myUnisa while studying
this module, so that you do not miss out on important information that we will post there
throughout each semester.

On the myUnisa web page for COM3704, you will find the following:

 Regular important announcements from the module coordinator relating to your studies
will appear on the web page. They will also be sent to your myLife Unisa student e-mail
address.
 All of your tutorial letters for COM3704, as well as the study guide, will be there.
 Under Additional Resources, you will be able to find extra notes and feedback that we will
compile to assist you with your assignments and with the portfolio examination.
 In terms of discussion forums, you can start your own, and/or participate in any of the
discussion forums that are already taking place. On the forums, you can discuss
COM3704 with other students, and your lecturers will also regularly post comments
regarding the module.

Please note:

If you do not receive a response to a posting, or to a query that you make on myUnisa, on the
same day as you make it, don’t panic. We make every effort to attend to postings and queries
as soon as possible. Time permitting, we aim to respond daily, or at least within 48 hours, to all
postings and queries. If you urgently need an answer or assistance, feel free to send the
module coordinator, or any of the other lecturers involved in the module, an e-mail, by way of
their official e-mail address. If we think that other students will be able to benefit from the
enquiry or response as well, we will also post the information on myUnisa (although we will
remove your name and other details from the post, so as to keep the source of the query or
comment confidential).

 Study groups

It is advisable to have contact with fellow students. One way to do this is to form study
groups/networks. The addresses of students in your area may be obtained from the following
department:

Directorate: Student Administration and Registration

PO Box 392
UNISA 0003

12
 COM3704/101/3/2021

In addition, you can contact the Directorate: Curriculum and Learning Development to
enquire about tutor support at a learning centre near you. The Directorate can be reached at
012 429 6889. You can also keep an eye on the COM3704 discussion forum on myUnisa,
as students regularly use this tool to form their own study groups. There you can discuss the
module online with other students and your lecturers

 Free computer and internet access

Unisa has entered into partnerships with establishments (referred to as telecentres) in

various locations across South Africa to enable you (as a Unisa student) free access to
computers and the internet. This access enables you to conduct the following academic
related activities: registration; online submission of assignments; engaging in e-tutoring
activities and signature courses; etc. Note that any other activity outside of these are for your
own costing e.g. printing and photocopying. For more information on the telecentre nearest
to you, visit www.unisa.ac.za/telecentres.

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa:

www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies

This website has all the tips and information you need to succeed at Unisa.

6 STUDY PLAN

Consult the Study @ Unisa brochure for general time management and planning skills.

For each of the modules that you are registered for in a semester, including COM3704, draw
up your own study programme. Remember that a semester generally extends over a period
of 15 weeks. In your study programme take into account the assignment due dates, as well
as the examination date. Remember to always allow yourself sufficient time to revise for the
examination.

 Repeating students

Some students may be repeating this module. If you are repeating the module for more than the
second time (i.e. for the third or fourth time), we might be able to offer you extra support and
guidance. If this applies to you, contact the module coordinator, if you feel inclined to do so. We
can only help you if we know what difficulties you are encountering.

7 PRACTICAL WORK

There are no practicals or work integrated learning components for this module.

13
8 ASSESSMENT

8.1 Assessment criteria

Technical presentation forms an important part of academic writing. Be sure to read Tutorial
Letter CMNALLE/301 before completing your assignment. Be sure to acknowledge the work of
other authors by using the correct referencing techniques when consulting additional sources.

For the correct referencing techniques, see Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 which you should
have received by now. The techniques shown in Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 are the only
ones that will be accepted for use in this assignment.

Please note:

When you work through the questions in the assignments, you will note that almost all of the
sections in the syllabus and all of the study units are covered. This should indicate that it is
important to study ALL THE STUDY MATERIAL and not to deem some sections more important
than others.

Assignments have to meet certain academic standards. That is why you have to include a
declaration of own work submitted, table of contents, introduction, conclusion, and a list of
sources consulted in Assignment 01.

Also keep the following important matters in mind:

 Nothing (no headings or anything else) should ever be underlined in an assignment.

 All technical aspects and academic standards are addressed in Tutorial Letter
CMNALLE/301.
 Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 contains examples of a declaration of own work submitted, a
table of contents, a list of sources consulted and relevant referencing techniques.
 Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 explains how to approach and answer multiple-choice
questions (MCQs).
 The correct compilation and sequence of Assignment 01 is: cover page, declaration of own
work submitted, table of contents, introduction, body of assignment (assignment
questions), conclusion, self-assessment and self-reflection questions, list of sources
consulted.

 Feedback and comment on assignments

You can expect your marks for a marked assignment about ten weeks after the due date of the
assignment. All marked assignments are returned to you and we keep no record other than the
marks which are recorded by the Assignment Section. If you have access to myUnisa, you can
determine the marks awarded for each assignment before the assignment reaches you via the
mail.

14
 COM3704/101/3/2021

8.2 Assessment plan

COMPULSORY ASSIGNMENTS FOR SEMESTERS 1 AND 2

This module has two compulsory assignments (Assignment 01 and Assignment 02)
per semester.

You need to submit Assignment 01 to gain admission to the examination.

Both assignments in both semesters contribute towards your semester mark for
COM3704. Your final mark for this module will therefore consist of a semester mark
contributing 20% (earned proportionately by the marks that you obtain for your two
assignments) and an examination mark contributing 80% towards the final mark.

Assignment 01 will contribute 50% towards the semester mark (or 10 marks towards the final
overall mark), and Assignment 02 will contribute 50% towards the semester mark (or 10 marks
towards the final overall mark).

You need to submit Assignment 01 in order to gain admission to the examination, as

admission is not automatic. If you do not submit Assignment 01, you will have to re-register
for this module in the next semester. Although Assignment 02 is not taken into account for
admission to the examination, you must nevertheless submit this assignment as it will be
very difficult to pass this module without this assignment’s semester mark portion.

Remember that the accrual of a semester mark is only applicable to assignments which
are received by the specified due dates and which are subsequently marked. Therefore,
ensure that you submit ASSIGNMENT 01 by the due date in order to g a i n examination
admission. There are NO EXTENSIONS for the submission of any assignment and all
assignments received after the specified due dates will be returned unmarked – in other
words, you will receive 0%.

Assignment 01 consists of paragraph-/essay-type questions. Assignment 01 MUST include

a declaration of own work submitted, table of contents, introduction, conclusion, and a list
of sources consulted, along with the answers to the assignment questions, as well as to the
self- assessment and self-reflection questions. Each of these elements is worth a number of
marks and Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 contains examples of each of these items and their
correct presentation. However, a rubric will also be used to assess your assignment as
shown later in this tutorial letter in table 1.

Assignment 02 consists of MCQs and you have to fill in a mark- reading sheet for this
assignment. Make sure that the unique assignment number is also filled in and use only a
pencil to complete the mark-reading sheet.

Assignments form a part of formative assessment, the objectives of which are set out in
Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301. The assignments assist your understanding of the whole
syllabus by presenting you with various exercises which will help you prepare for the
examination. We strongly advise you to do both assignments so that you become familiar with
the work presented in this module, which you have to study and understand thoroughly if
you want to pass the module very well.

15
Assignments form the backbone of your examination.

Two assignments are set per semester.

You HAVE TO do Assignment 01 set for the semester in which you are registered and hand it
in before the due date in order to gain admission to the examination. The due date of an
assignment is the date by which an assignment has to be at Unisa in Pretoria. If
assignments are sent by snail mail or handed in at regional centres, submit the assignment
at least three weeks before the due date to ensure that it reaches the university in time.

We strongly advise you to keep copies of all documents submitted to the university.

Self-assessment and self-reflection

Assignment 01 has to include a “Self-assessment and self-reflection” section.

The self-assessment and self-reflection section comprises one page on which you have to
answer the following questions:

1 What have you learnt (what knowledge have you gained) by doing the assignment/portfolio
examination task?
2 What skills, abilities and orientations (attitudes and values) have you accomplished?
3 Which strengths could apply in your future life and work environment?
4 Which shortcomings do you need to address in future?

Technical presentation

Your technical presentation of Assignment 01 will be assessed.

The following allocation of marks will be applicable to Assignment 01:

Technical presentation Maximum 10%

Self-assessment and self-reflection Maximum 5%
Evaluation of Assignment 01 / portfolio examination Maximum 85%

16
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Minimum criteria for the evaluation of your performance

Refer to Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 in this regard.

The criteria for evaluating your performance are as follows:

Technical presentation

 The assignment/portfolio examination contains a personal declaration of own work.

 The table of contents corresponds with the numbering, headings and subheadings in the
theme. The correct numbering system is used (as in the study guide) — not the
alphabet, nor I, II, III, IV, nor (i), (ii), (iii).
 All sources consulted are cited in the list of sources consulted, including newspapers,
magazines, policy documents, tutorial letters, study guide(s), prescribed book(s) and
people consulted.
 The correct referencing techniques are used in the assignment/portfolio examination and
in the list of sources consulted, and the sources are not numbered in the list.
 Any other aspects related to the presentation of the assignment/portfolio examination will
be assessed (e.g. appropriate research terminology is used and presentation does not
contain language, spelling or typing errors, or informal types of address).

The correct use of referencing techniques is an important presentation requirement for

Assignment 01.

The completed Assignment 01 should include:

 a signed declaration stating that the assignment/portfolio examination contains your

personal work

 a table of contents

 the contents of your assignment / portfolio examination

 the self-assessment and self-reflection

 a list of all the sources consulted

8.3 Assignment numbers

8.3.1 General assignment numbers

The assignments are numbered consecutively per module, starting from 01. Please number the
assignments correctly. Here is a breakdown of the ASSIGNMENT NUMBERS of the
assignments (label them carefully, to avoid confusion):

Assignment 01 Written assignment

Compulsory for examination admission
Assignment 02 Multiple-choice questions

17
8.3.2 Unique assignment numbers

Apart from the general assignment number, each assignment also has a unique assignment
number. The unique assignment number is given at the start of the assignment and portfolio
questions. Note that the unique assignment numbers for the first and second semesters are
different.

SEMESTER 1

Assignment 01 848762
Assignment 02 722424

SEMESTER 2

Assignment 01 888926
Assignment 02 876896

8.4 Assignment due dates

SEMESTER 1

Assignment 01 12 March 2021

Assignment 02 9 April 2021

SEMESTER 2

Assignment 01 20 August 2021

Assignment 02 13 September 2021

8.5 Submission of assignments

For detailed information on the assignments, refer to the brochure Study @ Unisa, which you
should have received as part of your study package. To submit an assignment via myUnisa, do
the following:

 Go to myUnisa.

 Log in with your student number and password.

 Select the module concerned.

 Click on Assignments in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

 Click on the number of the assignment that you wish to submit.

 Follow the instructions.

18
 COM3704/101/3/2021

VERY IMPORTANT:

Always keep a copy of every assignment that you submit, whether you submit it on myUnisa or
via the post.

Take note of the following regarding the submission of your assignments:

 Assignments have to reach Unisa on or before the due date.

 You have to submit assignments via myUnisa, or you have to keep physical evidence of
your submission (such as a track-and-trace number), if you send the document via the
post office, by means of a courier, or via another submission platform, such as DSV, PEP
or UPS. Unisa accepts NO responsibility for documents that do not reach the university,
irrespective of how the documents were submitted. You will not be allowed to re-submit
any examination portfolio.

 Retain evidence of the submission and receipt of your assignments.

 NO assignment may be delivered or sent to the Department of Communication Science, or

to an academic, as academics do not have access to the systems involved to be able to
record receipt of any such documents.

 When submitting your assignment via myUnisa, ensure that you submit the correct
document with the correct assignment and unique assignment number for the correct
module. You have to follow all the online steps, and to receive confirmation that the
document submitted has been received at Unisa. We urge you to save/screenshot the
confirmation of receipt. Check on myUnisa the day after your online submission to ensure
that a date appears in the PROCESSED column (the date concerned indicates when
Unisa received the document). If no date appears in that column following your
submission, you need to contact the Assignment section immediately.

 If you submitted a hard copy assignment, you must ensure that you receive an SMS
confirming that it was received by the university. You can also check on myUnisa: if there
is a date under the PROCESSED column, then it means that the university has received
your assignment. If you have submitted a hard copy assignment, and you have not
received an SMS, or if there is no “processed” date on myUnisa five days after you
submitted the assignment, contact the module coordinator for assistance as a matter of
importance.

 Check the file that you submit as your assignment on myUnisa. Make 100% sure that you
are submitting the correct file. Check the file that you submit to ensure that the contents
are not those for another module, a previous assignment, or an early, uncompleted draft of
your assignment.

 We request that you submit assignments on myUnisa in PDF. Although we prefer such
submissions, we also accept Word .doc and .docx if you cannot manage to convert your
submission to PDF.

19
 Always keep a copy of your assignment. If you submit your assignment electronically
via myUnisa, we also strongly urge you to keep a printed copy of it for your own records,
as electronic files can sometimes become corrupted on the student’s side.

COPYING AND PLAGIARISM

We expect you as a third-year student to have a firm grasp of technical presentation

requirements, referencing techniques and what constitutes plagiarism. The Department of
Communication Science’s web page, on Writing for Academic Integrity, covers all aspects of
plagiarism and referencing that you need to know, so ensure that you watch all videos on the
site at:

https://sites.google.com/a/unisacommscience.co.za/writing-for-academic-integrity/home?pli=1.

Copying from sources

In the past, some students have copied sections from their prescribed books, study guides or
previous tutorial letters, which they present as their original work in their assignments. If you do
not acknowledge the authors of the sources that you use, you are committing plagiarism, which
is a SERIOUS offence (i.e. legal infraction). If you are charged with plagiarism, the university is
obliged to subject you to a disciplinary hearing. If the charge is validated in the hearing and a
guilty verdict is pronounced, you may be suspended and banned from studying at all South
African tertiary institutions (universities, etc. including Unisa) for several years.

If you submit Assignment 01 with text copied from the prescribed book, from the study guide,
from the previous tutorial letters, or from any other book, source or internet source, without
acknowledging the author and publication, the specific sections in which the plagiarism occurs
will not be marked.

Direct quotations

Note that all direct quotations must appear in inverted commas (quotation marks), otherwise
your use of them technically amounts to plagiarism. (A direct quotation is when you take four or
more consecutive words directly/verbatim from a source and reproduce them in your own text,
exactly as they appeared in the original source.) However, also bear in mind that you cannot
simply “quote” or copy and paste large sections of text into your assignment word-for-word
(verbatim) from any source, even if you indicate the source. You are expected to submit your
own work in your own words as far as possible, so that you are able to show your own
understanding of the material covered, interspersed with referenced paraphrased sentences
and/or quotations, which you keep relatively short and which you place within “inverted
commas”. Your referencing, furthermore, needs to be correct, according to the guidelines set
out in Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301. ALL sources that you have used, including those from the
internet, must appear in your list of sources consulted.

If you are found to be copying and pasting or writing off from a source without rewriting the
material in your own words, or if you use too many direct quotations, you may be penalised in
the sections of your work that are so affected. This also applies to your use of the study
material, including the prescribed book, the study guide, the current tutorial letters and the
tutorial letters from previous years.

20
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Refer to Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301, paying close attention to section 9, “PLAGIARISM”. The
section contains information about the requirement to use quotation marks for direct quotations.
However, also see section 4.8, “Other presentation requirements applicable to the content”,
which indicates that you must avoid using long quotations. In other words, you cannot simply
copy large sections from the sources that you use, even if you do acknowledge that the material
is quoted, as doing so would mean that the other author(s) are, essentially, doing your work for
you.

Copying from another student, or submitting similar/identical work to them

Although students may work together when they are preparing assignments, you must write and
submit your own individual assignment. In other words, you must submit your own ideas in your
own words, sometimes interspersing your reasoning with relevant short quotations that are
properly referenced. You MAY NOT submit identical/similar assignments on the basis that you
have worked together with other students on the material covered. Doing so would mean that
you would be copying others’ work (which is a form of plagiarism), for which you are liable to be
penalised and/or subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the university.

We cannot overemphasise the radically offensive nature of all the forms of plagiarism
mentioned above. If you are found to have committed plagiarism, it can fundamentally
jeopardise your entire academic career. Refer to Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301 for further
information on plagiarism. Ensure that you are familiar with the contents of the tutorial letter
concerned, and with the contents of the Disciplinary Code for Students. Also see the Unisa
policy on Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement on myUnisa.

COMPULSORY DECLARATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE MODULES

A DECLARATION has to be signed by yourself and a witness. Every university has such a
legally binding document for their students. However, as we are a distance education institution
that requires the online submission of work, and you might not have access to a scanner, we
accept the use of typed signatures and e-signatures.

Any assignment to which the DECLARATION is not attached, or where it is unsigned by

yourself and/or by a witness, will automatically receive 0%. However, in keeping with
Unisa’s Tuition and Learning Policy, you will still receive feedback on the assignment
concerned.

The DECLARATION, along with all the documents to which it refers, will be available on
myUnisa, at the beginning of each academic SEMESTER, under ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

The DECLARATION will be available for you to download as a PDF and MSWord document,
which you are required to fill in and submit with each assignment/portfolio and non-venue
examination portfolio.

As this tutorial letter is a PDF document, the links and embedded documents will appear to be
“dead” here. However, when present as MSWord documents under ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES, the links and embedded documents concerned will be seen to be “live”.

21
DECLARATION OF OWN WORK
I,

(NAME and SURNAME) confirm that:

 this MODULE contains my own, original ideas and work

 those ideas, or work, that are not my own, have been cited through the prescribed
referencing system which I have familiarised myself with in the TL CMNALL/E/301
 I have not submitted the ideas or work contained in this MODULE for any other
tertiary education credit

Policy on Research
Ethics.pdf
 I have read the University’s Policy of Research Ethics
 I have read and understood the PLAGIARISM POWERPOINT FOR UNDER-
GRADUATE STUDIES (available under ADDITIONAL SOURCES on myUnisa)
 I have familiarised myself with the library guides ON PLAGIARISM AND ETHICS
offered by Unisa’s library: https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/research-support/plagiarism
 I have read and understood Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement and
Plagiarism, and I am aware that plagiarism is punishable in terms of the
Copyright Act (Act 98 of 1978) and I have read the regulations of the University of
South Africa in this respect, available online:

https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/Apply%20for%20admission/Documents/
Policy_copyright_infringement_plagiarism_16November2005.pdf

_________________

STUDENT NUMBER

_________________ _____________
SIGNATURE DATE

_________________ _____________
WITNESS DATE

22
 COM3704/101/3/2021

8.6 The assignments

General guidelines and activities for the written assignment (Assignment 01)

The written assignment (01) covers a wide range of chapters/units in-depth (which, however,
differ from semester 1 to semester 2, so read the following carefully).

Complete all the activities that we describe below for each chapter/unit covered in the written
assignment:

 Ensure that you are familiar with the questions asked regarding each chapter/unit in
Assignment 01. (Doing so is important, so that you know what to look out for as you read
the relevant chapters in your prescribed book and study guide.)

 Read each corresponding chapter in the prescribed book.

 Read each corresponding study unit in the study guide.

 If you have any problems with a particular chapter/unit, contact one of the COM3704
lecturers.

General guidelines and activities for the MCQ assignment (02):

Do not leave your MCQ assignment until the last minute.

We recommend that you complete five chapters/units (10 questions) per week, roughly, in
preparation for this assignment.

Tackle the work unit by unit.

Take note of the questions asked, and also of what information you require.

Go through the relevant chapters and study units in the prescribed book and study guide.

Use the prescribed book’s index to locate material on the specific concepts named in the
MCQs.

It is a good idea to complete the assignment in this tutorial letter in rough form, before you
submit it on myUnisa, and before you complete and submit your MCQ mark-reading sheet to the
university.

23
SEMESTER 01

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment 01 consists of three topics.

You have to choose and answer TWO topics.

We advise you to read the book and study all the topics (and the other topics in the prescribed
textbook) in preparation for the examination, even though you have to answer only two topics in
this assignment. It is important that you study all the chapters of the book if you want to pass
examination. You are also required to do your own research in addition to the prescribed book
and study guide for the essay questions in Assignment 01.

Assignment 02 consists of 20 multiple-choice questions.

You have to answer ALL the questions.

Each question counts 1 mark. The mark you will obtain out of 20 will be multiplied by 5 to
determine the percentage you have obtained. You need to answer this assignment on the mark-
reading sheet which you received with your study material.

The questions and topics of BOTH Assignments 01 and 02 cover the whole syllabus of the
module and are aimed at assisting you in preparing for the examination.

ASSIGNMENT 01

Due date: 12 March 2021

Unique assignment number: 848762

IMPORTANT:

YOU NEED TO ANSWER ANY TWO (2) OF THE THREE (3) QUESTIONS.

This assignment is structured as follows, with the mark allocation indicated:

DECLARATION
1 INTRODUCTION (5)
2 QUESTION 1 (20)
3 QUESTION 2 (20)
4 CONCLUSION (5)
5 SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5)
SOURCES CONSULTED (Technical presentation: 10)
TOTAL [125]

24
 COM3704/101/3/2021

INTRODUCTION (5)

In your introduction, clearly identify/indicate what you discuss in the assignment, and how your
assignment is structured.

Refer to the two chosen themes that you cover in your assignment, as well as to the particular
topics within the themes.

Your introduction should, ideally, consist of a paragraph of approximately six sentences that
cover approximately a third of a page.

QUESTION 1
THEME 1
CYBER CRIME

Internet use is widespread, and many companies and individuals use their computers for a
substantial proportion of their daily activities, which makes both companies and individuals
vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals (Prasad, Kathawala, Bocker & Sprague, 1991).

With reference to the statement above, write an essay in which you define and critically discuss
cybercrime and the different types of cybercrime that internet users may encounter in cyber
space.

Your conclusion should consist of precautionary measures to prevent cybercrime.

The essay should refer to relevant examples.

1.1 Define cybercrime. (5)

1.2 Outline and discuss various types of cybercrime that internet users may encounter (with
examples included). (40)

1.3 Discuss precautionary measures to prevent cyberbullying. (5)

TOTAL [50]

25
QUESTION 2
THEME 2
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AND SERVICES: DIGITAL BROADCASTING –TELEVISION AND
RADIO

Many countries such as South Africa are upgrading their technology from analogue to digital
which, in turn describes digital migration. In the advent of this transition is digital terrestrial
television (DTT).

With the statement as a departure point critically discuss the following questions:

2.1 What is digital migration and how does it relate to convergence? (5)

2.2 In what ways does DTT allow for universal access in South Africa? (10)

2.3 What are the benefits of DTT? (15)

2.4 What are the disadvantages of going digital? (5)

2.5 Critically discuss the social and cultural manifestations of globalisation. (15)

TOTAL [50]

QUESTION 3
THEME 3
NEW MEDIA

Critically discuss whether the convergent nature of online or new media is a threat to traditional
media.

To answer this question, use any form of media as an example (newspaper, television or radio).
Your discussion should include academic sources apart from those that appear in the
prescribed book and should cover the following:

3.1 A definition of online or new media. (5)

3.2 A definition of traditional media. (5)

3.3 A discussion of the six characteristics of online media. (18)

3.4 A discussion of the convergent nature of online media and its potential impact on
traditional media. This should include a definition of convergence and the use of your
chosen online example in contrast to traditional media examples such as newspaper,
radio or television. Ensure that you compare online newspapers to traditional
newspapers if they are your chosen media, or online radio to traditional radio if it is your
chosen media. Do not intermix the form of media; in other words you cannot compare
online newspapers to traditional radio. (12)

3.5 A discussion of any two theoretical frameworks related to the benefits of technology.
(10)

TOTAL [50]

26
 COM3704/101/3/2021

CONCLUSION (5)

Here, you will present a summary of the contents of your assignment as its conclusion. The
conclusion should mirror your introduction, and you should not include new information or
theory in it. Once again, you will need to refer to both themes discussed in the assignment, and
you will need to refer to examples that you have used for analysis and discussion.

The conclusion should, ideally, consist of a paragraph of approximately eight sentences. It

should not exceed half a page in length.

SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5)

See page 16 for the relevant guidelines.

TECHNICAL PRESENTATION (10)

See pages 16-17 for the relevant guidelines.

TOTAL [125]

ASSIGNMENT 02

Due date: 9 April 2021

Unique assignment number: 722424

Guidelines for answering Assignment 02 for semester 1

1 You must complete this assignment on the mark-reading sheet which you received with
your study material package.

2 You have to select the most appropriate answer to each question. Although in some
questions you may regard more than one answer as appropriate, you must select only
one option which is most acceptable when compared with the other options.

3 Complete the sheet with a soft black pencil — not with a pen or a coloured pencil. No
holes must be punched in the mark-reading sheet.

4 If you mark an incorrect space (which can easily happen), erase the pencil marks to
prevent the computer from reading these marks.

5 You must complete the following details in the correct spaces on the mark-reading sheet:

 your student number

 your surname, initials and address
 code of the paper: COM3704
 assignment number: 02
 unique assignment number

27
6 Since these sheets are marked by a computer

 no extension for the due date of this assignment can be granted

 sheets that are rejected by the computer will be returned to you without being marked
 sheets received after the closing date will not be marked
 if you were a “second attempt”, this second sheet will be returned unmarked.

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q1 There are many different types of cybercrime that internet users may encounter in cyber
space.

Which of the following is considered to be the most common and most dangerous
cybercrime?

(1) Financial theft

(2) Phishing and spoofing
(3) Electronic embezzlement
(4) Malicious sabotage of others in cyberspace

Q2 Which one of the following comprises all processes of information formatting

processing, communication and transaction that pertain to the tasks of the government
and that are realised by a particular application?

(1) Digital democracy

(2) The liberal individualist perspective
(3) E-government
(4) Competitive democracy

Q3 A panel data model was applied to measure the causal relationship between
telecommunications development and economic growth in different regions and at
different income levels for the period of … .

(1) 1979-2005
(2) 1970-2006
(3) 1980-2010
(4) 1980-2006

28
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Q4 Internet radio is … .

(1) a broadcasting service which is transmitted via the internet using streaming
technology based on any number of audio compression standards and media
players
(2) a system of providing television, radio or sound programming and other services to
consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted directly to people’s televisions
(3) a satellite-based direct-broadcast radio service in which digitally encoded audio
entertainment material is broadcast to terrestrial based receivers, directly from an
orbiting satellite
(4) a digital TV enabled by a set top box which offers a sharper, brighter picture, with
reduced interference

Q5 Which one of the following is NOT an example of cyber stalking?

(1) Online abuse

(2) Financial theft
(3) Arranging to meet
(4) False victimisation

Q6 Which theory listed below is characterised by the following statement?

The spread of information, computerisation and other modern communication

technology will create unemployment, increase surveillance and endanger individual
privacy.

(1) Techno-neutral approach

(2) Technophobic approach
(3) Intermediary perspective
(4) Technophilic approach

Q7 A company that is permanently connected to the internet providing individuals and

organisations with access to various internet services is … .

(1) an access server

(2) a submarine line provider
(3) an internet service provider
(4) a digital service provider

Q8 In an information society … .

(1) the citizens are not highly informed

(2) participation in the labour market does not typically require higher education
(3) economic production is dominated by agriculture
(4) the organisation of society is based on science, rationality and reflexivity

29
Q9 Which of the following best describes the concept of a digital native?

(1) A highly-skilled ICT expert.

(2) One who is born into and grew up into a world of ubiquitous communications and
connectivity.
(3) User-generated content.
(4) A user who both consumes and produces content.

Q10 Digital signatures validate and secure e-business deals. These digital signatures have
three functions.

Identify the incorrect function.

(1) They confirm or endorse the business intent of the parties involved.
(2) They identify the signatories to the business deal.
(3) They are used by hackers to make intrusions into networks.
(4) They make the signed document credible and authentic or legal.

Q11 The treatment of computers by people as if they were human beings is called … .

(1) anthropomorphosis of technology

(2) technological determinism
(3) technophobia
(4) technocratic determination

Q12 Which of the following theories best represents the statement below?

ICT does not have a significant impact on development and economic growth and it will
take time before ICT has a substantial impact on economic growth.

(1) Exogenous growth theory

(2) Endogenous growth theory
(3) Neo-classical exogenous growth theory
(4) Knowledge economy theory

Q13 Web-based teaching … .

(a) is flexible
(b) is highly suitable for teaching subjects that are visually oriented
(c) is suitable for content that might not have a linear structure
(d) increases levels of interaction

(1) a b
(2) c d
(3) None of the above.
(4) All of the above.

30
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Q14 Which one of the following is NOT a type of internet addiction?

(1) Online abuse

(2) Internet gaming addiction
(3) Information overload
(4) Cyber-relationship addiction

Q15 Satellite digital television is the implementation of digital technology to … .

(1) replace and upgrade the aging infrastructure

(2) ensure job creation, with new content collected and controlled
(3) combine large numbers of channels onto available bandwidth via satellite and
satellite dishes for reception by consumers
(4) provide the opportunity to preserve and increase local content

Q16 Economists and world leaders have realised and accepted that telecommunication
plays an important role for economic and industrial growth in less developed countries.

One or more of main reasons for very slow improvement in telecommunications in

rural areas are … .

(a) lack of financial resources

(b) inaccessibility due to lack poor roads or transportation
(c) unreliable or no power supply
(d) low revenue per line

(1) a
(2) a b c d
(3) b c d
(4) a b d

Q17 A computer virus can be defined as …

(1) a computer program that seems to be harmless, but that hides malicious functions.
(2) a program that exploits weak points in a network to spread automatically from one
computer to the next
(3) a program that can copy itself, and infect not only one computer, but spread from
one computer to the next
(4) a program that inserts itself into one or more files and then performs some
undesirable function which disrupts the normal functioning of a computer system

31
Q18 In the competitive democracy view of e-government, ICT is first and foremost
used for … .

(a) political supporters and potential members

(b) information and election campaigns
(c) to reach the electorate to convince people of their views and policies
(d) citizens to be able to access e-government services at a low cost

(1) a b c
(2) a d
(3) b c
(4) b c d

Q19 Cyber addiction is ... .

(1) an Internet addiction with a focus on the abuse of adult websites for cyberporn
(2) addiction that involves conducting excessive online friendships or relationships
(3) excessive online gaming, as well as online gambling and online shopping
(4) the mental status of the people who are simply obsessed with the idea of surfing
the internet

Q20 The background on this policy is described historically in four stages or phases. In the
late 1980s and early 1990s, an interplay of forces led to the liberalisation of the telecom
industry.

With the above statement in mind, select the most appropriate stage that involved more
liberalisation of the sector, privatisation of a 30% stake in the public parastatal Telkom
and changes in telecom policy to accommodate convergence and develop an ICASA
Act.

(1) Stage 1 (1980s to 1993 and pre-democracy period)

(2) Stage 2 (1994 to 1996)
(3) Stage 3 (1997 to 2000)
(4) Stage 4 (2001 to 2006)

32
 COM3704/101/3/2021

SEMESTER 02

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment 01 consists of three topics.

You have to choose and answer TWO topics.

We advise you to read the book and study all the topics in preparation for the examination, even
though you have to answer one topic in this assignment. It is important that you study all the
chapters of the book if you want to pass the g examination. You are also required to do your
own research in addition to the prescribed book and study guide for the essay questions in
Assignment 01.

Assignment 02 consists of 20 multiple-choice questions.

You have to answer ALL the questions.

Each question counts 1 mark. The mark you will obtain out of 20 will be multiplied by 5 to
determine the percentage you have obtained. You need to answer this assignment on the mark-
reading sheet which you received with your study material.

The questions and topics of BOTH Assignment 01 and 02 cover the whole syllabus of the
module and are aimed at assisting you in preparing for the examination.

ASSIGNMENT 01

Due date: 20 August 2021

Unique assignment number: 888926

IMPORTANT: YOU HAVE TO ANSWER ANY TWO (2) OF THE THREE (3) QUESTIONS.

This assignment is structured as follows, with the mark allocation indicated:

DECLARATION
1 INTRODUCTION (5)
2 QUESTION 1 (50)
3 QUESTION 2 (50)
4 CONCLUSION (5)
5 SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5)
SOURCES CONSULTED (Technical presentation: 10)
TOTAL [125]

33
INTRODUCTION (5)

In your introduction, clearly identify/indicate what you discuss in the assignment, and how your
assignment is structured. Refer to the two chosen themes that you cover in your assignment, as
well as to the particular topics within the themes.

Your introduction should, ideally, consist of a paragraph of approximately six sentences that
cover approximately a third of a page.

QUESTION 1
THEME 1
ELECTRONIC GOVERNANCE

Critically discuss the ways and extent to which new technological developments may be
changing the nature of South African politics in general and the contributions to e-governance in
particular.

Your essay must include the following:

1.1 Define digital democracy and what you understand by e-governance. (10)

1.2 Discuss the different models of digital democracy in South Africa. (20)

1.3 Illustrate how the use of e-governance in South Africa impacts on e-governance
initiative. (20)

TOTAL [50]

QUESTION 2
THEME 2
NEW MEDIA USE BY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS

In many developing countries, women use ICT to obtain and share information relevant to their
work as teachers, academics, community developers, artisans and entrepreneurs. For women
in rural areas this remains a challenge due to lack of access to computers at home or to
telecentres. They often cannot afford the computer and other equipment required and do not
have the necessary training to use them.

With the above statement in mind answer the questions that follow.

2.1 Define the term “new media” and provide one example. (5)

2.2 List the new ICT interventions aimed at reducing the divide between North and South.
(10)

2.3 Critically discuss the challenges that are facing women in the ICT sector and use
examples. (25)

2.4 List the goals and models of using new media in education and explain in detail. (10)

TOTAL [50]

34
 COM3704/101/3/2021

QUESTION 3
THEME 3
USES OF THE INTERNET

The internet and digital media have unlocked doors to different ways of communication.

3.1 Describe how internet users connect to the internet by referring to figure 4.1 on page 60
of your prescribed book (Lesame, Mbatha & Sindane 2013). (10)

There are an array of reasons for using the internet.

Critically discuss the following three uses and provide relevant examples in your discussion:

3.2 The internet as a teaching and learning tool. (15)

3.3 Organisational uses of the internet. (12½)

3.4 Social uses of the internet. (12½)

TOTAL [50]

CONCLUSION (5)

Here, you will present a summary of the contents of your assignment as its conclusion. The
conclusion should mirror your introduction, and you should not include new information or
theory in it. Once again, you will need to refer to both themes discussed in the assignment, and
you will need to refer to examples that you have used for analysis and discussion.

The conclusion should, ideally, consist of a paragraph of approximately eight sentences. It

should not exceed half a page in length.

SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5)

See page 16 for the relevant guidelines.

TECHNICAL PRESENTATION (10)

See pages 16-17 for the relevant guidelines.

TOTAL [125]

35
ASSIGNMENT 02

Due date: 13 September 2021

Unique assignment number: 876896

Guidelines for answering Assignment 02 for semester 2

1 You must complete this assignment on the mark-reading sheet which you received with
your study material package.

2 You have to select the most appropriate answer to each question. Although in some
questions you may regard more than one answer as appropriate, you must select only
one option which is most acceptable when compared with the other options.

3 Complete the sheet with a soft black pencil — not with a pen or a coloured pencil. No
holes must be punched in the mark-reading sheet.

4 If you mark an incorrect space (which can easily happen), erase the pencil marks to
prevent the computer from reading these marks.

5 You must complete the following details in the correct spaces on the mark-reading sheet:

 your student number

 your surname, initials and address
 code of the paper: COM3704
 assignment number: 02
 unique assignment number

6 Since these sheets are marked by a computer

 no extension for the closing date of this assignment can be granted

 sheets that are rejected by the computer will be returned to you without being marked
 sheets received after the closing date will not be marked
 if you were to submit a “second attempt”, this second sheet will be returned
unmarked

36
 COM3704/101/3/2021

MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q1 In the year … a telephone link was established between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

(1) 1878
(2) 1882
(3) 1947
(4) 1894

Q2 Digital signatures validate and secure e-business deals. These digital signatures have
three functions.

Identify the incorrect function.

(1) They confirm or endorse the business intent of the parties involved.
(2) They identify the signatories to the business deal.
(3) They are used by hackers to make intrusions into networks.
(4) They make the signed document credible and authentic or legal.

Q3 Media convergence is …

(1) a novel remixing of data and services already available on the internet to produce
a useful new tool
(2) an art form where corporate or governmental advertisements are edited and
touched up in order to subvert the original messages
(3) a special kind of internet website consisting of consecutive dated entries, possibly
with comments by readers of the entry
(4) simply the phenomenon where the evolution of technology and services has made
it possible for consumers to access content that had previously been available
only through strictly separated channels in more unified and flexible ways

Q4 Which of the following options is a form of media content that combines and integrates
data, text, sound and images of all kinds?

(1) Digital media

(2) Convergence
(3) Interactivity
(4) Hypertextuality

Q5 Which one of the following statements describes virtual communities?

(1) Associations of people tied to time, place and other physical circumstances.
(2) Based on face-to-face communication.
(3) Created in electronic environments with the aid of mediated communications.
(4) A stable unit with many joint activities.

37
Q6 Which one of the following has the potential to become an institution that helps to
ensure reasoned reflection about political issues and active participation in deliberative
democracy by citizens and by members of the government?

(1) Internet
(2) E-government
(3) Facebook
(4) Online marketing

Q7 Which of the following is a website designed for use by the employees of an

organisation, a private internet?

(1) E-mail
(2) Extranets
(3) Telephone
(4) Intranets

Q8 Which of the following is a company that is permanently connected to the internet

providing individuals and organisations with access to various Internet services?

(1) Browser
(2) Internet service provider
(3) Modem
(4) Server

Q9 The first commercial web browser, Netscape, was launched in … .

(1) 1969
(2) 1986
(3) 1992
(4) 1994

Q10 Digital television has many benefits for television viewers, including the following:

(a) Better quality TV.

(b) Greater choice of TV channels.
(c) Access to more television options.
(d) New broadcasting services.

(1) a b c
(2) a d
(3) a b c d
(4) b

38
 COM3704/101/3/2021

Q11 ………. is the online gaming personality of the player and it need not resemble the
player‘s real-life appearance and personality at all.

(1) Virtuality
(2) Hypertextuality
(3) Second Life
(4) Avatar

Q12 Web-based teaching … .

(a) is flexible
(b) is highly suitable for teaching subjects that are visually oriented
(c) is suitable for content that might not have a linear structure
(d) increases levels of interaction

(1) a b
(2) c d
(3) None of the above
(4) All of the above

Q13 A modem can be defined as… .

(1) a person using the internet

(2) a device that converts digital signals into analogue signals so that computers can
communicate with each other over telephone lines and wireless modems
(3) software used to search and consult internet sites
(4) a link between two off-site devices by cable within a cable network

Q14 Which of the following characteristics is not a key component of the e-government
model that can be considered best practice in a legalist democracy?

(1) Increased censorship

(2) Lowered costs
(3) Citizen’s convenience
(4 Increased productivity

Q15 Hypertextuality is best described as the … .

(1) spread of high-quality Internet services

(2) language of the internet
(3) nature of digital media
(4) development of digital systems

39
Q16 Digitality can be defined as … .

(1) the emergence of a new online economy in contrast to the old off-line economy
(2) the emerging of different technologies and consequently the convergence of
services
(3) segmented audiences instead of a huge audience receiving the same messages
(4) the linking of textual information created by different scientists on different
computers

Q17 Which of the following theories best represents the statement below?

South Africa is battling with and focusing on building basics such as education, creating
employment, reducing poverty and developing the economically deprived rural areas, so
it will take time before ICT contributes to significant economic growth.

(1) Exogenous growth theory

(2) Endogenous growth theory
(3) Neo-classical exogenous growth theory
(4) Knowledge economy theory

Q18 The South African newspaper, The Sowetan, has an online newspaper called
SowetanLive. However, one can argue that they have the same content differentiated
only by the electronic characteristics of one and the hardcopy characteristics of the
other.

A copy of the print newspaper that could be put directly onto the internet is what is
known as … .

(1) shovelware
(2) interactivity
(3) Web 2.0
(4) dispersal

Q19 Downloadable audio files that are intended to be heard at the listener’s convenience
and on a device of the listener’s choice best describe … .

(1) blogs
(2) wikis
(3) podcasts
(4) vlogs

Q20 It has become important to regulate new media technology in order to … .

(1) promote the use of the new media

(2) make a profit from the use of new media
(3) curb the abuse and misuse of new media
(4) increase the number of users of new media technology

40
 COM3704/101/3/2021

8.7 Other assessment methods

There are no other assessment methods for this module.

8.8 The examination

Use the Study @ Unisa brochure for general examination guidelines and examination
preparation guidelines.

However, examination guidelines pertaining to this module are as follows:

The examination mark contributes 80% towards the final examination mark. The other 20% is
made up of your assignment marks. Both Assignment 01 and Assignment 02 (of each
semester) count 10% towards your final mark. It is therefore important that you submit both
assignments, as you will lose out on 20% of your final mark if you do not submit them.
Completing the assignments also helps you to understand the study material better in
preparation for the examination.

Your final examination mark will be calculated in the following way:

Assignment 1 (10%) + Assignment 2 (10%) + Examination mark (80%) = 100%.

The examination paper consists of various questions drawn from the entire prescribed book and
the study guide.

During the examination, follow the instructions properly and number all questions correctly. For
essay-type questions, do not write very short answers but provide enough details and
information about the topic which is asked as adequately as it is discussed in the prescribed
book and the study guide. The marks for each question also indicate how much of a detailed
answer you should provide. However, more importantly, you should note that the content of
each topic determines how in-depth you should explain the issue or topic asked.

You have to obtain at least 50% as a final examination mark to pass the module. However,
because we have made provision for you to obtain a maximum of 20% for the assignments
submitted, a sub-minimum applies to your examination mark. This sub-minimum is 40%. In
other words, you have to obtain a sub-minimum of 40% in order to pass the examination and
you should obtain 50% and more to pass the module. For example, if you obtain 80% for the
semester mark but 39% for the examination then your mark will remain 39% because you failed
to meet the sub-minimum of 40%.

If you qualify for a supplementary examination (in other words, if you get at least 45% for your
final examination mark), you will be informed by the Examination Department of this result and
you will also be informed when you have to rewrite the examination.

If you plan to contact any lecturers for assistance after the examination, ensure that you make
these arrangements well in advance, i.e., as soon as you have written the examination or have
received your final results. During the semester, the Examination Department will provide you
with general information on the examination, examination venues, examination dates and
examination times.

41
9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

There is an A-Z guide of the most relevant study information and associated questions in the
Study @ Unisa brochure. So, before you phone or e-mail us with a question, check if this
question has already been answered.

10 IN CLOSING

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about this module, if you
experience any problems or need advice about the examinations or the writing of the
assignment. We are here for you and are always glad to assist you. However, read this tutorial
letter thoroughly before asking questions as you might find that your question has already been
answered in this tutorial letter.

We hope you have already worked out your study programme for the year and have started
your daily study routine.

Your Communication Science studies can be an enriching and rewarding experience but this
will depend largely on your planning and self-discipline.

Any changes to the arrangements in Tutorial Letter 101 will be communicated via myUnisa,
SMS and additional tutorial letters.

Best wishes

THE COM3704 TEAM

42
 COM3704/101/3/2021

ADDENDUM

MARK SCHEME FOR ASSIGNMENT 01

SEMESTER 1 & SEMESTER 2

TOTAL
1 INTRODUCTION (5) /5
2 QUESTION 1 /50
3 QUESTION 2 /50
4 CONCLUSION (5) /5
5 SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5) /5
TECHNICAL PRESENTATION (10) /5
TOTAL (100) /125

SELF-ASSESSMENT AND SELF-REFLECTION (5)

You are required to complete the self-assessment and self-reflection questions that are
provided in Tutorial Letter COM3704/101.

You were required to answer the following questions for this section:

1 What have you learnt (what knowledge have you gained) by doing the
assignment/portfolio task?
2 What skills, abilities and orientations (attitudes and values) have you
accomplished?
3 Which strengths could you apply in your future life and work environment?
4 Which shortcomings do you need to address in future?
TOTAL /5

TECHNICAL PRESENTATION (10)

The criteria for evaluating your performance are as follows:

 The assignment/portfolio examination contains a personal declaration of own work.

 The table of contents corresponds with the numbering, headings and subheadings
in the theme. The correct numbering system is used (as in the study guide) — not
the alphabet, nor I, II, III, IV, nor (i), (ii), (iii).
 All sources consulted are cited in the list of sources consulted, including
newspapers, magazines, policy documents, tutorial letters, study guide(s),
prescribed book(s) and people consulted.
 The correct referencing techniques are used in the assignment/portfolio
examination and in the list of sources consulted and the sources are not
numbered in the list.
 Any other aspects related to the presentation of the assignment/portfolio
examination will be assessed (e.g. appropriate research terminology is used and
presentation does not contain language, spelling or typing errors, or
personal/informal types of address).

43