COMM 202 gives an overview of today's media and the forces that shape the messages people see, hear and share.
UMGC describes the course as an overview of the complex components and relationships in today's media, with the goal of understanding the technical, political, economic, cultural and organizational influences on mediated messages.
Topics include visual rhetoric, legal and ethical issues, social media, the transactional model, advertising, security and privacy. It is a 3-credit course with WRTG 112 as the prerequisite, and it fulfills the general education requirement in communications but is not a writing course.
The challenge is the number of lenses. A single advert can be analyzed technically, economically, legally and culturally, and strong work chooses the lenses that explain the most.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | COMM 202 |
| Credits | 3 (undergraduate) |
| Prerequisite | WRTG 112 |
| Requirement | General education in communications (not a writing course) |
| Typical work | Media analyses, discussions, short papers, projects |
What COMM 202 Covers
| Influence on messages | Questions to ask |
|---|---|
| Technical | How does the platform or format shape the message? |
| Political | Who benefits, and what rules or pressures apply? |
| Economic | Who pays for it and how does it make money? |
| Cultural | Which values and assumptions does it reflect? |
| Organizational | How do the producer's routines and structure shape it? |
UMGC's listed topics (visual rhetoric, legal and ethical issues, social media, the transactional model, advertising, security and privacy) give you the tools to answer those questions.
Key Concepts Explained
The Transactional Model
The transactional model treats communication as simultaneous and shared: senders are also receivers, and meaning is shaped by context and feedback. Social media makes this vivid, since audiences comment, remix and reshare as messages spread.
Visual Rhetoric
Visual rhetoric studies how images persuade through composition, color, symbols and the people shown. Analyzing it means describing what is there and explaining what it does to the viewer.
Example: A fitness brand's social ad shows a smiling group running at sunrise, with the tagline "Join the movement." Visual rhetoric: warm light suggests optimism, the group implies belonging. Economic lens: the post is designed to be shared, extending reach without paid placement. Privacy lens: the ad was targeted using browsing data. A COMM 202 analysis connects these into one argument about how the message works.
Security and Privacy
Media platforms collect large amounts of personal data to target content and advertising. Assignments often ask you to weigh the convenience of personalization against privacy and security risks.
Advertising Across Platforms
Advertising now ranges from traditional spots to influencer posts, search ads and native content designed to look like editorial material. Each format raises its own questions about disclosure and audience awareness. Assignments that compare formats should explain how the platform changes both the persuasive technique and the ethical stakes.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Media message analysis | Identifying influences | Choose two or three lenses and connect them |
| Advertising critique | Persuasion and visual rhetoric | Describe elements, then explain their effect |
| Ethics or law case | Legal and ethical reasoning | State the issue, the principle and your judgment |
| Discussion post | Application of readings | Use a current example and cite the reading |
Legal and Ethical Issues
Legal and ethical issues run through COMM 202. In the US, the First Amendment protects free expression from government restriction, but some speech, such as defamation, has legal limits.
Copyright protects creative work, which matters whenever media content is shared or remixed. Advertising must not be deceptive, and sponsored content is expected to be disclosed.
Ethics goes beyond law. A post can be legal yet still misleading, invasive or harmful. Assignments often ask you to judge a case on both grounds: is it lawful, and is it right? Separating the two questions makes your reasoning clearer.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Description without analysis. Say what each element does, not only what it is.
- Trying every lens. Depth in two or three beats a list of five.
- Old examples. Current examples show you can apply concepts to today's media.
Study Tips for COMM 202
- Analyze one ad or post a week using the five influences.
- Review your privacy settings on one platform and note what data it collects.
- Keep a glossary of key terms with an example each.
How We Help with COMM 202
Send the prompt, rubric, readings and feedback. A communication writer can prepare a custom analysis, explain concepts, or edit your draft. Our critical analysis essay guide may also help.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. Use our work as a study aid and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch and include free revisions within the scope of your original request.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists WRTG 112.
UMGC says it fulfills the general education requirement in communications but is not a writing course.
UMGC lists it as a 3-credit course.
Visual rhetoric, legal and ethical issues, social media, the transactional model, advertising, security and privacy.
COMM 202 is an overview of influences on today's media messages; COMM 302 is an upper-level study of mass communication and media studies.
Yes. We can suggest examples that fit the prompt and offer plenty to analyze.