In the area of media effects or media law, your task is to ask a significant research question, briefly summarize several different views regarding the answer to that question based on academic sources (at least three) and material presented via text and narrative within RTF 101, and then present your view on the issue, stating at least three specific reasons for that opinion. The expectation here is that you will use academic research studies pertaining to a specific media effect or legal issue and not newspaper/magazine/web articles in which someone, perhaps even an expert, merely expresses a personal opinion. This is an evidence-based research paper on a particular media effect or legal issue, consequently papers that report on multiple effects (i.e., the effects of media on children) are not appropriate.
Your research question should be both specific and concise. For example, you might choose to investigate the relationship between the amount of TV violence viewed in cartoon programming by boys 7-11 years of age and their aggressiveness in real-world situations. You should not be asking “What’s the effect of viewing violence on TV”? The latter is simply too general a question and will not serve to guide your search for information. Similarly, in the area of media law, you might choose to ask “Should the Fairness Doctrine be reinstated via Congressional legislative action?” or “Does Section 315 encourage or discourage political discussion during political campaigns?” Regardless of the question asked, you must be able to find academic literature that presents and/or supports two or more views on the issue in question; if you can’t find research studies on the topic being discussed or argued, you need another topic!!
Your paper should be 3-4, double-spaced pages in length and submitted via D2L drop box. You are, of course, expected to present a bibliography of the sources utilized in your paper as well as include citations in the text when using material from your sources.
Given that this paper is worth 50 points and is therefore a significant factor in determining your course grade, please submit your research question for approval by the instructor no later than Saturday, October 11th. (If you wish, submit more than one question and I’ll provide a comparative comment for your consideration.) Factors to be considered in grading include: specificity of the research question; quality of the reasons for your opinion; use of appropriate source material; clarity and conciseness of writing; and the style, spelling and grammar associated with the material being presented.
Two small notes: (1)academic writing typically does not extensively utilize the first person; while you may use an occasional “I,” etc., please refrain from filling your paper with repeated use of first person pronouns and references; and (2) give yourself sufficient time to do a good job on this assignment; in short, start early — trying to find sources that articulate different views, as well as evidence to support your opinion, takes time and cannot be done at the last minute. LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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