1. A traditional research paper of 14 to 25 pages.
2. A video or flash documentary/essay on an aspect of media and society (perhaps sort of like this.)
Number 2 should probably be done in groups; talk to me early in the semester if you are interested in this possibility.
The research project has five parts:
- A proposal, due March 1 (ungraded, but subject to revision);
- An annotated bibliography, due March 22 (10% of course grade);
- A rough draft, due April 12 (20%);
- An in-class presentation, scheduled between 4/24 and 5/3 (10%); and
- The final draft, due no later than Monday, May 9th, by 4:00 pm (20%).
Some possible Topic Areas: The following are some possible topic areas to help you get started thinking. They are too broad for specific topics, but might help give you some ideas that you can then focus down into something manageable. These are just suggestions intended to give you the flavor of possible topics. Topic areas that are not listed here may be well worth consideration.
Sports coverage and gender issues
Christian Evangelical Media
Media and War: the case of the Falklands, or the Grenada Invasion, WWII and Hollywood, Afghanistan, Iraq War I, Iraq War II
Abortion and the Media: a liberal bias?
The Chinese Film and Television Industry: Poised to become the next Hollywood?
Did television news turn the American public against the US involvement in the Vietnam war?
The original hackers: the role of radio amateurs in the early history of broadcasting