Order 1067384: Journalism 320 Gender, Media and Society

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Final Research Paper/Project J320: Gender, Media, and Diversity Final Paper Due: On Canvas in doc or pdf —Friday, June 1st by 11:59 PM Final Project Due: On a USB drive—Friday, June 1st in discussion section (accompanying paper must be uploaded to Canvas by Friday, June 1st at 11:59 PM) Pick a media-related topic that you will research and analyze in relation to one or more of the concepts and contexts we have learned about this term. The topic you choose could grow out of current or historical events, a news story, or a particular media text you would like to analyze and discuss in depth—as long as you are researching a topic pertaining to media. You should construct your argument using one or more of the concepts you learned in the first half of the course and it should address one or more of the kinds of contexts we discuss in the second half. If you are uncertain about your topic or are not sure if/how it fits within these areas, please feel free to talk to us. We are here to help with exactly these kinds of questions! Concepts

• Social Construction • Ideology/Hegemony • Representation • Semiotic analysis/Textual analysis • The gaze • Queer readings • Oppositional gaze • Stereotype analysis • Intersectionality

Contexts

• Gender • Race • Class • Sexuality • Ability • Age • Nationality • Ethnicity

Research: You are expected to use a minimum of 6 outside sources when researching and writing your paper or project. At least three of these sources must be scholarly publications. This means they are academic books or book chapters (written by a professor and published by a university press or academic press) or articles published in scholarly (i.e. peer reviewed) journals. Please note: You may use class readings to support your arguments, but they do not count towards the required number of sources In addition to obtaining books through the library, you can also search for sources through the library’s online databases and journals. For tips on narrowing your topic and locating and evaluating sources, see: http://researchguides.uoregon.edu/getting-started. Remember, Wikipedia is not a valid source in and of itself. However, it often serves as a useful place to start when gathering information as it frequently links to other books and articles on the topic.

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Paper Option Research and write a 6-7 page paper that examines and makes an argument about a media- related topic of your choice. Your paper must engage with at least one area from each of the columns above. Your paper must include:

• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title • A clearly articulated thesis statement • An introduction that lays out your thesis and outlines major arguments • An organized body in which you use your research to analyze your media text, shed light

on your topic, and back up your thesis • In-text citations, endnotes, or footnotes using standard MLA or Chicago style • A brief conclusion that reiterates and wraps up your thesis and major arguments • A bibliography that includes at least 6 outside sources, 3 of which must be scholarly

Format:

• 6-7 pages long (not including footnotes/endnotes and your bibliography). Remember: 6 pages means that your writing covers the entire 6th page.

• Uses Times New Roman, 12-point font. • Text should be double-spaced • Use 1-inch margins

Papers will be evaluated based on the depth and proficiency of your research, your ability to synthesize that research into a convincing argument, and on the quality of your essay organization and writing. Be sure to give yourself extra time to proofread and revise in order to submit a well-organized, error-free paper. See the assignment rubric for more details. Project Option You will create a 4-6 minute video essay and submit an accompanying 2-3-page statement establishing the scope of your research, summarizing the project, discussing your use of primary and secondary sources and explaining how you used the video format to make your arguments. Like the paper, your video must present your argument using one or more of the concepts you learned in the first half of the course and it should address one or more of the kinds of contexts we discuss in the second half. DO NOT select the video essay option unless you are comfortable with the format and have access to and an understanding of the technology. We do not provide technical support. Your video essay must include:

• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title • A clearly articulated thesis statement • Visual evidence to support your thesis (images, video, etc.) • Sound and/or narration and descriptive text • An accompanying written statement (2-3 pages) • A bibliography that includes at least 6 sources, 3 of which must be scholarly sources

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Format: Please turn in your video via USB drive or dropbox link during discussion section on March 9th so your GE can verify that they are able to load and play the file. Your accompanying written statement and bibliography should follow the same formatting guidelines as the longer paper (see above) and must also be submitted on Canvas by the due date, March 9th at 11:59 PM Some examples of video essays: http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/intransition/ http://www.filmmattersmagazine.com/category/videographic/ http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/2017/03/videographic-screen-media-criticism-by.html http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/search/label/Video%20Essays https://feministfrequency.com/series/tropes-vs-women-in-video-games/ Academic Integrity Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism consists of using other people’s words and ideas and presenting them as one’s own, whether the material is taken from a book, a friend, or the Internet. Other violations of academic integrity include cheating, resubmitting assignments for more than one class without the permission of the professor, and furnishing false information to a university official. Please consult the University Student Conduct Code to acquaint yourself with the university’s definition of and policies regarding plagiarism. If there is any question about whether an act constitutes academic misconduct, it is the students’ obligation to clarify the question with me first. Plagiarism or cheating will result in an automatic failing grade on this assignment and will be reported to the University. Ignorance of the standards and policies of academic integrity is not an acceptable excuse. For more information on policies relating to academic integrity, see:

• https://dos.uoregon.edu/academic-misconduct • https://researchguides.uoregon.edu/citing-plagiarism

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J320 R esearch P

aper R ubric

C riteria

U nsatisfactory - B

eginning D

eveloping A

ccom plished

E xem

plary Total

P aper Focus:

P urpose/

Thesis S

tatem ent

0-13 points 14-15 points

16-17 points 18-20 points

/20 Fails to identify a relevant research topic or is not clearly defined and/or the paper lacks focus throughout. D

oes not engage w

ith at least one of each of the areas (concept and context) listed on the prom

pt.

Identifies a research topic but m ay

be too broad in scope and/or the thesis is som

ew hat unclear and

needs to be developed further. Focal point is not consistently m aintained throughout the paper.

Engages m inim

ally or w ith only one

of the tw o areas (concept and

context listed in the prom pt.

Identifies a relevant research topic and a thesis that provides adequate direction for the paper w ith som

e degree of interest for the reader. The thesis states the position, prem

ise, or hypothesis, and is the focal point of the paper for the m

ost part. A dequately

engages w ith one of each of the

required contexts/concepts listed in the prom

pt.

Identifies a relevant research topic and a thesis that provides direction for the paper that is engaging and thought provoking. The thesis clearly and concisely states the position, prem

ise, or hypothesis and is consistently the focal point throughout the paper. Excels in engaging w

ith the required concept and context areas listed in the prom

pt.

A nalysis

0-20 points

21-23 points 24-26 points

27-30 points /30

D em

onstrates a lack of understanding and inadequate analysis of the research topic and thesis. A

nalysis is superficial based on opinions and preferences rather than critical analysis.

D em

onstrates general understanding w

ith lim ited critical

analysis of the research topic and thesis (argum

ent). M ay sum

m arize

perspectives, counter-argum ents,

or opposing position, but broader connections and/or im

plications are not as thoroughly explored.

D em

onstrates a solid understanding and critical analysis of the research topic and thesis (argum

ent). M ay w

eave different perspectives, counter- argum

ents, or opposing positions into analysis and argum

ents.

D em

onstrates a sophisticated understanding and careful, critical analysis of the research topic and thesis (argum

ent). N uanced engagem

ent w ith

different perspectives, considers counter argum

ents or opposing positions, and draw

s original and thoughtful conclusions.

E vidence

(S ources)

0-20 points 21-23 points

24-26 points 27-30 points

/30 Lacks sufficient research sources to support the central position and/or, if included, are not the correct num

ber/kind of source required. Contains num

erous factual m

istakes, om issions, or

oversim plifications. Sources, if

included, are not properly referenced and cited in the paper.

Provides som e evidence to support

the central position but does not use the correct num

ber/kind of required sources. Som

e sources m ay not be relevant, accurate, and

reliable and/or appropriately referenced and cited in the paper.

Provides essential, accurate evidence to support the central position w

ith the required num

ber and kind of research sources. Sources are referenced and cited appropriately throughout the paper for the m ost part.

Provides com pelling and accurate

evidence to support in-depth the central position w

ith at least the required num

ber and kind of research sources. Research sources are highly relevant, accurate, and reliable and add to the strength of the paper; and are effectively referenced and cited throughout the paper.

O rganization

0-6 points

7 points 8 points

9-10 points /10

Paper lacks logical organization and im

pedes readers’ com

prehension of ideas; and/or the paper is m

issing m ultiple

required com ponents.

Paper is som ew

hat organized, although occasionally ideas m

ay not flow

w ell from

paragraph to paragraph, connect to a central position, or be clear as a w

hole.

Paper is w ell organized; ideas are

arranged reasonably w ith a

progression of thought from

paragraph to paragraph connecting to a central position.

Excellent organization that contributes to the im

pact of the paper in a noticeable w

ay; ideas are arranged logically and flow

sm

oothly, w ith a strong

progression of thought from

paragraph to paragraph connecting to a central position.

2

W riting

Q uality &

A

dherence to Form

at G

uidelines

0-6 points 7 points

8 points 9-10 points

/10 Paper show

s a below

average/poor w riting style lacking

in elem ents of appropriate

standard English and follow ing

proper style guidelines. Frequent errors in spelling, gram

m ar,

punctuation, spelling, usage, and/or form

atting.

Paper show s an average and/or

casual w riting style using standard

English and follow ing style

guidelines. Som e errors in spelling,

gram m ar, punctuation, usage,

and/or form atting.

Paper show s good w

riting style and clarity in w

riting, using standard English and follow

ing style guidelines. M

inor errors in gram

m ar, punctuation, spelling,

usage, and/or form atting.

Paper is extrem ely w

ell w ritten

and clear. Show s excellent grasp

of standard English and follow s

style guidelines. Basically free from

gram m ar, punctuation,

spelling, usage, or form atting

errors.

TO TA

L P O

IN TS

(sum of 6 C

riteria) /100