english

English 101 Research Project Proposal: 5% | Research Essay: 20% | Oral Interview: 10%

The research project centers on sustained academic analysis of a single image of your choosing. Your job is to analyze an image (a photo, a painting, an advertisement, an Internet meme, literally any single image) created within the last year, using the concepts from either or both of “Images, Power, and Politics” and “Signs” as the basis for your analysis (other class readings may be used in addition to one or both of these readings). Do not simply summarize or re-report background information about the image: instead, consider what new insights or realizations the application of class concepts to your image would yield. Our class readings discuss many concepts and theories that will inform your analysis and argument, such as representation, semiotics, media, etc. However, for this research project you will also need to examine scholarly sources outside of course texts.

You will broaden and deepen your knowledge of your chosen image by using peer reviewed academic journal articles: essays written by scholars for academic journals. A large portion of academic writing involves establishing what positions other researchers in the field have taken by citing and summarizing existing scholarly research, and using this material to support your arguments. Wikipedia, other newspaper articles, and blogs are not sufficient academic sources. You must use at least one peer reviewed academic journal article. Contact me if you are uncertain if an article is an appropriate source. While there likely will not be any academic articles dealing with your image in particular, there will be articles dealing with the issues your image is connected to, as well as articles dealing with the types or categories of visual representation your image fits into.

You will need to access electronic library resources to find appropriate journal articles. The College's online library catalog can be accessed at:

https://explore.proquest.com/login Username: 28-91836 Password: bigchalk

Additionally, the JSTOR catalog has made many of its holdings freely available during the pandemic:

https://about.jstor.org/oa-and-free/

Proposal Your typed (double-spaced) proposal of 200-250 words will introduce the image you have chosen, the class concepts and/or readings which are related to it, and the general approach to analysis you will take in your paper. Consider the proposal an opportunity to begin to formalize your thoughts and analysis about the image, and perhaps to draft a thesis statement in which you make an argument about the image in relation to class material. The proposal should also include either the image itself. The introduction of at least one peer reviewed journal article as part of the research process at this stage is optional, but will likely be helpful in planning your essay and pursuing further research. The proposal must include a Works Cited page: a list of all your sources formatted using MLA bibliographic citation. This should consist of the source of the image itself, class texts, any academic journal articles you have found in your research, and any other background or related materials you plan on using. See the pages from Fit To Print and links to the Purdue OWL site posted on MyCC for information on preparing and formatting your Works Cited page. Proposals are due by 11:59pm on Friday, November 19th, and should be submitted to MyCC in .doc or .pdf format.

Research Essay Your 1000 word essay should support a clear thesis statement in which you make an argument about the image in relation to class readings and/or concepts. Your essay should briefly introduce and provide context for the image, but needs to focus on analysis of the specific image you have chosen using class materials. Think of yourself as applying the ideas and concepts we have worked on in this class to the image, in order to produce a deeper understanding of it which might not have been available without those ideas and concepts. In addition, your essay needs to use at least one peer reviewed journal article (again, likely dealing with the issues your image is connected to or the types or categories of visual representation it fits into). This journal article(s) should be used to explain and support your arguments about the image, as well as to provide additional understanding of the issues related to the image. The essay must also take into account feedback given by myself on the proposal. You must use MLA formatting, adhere to citation protocol and include a Works Cited page (again, See the pages from Fit To Print and links to the Purdue OWL site posted on MyCC for information on this). Essays are due by 11:59pm on Friday, November 26th, and should be submitted to MyCC in .doc or .pdf format.

Oral Interview I will be scheduling individual Zoom meetings of between 5 and 10 minutes with each student to discuss the structure and contents of your essay. You will be expected to answer questions about the news article or image itself, the arguments made in your essay, and your research materials. These interviews will be scheduled over e-mail shortly and will take place during regular class time on Tuesday, November 30th and Thursday, December 2nd. Grades for both the essay and the interview will be provided shortly after the interview.

Evaluation/Checklist Proposal -ability to clearly introduce and summarize your image and the issues related to it -selection of concepts/theories relevant to your chosen image -clarity and quality of writing in terms of style and mechanics -correct use of MLA formatting and citation

Essay -quality of research and critical thinking -creation of a focused thesis statement making a clear claim about the image using class materials -effective support of thesis with textual evidence and research -sustained application of class and research materials to image -effective support of thesis with textual evidence and research -clarity and quality of writing in terms of style and mechanics -implementation of instructor's feedback on proposal to further develop your analysis -correct use of MLA formatting and citation

Interview -knowledge of and familiarity with your image and the issues related to it -ability to clarify or reframe essay material -ability to respond to counter-arguments or critiques of your arguments -ability to extrapolate ideas put forth in essay to other examples or situations

Remember to cite all sources at all stages of the project: failure to do so constitutes plagiarism and will result in a grade of 0%.