Homework Wk$

Week 4

This week we are continuing work on our research projects. In the process of developing more specific topics, it’s important to begin with some starting-point questions and then use those to guide your research.

1. Taking the general field that you worked on last week, and using what you learned from the article you read for Week 3, make a list of at least five questions about the subject area that represent your interests. These can be questions about definition; issues or problems addressed; goals; debates; background; etc.

2. Look over your questions again; do you see a more specific focus suggested there? What ideas are at stake in your questions? What kinds of sources would you need to investigate in order to answer your questions? Identify three or four specific issues within the general field to which your questions could relate. Circle the two most interesting.

3. Turn those issues into topics by describing them as ideas or concepts. These will be abstract nouns – and good starting point topics. (Hint: it’s important to have a few variations and synonyms ready; sometimes the terms we come up with aren’t the ones that the search engines recognize…) For instance, if you’re interested in celebrity activism, you might think about issues related to profit and consumption since the very notion of celebrity is based on consumption and profit. Now, in relation to activism of any kind, we’re asked to think about those same celebrities as altruists – people who are concerned primarily with the welfare of others. This is virtually opposite to the idea of celebrity, so what do we do? Well, we might begin by considering the value of the appearance of altruism for a celebrity brand. If the appearance of altruism is valuable, is that appearance now simply a means of generating more profit? So, your topic might be something like “the profit motive driving celebrity activism.”

4. With those ideas prepared, it’s time to start looking around for information. First, since I know the vast majority of us start everything with Google, go ahead. Search for your ideas in Google and make note of what you find. These may be useful later; however, don’t waste too much time on this. There are far more efficient and useful ways to go about it.

5. From the GSU Library homepage (library.gsu.edu), go to “My Account” and be sure you’re logged in to your account. Then, from the homepage, go to “Research,” then “databases.” From the databases page, select the letter “I,” and go to the “Issues and Controversies” database. This database is organized by subject areas, and each subject area contains dozens of pre-selected topics with hundreds of sources – most of which are linked full-text. Search for your topic ideas in this database, and find at least two sources that look useful.

Now, your assignment for this week:

1. Read both sources carefully and critically. Take notes, raise questions, make note of the sources those authors cite.

2. For each source, provide a 4-5 sentence summary. Include the MLA citation information for each source. (This information is provided at the bottom of each page in the I & C database.)

3. Finally, your revised (and very specific) proposal: write one paragraph in which you articulate very clearly the topic you’re now focusing on and your argument: what is the problem, and what must we do differently or think about differently to solve the problem or address it in some way?

4. Post the two summaries and your revised proposal to the Week 4 Discussion board by Friday, and comment on two classmates posts by Sunday night. In your replies, be supportive, first, but also make suggestions for source material if it’s something you know about, and raise questions that the author may not have considered in the proposal. Kindness, courtesy, and compassion first!

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.