research paperResearch Paper W-08Print-Friendly Version
ASSIGNMENT:
Perform traditional library research on a controversial aspect of the
mass media, using article and research databases including Academic
Search Premier (EbscoHost), Infotrac, Proquest, and LexisNexis
Academic. First, submit an outline with a bibliography, and later, a
1500 + word research paper which argues both sides of a controversial
issue.
SUBMISSION OF OUTLINE and PAPER
Your instructor will tell you how to submit your outline and research paper.
STANDARDS FOR THE OUTLINE/BIBLIOGRAPHY
An
outline and rough bibliography is due before the final paper is due, on
the date specified by the instructor. The outline may be brief, but it
should include:
- the title of your paper, written in a yes/no question format
- a thesis statement about the topic
- two or more arguments for one side of the controversy
- two or more arguments for another side of the controversy
- a first draft bibliography with at least five sources.
This
outline does not have to be in a formal outline format -- you may
prefer to write it out in paragraph form or use bullets, etc. It is OK
if your bibliography changes slightly between the first due date for
the outline, and the second due date for the final paper, when it
should appear as a "works cited" list.
(A bibliography is the entire list of sources you used in your
research; a works cited list is just the sources you used and
attributed. Your final paper will list just the works cited.)
STANDARDS FOR THE PAPER
Carefully follow the instructions 1-6 (below). The grade will be lowered if these instructions aren't followed.
1. Develop your topic from one of the controversies brought up in the
textbook or in class. If you choose a media controversy significantly
different than one on the Media Controversies
page, confirm your topic with your professor. You will argue two sides
of the controversy (similar to a debate), so choose a subject that has
at least two opposing viewpoints. (If you would like to see an example
of media professionals debating these kinds of issues, see the book
"Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Mass Media and
Society," which is on two-hour reserve in the De Anza library.
If your topic has to do with effects of of the media, you should read
the text chapter on effects (Chapter 2) before writing your paper, as
it will have pertinent information you can apply to your paper.
2.
Research the topic by looking for articles about your topic from at
least two of these four search tools: Proquest, Infotrac,
EbscoHost/Academic Search Premier, or LexisNexis Adacemic.
3. The paper must make attribution to or quote at least SEVEN sources, which will also be listed in your Works Cited list.
- The textbook must be one source
- At least two sources (aside from the textbook) must be from 2006, 2007 and/or 2008.
- At least three sources must have been found using two of these search
tools: Proquest, Infotrac, EbscoHost (Academic Search Premier), or
LexisNexis Academic
- You are encouraged to use at least one or two scholarly or academic journals (as opposed to consumer magazines)
- Do not use an encyclopedia (including Wikipedia) as one of your seven sources.
Notes about sources and quotes:
a. Sources have different levels of reliability. Your paper should focus on the top two levels.
1) The best sources are research studies, such as the ones discussed in Chapter 2 of our text book.
2)
The next best source is an expert (scholar, professor, researcher) from
the relevant field, whose expertise you can validate and who cites
research or observation.
3) Next is a journalist or writer, who is interpreting or reviewing research studies or sources.
4)
The weakest sources are those without credentials, writing or telling
you what they think, saw or heard; or someone with credentials whose
information can't be backed up with research or valid sources.
b.
Information in your paper should be directly attributed to research
studies or experts or some other source. Phrases such as "it is a
well-known fact that ..." may not be used. Also, phrases like,
"statistics prove" or "research proves" may not be used. Instead use
"statistics indicate," "statistics reveal," "research indicates," or
"research reveals."
c. All information from another source, even
if not a direct quotation, must be attributed in two ways: (1) within
the text using parenthetical citations and (2) in the bibliography. In
addition, all direct quotations must be in quote marks.
4.
The paper should be a minimum of 1500 words. The paper should be single
spaced with a double space between paragraphs. The works cited list is
not part of the word count. There is no maximum word count.
5.
The paper should be written in MLA style, with in-text parenthetical
citations. Sources must be attributed within the paper in addition to
being listed under works cited.
6. The paper should be ORGANIZED AND LABELED in this way, using these headings:
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
Explain what the controversy is about (without your opinion).
PART 2: ONE SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY
Discuss one side of the controversy, using quotes, attributions and examples from your research (without your opinion).
PART 3: ANOTHER SIDE OF THE CONTROVERSY
Discuss another (or the other) side of the controversy, using quotes,
attributions and examples from your research (without your opinion).
Typically, this is an opposing side from the one in Part 2, and should
be of equal influence (and probably equal length).
PART 4: MY OPINION
Discuss your opinion of the controversy based not on your "feelings,"
but on what you learned during the research. Back up your opinion with
research findings.
PART 5: WORKS CITED (Annotated)
Use MLA style for Works Cited and give a brief summary (annotation) of
the article or source beneath the source information. In addition, for
all Internet searches, include:
- the name of the search tool you used (Proquest, Infotrac, EbscoHost, Google Scholar, Infomine.ucr.edu ) and
- the search words you used
This Grading Sheet will help you self-check your paper before turning it in.
A NOTE ABOUT PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism
(copying the work of others) is a type of plagiarism and is considered
a serious offense. It could result in course failure and a report being
filed with college administration.
All information accessed through these searches, and subsequently used
directly or indirectly in student papers, needs to be cited. Not citing the source within the paper and in the works cited is another type of plagiarism.
De Anza College subscribes to Turnitin.com, a service which checks
student papers for originality. Listed below is a link that helps
student avoid plagiarism.
NEED HELP?
GENERAL ONLINE HELP
- For help with citing sources within the paper, see Duke University's site at:
http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/within.htm
- For help with your works cited section, see Duke University's site at:
http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/works_cited)
OR, to make it really easy go to http://www.citationmachine.net
-
For help determining the difference between a scholarly journal and a
popular (or consumer) magazine, see Duke University's site at
http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/popvs.schol.htm
- For help with writing a research paper, see Purdue University's site at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/
- For help making sure that you are not plagiarizing, see Purdue University's site at:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/research/r_plagiar.html
- For help with MLA style, see:
http://www.mla.org
INDIVIDUAL ONLINE HELP
De Anza has Online tutoring
to help students with the writing, grammar and organization of their
papers. You'll need to fill out an application, and have at least a
rough draft of your paper ready. It will take up to 2 working days
after you submit your paper to hear back from a tutor, although more
time is recommended. Your tutor will not proofread or edit your essay,
but will provide guidance to help you improve the essay yourself. (Your
professor may give extra credit if you use online tutoring and
incorporate the suggestions given.)
RESEARCH
One of the problems
with Internet research is that you have to be very careful in
determining the accuracy, reliability, and currency of the information
you find. You can find some terrific up-to-date information, but you
can also stumble across complete garbage. That's because just about
anyone can put up a Web site, and it hasn't necessarily gone though the
"gatekeeper" functions that most print journals have gone though. Also,
much of the serious empirical research in many fields has not been
freely distributed on the Internet.
On
the other hand, a big advantage of Internet research is the
convenience. Being able to research from your home, at whatever time
you like, just can't be beat.
The De Anza library subscribes to
online indexes and full-text search services that allow you to access
print journal articles online. In other words, even though you're
finding these articles online, they are generally print articles that
have gone through the gatekeeping process, just "reprinted"
electronically. These search services, Proquest, Ebscohost, Infotrac
and LexisNexis are the same ones that you'd use in a university or
college library, but as a De Anza student, you can use them from any
computer with access to the Internet, as long as you have your student
body number to sign in with. Some of the resources available though
these services are consumer magazines, but you will also find scholarly
academic journals.
Search hints:
1.
Don't expect to always get good hits. You will have to sift through
your results. Use narrower terms if you get too many results, broader
terms if you get too few. Use the help features of the indexes to
strengthen your search. Try several different ways to approach your
search. For example, for "Sexism in the media," you can also use "media
gender issues," "women in television," "gender equity on television,"
"women's roles in magazines." For "copyright issues in the recording
industry" you can also use "MP3s" or"copyright and recording."
2. Access these search databases from the Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer browsers, not the AOL browser.
3.
In most cases, the periodical indexes will allow you to narrow your
search to full text articles, and to print or email the article to
yourself.
4. If you don't find the results you are looking for with one search database service, try another.
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