Media Reaction Project: Social Sciences Research Paper

Media Reaction Project:
This project is a simpler and independent format for a graded assignment in this class and it represents your “final” for this class. Through this format you are free to explore different sources (even though you will need to choose ONE primary external source) that can help you fulfill the requirements and expectations for this project. It also gives you the freedom to choose any aspect of the issues and topics covered in this global issues class.
Please follow these useful pieces of information, requirements, and expectations in order to complete your assignment. This reaction paper is due at the end of the semester (during Finals Week). It consists of a 3-5pgs long (of actual content) reaction paper where you should include (where applicable) a synopsis along with personal reactions in relation to your chosen media source. Your personal reactions should also clearly, intelligently, and insightfully establish the link between your chosen source and the course material you are relating it to. No late work will be accepted.
Originality and specificity is expected for this reaction paper since this a graded requirement and tool that can help you further explore a specific aspect of the course that is of interest to you. As soon as the semester starts I suggest that you begin thinking about and exploring your media preferences, choices, and possibilities.
One main research parameter and requirement to consider and follow: No "United States/American" only focus will be accepted as this will earn you an automatic failing grade for this assignment. Please make sure that you elect a source and write a project that includes an INTERNATIONAL focus, not just an "American" focus. This also means that you will need to present your chosen issue/topic and source beyond the borders of this country. You can utilize, include, or discuss the United States as one of your research variables in any way it fits your project and your main source can be from the U.S., but the expectation is that the United States is NOT your only research and/or focus for you work. Please give equal importance to other comparison variables when using the United States as a variable within your work. Logically, the origin of your source will not represent a problem either. Articles, books, documentaries, films, or research from this or any other country are perfectly acceptable. Your source needs to be verifiable though (and any secondary sources as well).
Acceptable media sources for this project are:
1) A book* (fiction or non-fiction), with a central theme or story strongly related to the course.
2) An article, online or printed, from an academic journal, newspaper, magazine, website, etc.
3) A documentary* dealing with any of the central or specific notions covered in class throughout the semester. (You cannot use the ones watched in class).
4) A movie* of your choosing as long as it strongly relates/discusses/deals with/pertains to any notions covered in class.
If there is a specific main source you wish to use that differs from the ones listed above email me for feedback and approval. (I.e., video game story, specific song, music album, YouTube video, television series, specific episode form a show, or others)
* please refer to your syllabus for the list of banned sources for your media reaction project.
Please do not misunderstand the exclusion of these choices, these documentaries and films are of great quality, but unfortunately they are also the most overused sources that I have encountered when teaching this class, therefore I simply want to challenge you to go beyond these popular choices.
If you use any of these ‘banned’ sources (in any variation) you will receive an automatic failing grade of 0 points.
Please remember that all videos and documentaries watched in class are considered internal sources and also cannot be used as your primary source for your project.
Please find original and challenging media sources that deal with any topics and/or notions covered in class throughout the semester, or dealt with in your textbook. You still have a plethora of choices available to you.
Please make sure that you choose a reputable media source. You must also write a paper with a strong and detailed correlation to the course. You will need to include a discussion and source that are easy to correlate and very reciprocal. Choose your source VERY carefully. This is one of your main challenges for this project.
Your media source also needs to be verifiable and proper bibliographical information needs to be included. Please be very careful with these requirements. There are no second chances for your media reaction project and it represents 25% of your final grade.
For this project you will only be required a minimum of one primary external source, in this case your main chosen media source. Logically, you are REQUIRED to use internal sources (textbook and/or posted lecture). Other external sources are optional, but these will be considered secondary sources. A bibliography or works cited page for this assignment is required.
As soon as the semester starts I recommend that you start defining what choices you have, which ones are available to you, which sources are of interest to you, or explore other media sources you need to review, revisit, or further explore. You can always consult with me as I will give you all the necessary feedback. Feel free to discuss your choices, why that choice, and how it relates to the course. Feedback availability during the last week of the semester will be extremely limited.
For your media reaction project, less than 2 ½ pages (of actual content) earns you an automatic failing grade and 2 ½ - 2 ¾ pages long of content equals a significant grade penalty.
I will be grading your media reaction project on the following specific aspects:
1- The choosing of ONE main external source. (Any other sources are optional)
2- A solid, clear, and productive synopsis and/or explanation of your source. What is it, what is it about, main theme(s), why you chose it, how does it fit your project? (I recommend you dedicate, at least, one page of your work to this section)
3- A solid, clear, pertinent, relevant and well-established course material correlation. BE VERY SPECIFIC. I expect you to go beyond just saying which unit, section, or lecture your source correlates to. Explain your correlation in great detail. I also suggest you correlate your source to one main aspect of course material, shy away from having multiple correlations that can, and more than likely will, dilute the strength of this important requirement. (I also highly recommend you dedicate, at least, one page of your work to this section)
4- I will expect personal insight inclusion along with your reactions to your chosen source, its meaningfulness, your chosen course material correlation, and equally important, the social meaning of your project. (I, once again, suggest that you dedicate one page of your work to this section).
Please remember that your media reaction project must follow these requirements:
You will need to include actual class material, directly quoted or paraphrased along with their corresponding in-text citations, within your project. It is a major requirement.
Your project needs to be 3 – 5 pages of actual content. (If beyond 5 pages, no problem and no penalty)
Double spaced. One-inch margins all around. No exceptions.
Times New Roman font type and no bigger than 12 size font. No exceptions.
Your work should follow APA, or MLA, or Chicago Style writing style guidelines.
The inclusion and detailed discussion of actual class material is required for this work.
You need to capitalize all racial and ethnic groups.
Include your name, a header, page numbers, and a main academic title. A bibliography or “works cited” page is required, unless if using footnotes.
A title page is optional and your bibliography and title page do not count as part of your length requirement nor any introductory information (i.e., name, course, main academic title, etc.)
For referencing examples please do not forget to read the following class announcement: