Assignment

Write a research paper on a current topic of controversy involving the news media. Here are some examples of topics:

         • Lack of television coverage of the political conventions

         • Dan Rather, CBS and George W. Bush's service record

         • Covering lies and misstatements on the campaign trail

         • Is blogging journalism?

         • Covering Martha – bias against women?

         • Showing the war dead – should we or shouldn't we?

         • KFC – the ads say it's good for you

These are just examples. You are expected to select your own topic.

Specifications

Your paper should follow this outline:

• DESCRIPTION: A description of the controversy itself

• ISSUES: The larger issues about the mass media that it represents

• COMMENTARY: Some of the things that have been written about the controversy; you should include as wide a variety of opinions as possible.

• CONCLUSION: What lessons can we learn about the media from this controversy.

Your paper should use the divisions listed above as subheads to help you organize your information.

Length

Your paper should be 1,500 to 3,000 words in length (approximately 6-12 pages, typed, double-spaces using 12-point type and standard margins).

Alternatively, you may choose to write a shorter paper (1,000 to 2,000 words) and give a 5-10 minute oral presentation for the class. Your presentation should be prepared and practiced. The way in which you present will be a big part of your grade.

The paper you turn in should be typed and double-spaced. The reference list should be single-spaced.

References

You should fully reference all of the material from any source that you use for this paper. Your reference style should be the author's name and page number in parenthesis in the text of the paper and a full reference list at the end of the paper. (If you use a source on the web for your paper, the reference should include the full URL for the page where the reference is located.) Here is an example:

The web has five major characteristics as a news medium: capacity, flexibility, immediacy, permanence and interactivity. These characteristics make it "different from traditional media in some significant and profound ways." (Stovall, 5)

Stovall, James Glen. Web Journalism: Practice and Promise of a New Medium. Allyn and Bacon, 2004.

Deadlines

You should turn in a topic proposal by Monday, Oct. 25. This should consist of one or two paragraphs describing the subject that you intend to write about. It should also list at least three references you will use for the paper.

The final paper is due Monday, Nov. 7.

Example

An example of a good term paper is available here as a PDF file.