Process

Prewriting, researching, drafting, revising, editing. You will write the bulk of this paper on your own, but your group and I can provide significant feedback on drafts.

Length

Somewhere in the 4-6 page range, excluding references, but I don’t like to think in terms of paper length. In my opinion, that’s putting the cart before the horse.

Research

I expect you to find at least six "valid" sources relevant to your research interest. You will use at least three of these in your paper.

Final Form

All lines in the paper are double-spaced. No single spacing anywhere in the text. In the upper left of the first page you will have this header:

Name
 
Course
 
Instructor

 Date

Font should be 12 point and some time of serif (Times is a good choice). All margins, except for the page header, are 1". The page header will be 1/2" from the top and flush right. It should be your last name, a space, and the page number.

For conferences, you should bring hard copies of your draft. If you want me to see a draft before conference time, send it to me via e-mail. Final drafts will be sent electronically on the due date.

Due Dates

These aren’t in stone, but right now I think the rough draft will be due on

February 11

and the final draft will be submitted on

March 2

So I assume we will have conferences on

February 15, 16, and 17

1. The writer has a thesis that is clearly stated and appropriately qualified.

2. The writer shows clear standards of judgment that the audience can relate to.

3. The writer clearly presents the subject and asserts an overall judgment (thesis).

4. The writer provides reasons and supporting evidence that are effective for the given audience.

5. The writer establishes credibility through selective use of sources.

6. The writer’s viewpoint is consistent throughout the paper.

7. The writer uses a lively and appropriate style.

8. The essay follows the conventions of Standard Written English.

9. The writer has submitted quality planning assignments and peer reviews.

1. Brainstorm to develop a sub-topic from one of the five general media areas I’ve given you:

• Films/TV Shows
• Books/Literature
• Music
• Radio
• Advertising
• College Publications/Shows
• Political Campaigns and the Media
• Cable and/or/vs. Broadcast News

2. In class, we’ll talk about sub-topics. When you feel that your topic/slant is appropriate, you can start work in the library. We’ll cover guidelines for appropriate research.

3. I expect to see photocopies of your sources.

4. On the date rough drafts are submitted, you should bring enough hard copies of your draft so I and everyone in your group can have one. (For groups of five, you should have six copies (one for you); for groups of four, five copies.)
 

5. On Peer Review Day--get written responses from all your group members to these seven areas:

• What is the writer’s thesis? State it in a sentence.
 
• What is the writer’s most convincing point? What ideas from your research and class reading might contribute to the writer’s point? ("I don’t have any" isn’t a valid response.)
 
• In general, is the argument adapted to the needs of the particular audience?

• Are the writer’s standards of judgment clear and valid? If not, what areas does thewriter need to work on? What should he/she do, specifically?

• What makes the writer’s opinion seem credible? What might enhance his/her

credibility?

• What questions do you have about the information in the paper? Does the writer

need to address these considering his/her intended audience?

• What are the writer’s major concerns with the conventions of Standard English?
 
• What else needs to be done to improve this essay?

1. Start by LISTING possible subjects (see the categories on the previous page). Make it as

long as possible. Get that pen/pencil moving.

2. Put an asterisk by the two or three that you’re most interested in. They might be interesting

because you have some strong feelings about them. (We’ll talk about this.)

3. Plot out the DISSONANCE (a big topic we’ll cover) and ask a GUIDING QUESTION.

Dissonance is the gap between your values and expectations and "reality."

Example:

Values and Expectations                     Reality

 
Guiding Question(s): What is it in the Three Stooges that really makes me think

they're more than simply slapstick? What are their "deeper" merits? Why do

others not see these characteristics?
 

(Notice these are open-ended questions, and they’re "objective." That is, I

could come to the conclusion that there really isn’t much "artistic" merit to

the Stooges, if that’s what my research indicates.)
 

Audience and Form (possibilities):

 1. A presentation for A&S "Faculty Shop Talk"

2. An essay that I could send to people who maintain various Three Stooges pages on

the World Wide Web. Ask them to include in on the page.

3. I could submit a proposal to read a paper at some conference on popular culture.