Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

1. You should already be researching your object.

A. Consult your notes from the librarian’s presentation.

B. Seek out help from the library if you are having trouble finding information.

C. DO NOT put research off until the last minute. It will be obvious if you do.

D. One of your guiding research questions should be: “What do others say about my object?” You MUST work with credible sources. NO WIKIPEDIA.

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

2. Follow directions!

A. Read the directions carefully

B. Do as the directions say.

1. If the directions ask you to name your file a specific way, name your file that way.

2. If the directions ask you to double space your text, double space your text.

3. If the directions ask you to talk about formal elements, talk about formal elements.

C. Ask questions if the directions are unclear to you.

D. Failure to follow directions will not be tolerated and will be punished severely.

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

3. Proofread your work very carefully

A. Spell check will not catch the misuse of actual words (e.g. “premier”)

B. It is obvious when someone has not proofread their work carefully; such work will see significant point reductions.

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

4. Avoid uncritical language

A. This is not a media appreciation class. I have said this from day one. The assignment directions are clear about this as well.

B. I am not interested in whether you think something is “good” or “bad.”

C. Your job in the Research Paper is show your grasp of critical concepts and your ability to apply them to an object of your choosing.

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

5. Make only those claims for which you have ample, credible evidence.

A. When you characterize someone or something, what evidence backs that up?

B. Is your claim too large for the scope of this Paper?

C. Base your argument on credible evidence, not guesses, feelings, or unsubstantiated ideas

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

6. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE

A. Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism includes:

1. Using someone else’s exact words without citing them.

2. Paraphrasing someone else’s thoughts without citing them.

3. Passing of someone else’s work (including another student’s) as your own.

4. Using the same work for multiple classes w/out instructor’s consent

Proposals and Research Papers: Observations

B. The penalties for plagiarism are severe:

1. An automatic zero on the assignment.

2. An “F” for the course.

3. Potential expulsion from IPFW.

4. Likely documentation of transgression on your academic record/transcript.

Proposals and Research Papers:

7. Recommendations

A. Get started on research now.

B. Take notes.

C. Utilize IPFW’s resources!

D. Read the assignment directions multiple times.

E. Be sure that you know what you need to do.

F. Consult with the IPFW Writing Center (http://new.ipfw.edu/writing/), your notes, and your assigned readings on how to write a paper and how to avoid plagiarism.

G. Ask questions

Choose a partner.

Exchange one copy of your Proposal with each other.

Take 5-7 minutes to read through your colleague’s Proposal. Ask yourself the following questions as you are reading:

1. What is your partner’s object of study (specifically)?

2. What specific scene within the film/tv show/online program is your partner going to use for their formal analysis? Why?

3. Is your partner using course terms in their pitch? If so, which ones? If not, ask them what course terms they are going to utilize. (Just saying “formal analysis” is NOT enough. They must be specific).

4. What thoughts do they provide about the bigger picture, the significance of the object within the broader world?

5. Where specifically is your partner making claims? What kind of evidence are they using to back up their claims? Is it sufficient to convince you?

6. What else could they consider as they start expanding this into a Research Paper?

Now take 5-7 minutes to exchange responses to each other’s Proposal.

1. Provide for them an oral synopsis of your written notes on their Proposal.2. Go through your individual responses to the questions posed above.3. Use the copy of your partner’s Proposal in front of you to take notes. Mark the locations in the text where they are responding to the above questions. 4. If they do not answer a question, make note of it on the Proposal and bring it up with them. If they did not talk about a specific scene, ask them to provide you with one. 5. You have the tools to do critical analysis, and so does your partner. If they have not demonstrated so in their Proposal, you need to ask them to be more specific, to demonstrate that knowledge.6. Be professional and collegial in your questions and your discussion. You are asking questions because you want their Proposal, and the work that grows out of the Proposal to be as strong as it possibly can be.

The Peer Review assignment asks you to expand on the workshop exercises you have been doing in class. Now, however, you have to respond in writing, in full sentence paragraphs, to your colleague’s work and think about their response to yours.

1. Exchange email addresses with your partner

2. Send your Proposal to your partner tonight (as appropriately named email attachment)

3. Read through the questions before you read your colleague’s Proposal.

4. Print your colleague’s Proposal and take notes

5. In your meeting with your partner, follow up with them regarding how their Proposal holds up against the assignment questions.

6. Direct them to specific places in their Proposal that you are referring to.

7. Write down their responses to your questions and comments.

8. These notes are needed for your Peer Review!

9. Be sure to write down what your partner says about your Proposal as well!

10. Bring a voice recorder to capture the conversation if that is easier for you.

Upcoming schedule:11/13: Exchange email addresses with Peer Review partner11/13: Send your Proposal as email attachment to partner11/13-11/20: Meet with Peer Review partner11/20: Peer Review due via email attachment by 12PM11/19-11/23: I will post readings for 11/27, 11/29 11/27: Class resumes. I will return exams, extra credit, appeals, and Peer Reviews. We discuss Feminist Film Theory, Rear Window, and begin our discussion of television.

Come to class ready to talk about Rear Window. Come ready to answer the following questions:1. In Feminist Film Theory, who looks and who is looked at?2. Given that these “looking relations” (who looks and who is looked at) are fundamental to Hollywood filmmaking, what conclusions can we reach about Hollywood’s treatment of women and Hollywood’s gender politics?

I will send out additional reading prompts to accompany the television materials.