Reference no: EM133777368
Homework: Communications
Option I
Instructions:
The student's first objective is to select a relevant streaming / television series or documentary film that involves content that can be analyzed using the content from this course. There are several ways to access this type of programming, including Disney +, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and a number of other streaming services. However, if these are not available, you can also search the library for possible media.
Students should choose a research focus, noting that the best ideas are typically ones you are interested in personally and can get excited about conducting research on to learn more about the subject. For instance, if you are interested in a particular wildlife species, climate change, ocean pollution, parks and recreation, deforestation, reefs, zoos, and so forth, then find a film or series that centers on that subject. Perhaps use your texts to assist you in coming up with a main topic as well.
Using the media artifact as a foundation, students will analyze the content, applying concepts and theories from the Corbett, Hendry, and/or Louv texts. Students should seek to compare / contrast information related to environmental communication, highlighting ideas from our texts, applying theoretical frameworks where applicable, as well as organizing their content into a well-articulated research paper.
The film or series that you select will, of course, narrow the main topic down for you. However, you need to come up with a central idea / thesis statement to capture your primary focus. This will also help determine the direction of your research.
Once a central idea is determined, you should locate and incorporate at least three (3) scholarly, academic articles in peer-reviewed journals or book chapters on the subject / topic you have chosen to cover. As noted, you also need to incorporate two of the main texts in our course.
Your paper should be properly structured with a clear sense of organization. Your paper should have a clear central idea / thesis statement that is featured near the start of your paper. Your ideas should be organized to fit within the page limit given. The end of your paper should include a creative summary / discussion of ideas and a memorable, dynamic closing. If you are not familiar with paper formatting and organization, it is strongly recommended that you seek assistance from PBA's writing center as they offer personal, hands-on service; they are also available to book appointments online.
Make sure to properly cite your sources both in-page and on the References page. Rewording information you have collected without properly citing the source amounts to plagiarism. If you must err, do so on the side of too much citation. However, be aware that your professor wants to "hear" your voice in your paper.
Your research paper will be submitted twice. You will submit a hard copy (PRINT ONE-SIDED) on the date of your oral presentation and submit the paper digitally in Canvas as an MS Word doc/docx. If submitted late, there is an automatic 10% penalty. If the paper is not submitted within a week of the due date, it will not be accepted, and the student will earn zero points.
Length of paper is 6 to 8 pages.
Option II
Instructions:
First, find an example of an environmental issue that has been covered or featured in some way in one of the following fields: advertising, journalism, news, politics, or public relations. As you can see, this is a broad swatch of arenas from which to make a choice, so perhaps start by choosing the field that interests you the most, then search for possible options that relate to environmental communication.
Once discovered, students should use the specific lessons / chapters in texts by Corbett and Hendry that focus on the field to assist in their analysis. For instance, if the field of interest chosen is Journalism / News, then chapter 8 in Corbett and chapter 9 in Hendry are the ones on which to concentrate. In fact, this homework is not possible without acquiring assistance from the books.
When ready, your primary objective is to analyze the chosen item, based on the content being studied in our course. The following is provided as recommended areas to cover in your writing and research, but students should not feel limited. In other words, feel free to ask and respond to additional questions of your own, that may not be shown below.
Describe how the environment is covered / featured / framed / talked about in the chosen item. Use ideas from the text(s) to help. Is there a relevant story being told? How so? Is the item attempting to influence our perceptions about the environment? How so? Who is influencing and who is being influenced? Why? Are there positive and negative ways of understanding the item? Does the item serve to help or harm the environment? Discuss and explain. What does the message / text of the item say about the environment? What do any images used in the item communicate, represent, and/or symbolize?
Use the item chosen, in collaboration with the concepts from the texts, to help you organize your paper into a logical argument that flows well.
To assist in your preparation and the organization / structure of your paper, be sure to:
Have an introduction that includes a description of the specific example (ad, news item, political issue, PR sample, etc.), related to the environment, that was chosen for analysis.
Write a creative introduction to the main subject matter, and wherein you share / state a clear central idea / thesis statement. In your own words, describe why this is an interesting analysis to conduct. Share its relevance.
Incorporate at least two or three main ideas to share that emerge from your selected item.
Highlight these ideas in the body of your paper, utilizing the texts for assistance. It is up to you how you organize the main ideas. Be sure to incorporate, cover and explain concepts that are featured in the texts by Corbett and Hendry, citing accurately and fully.
Provide a succinct summary of ideas when closing that is creatively written. Avoid using "In conclusion" in your paper. Instead, end the paper memorably, perhaps discussing how the item you chose is significant in today's culture, particularly in relation to environmental communication.