Reflection Paper
Comm 1125 – Media Theory
Date Due: Monday, March 12th, before class. You are welcome (and encouraged) to turn in the paper before spring break if you like.
Product: An academic paper of at least 5 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt font (Times New Roman or similar), 1” margins. You may make the paper as long as you like.
Your Task: Is to make a philosophically interesting statement about mediated or “mass” communication. Your goal is to use some of the material we’ve been reading and discussing to advance a cogent and persuasive argument about the nature, importance, significance, or definition of mediated and/or mass communication. Choose from one of the following options:
1. Using at least two of the authors listed on the next page, write a paper that reconsiders some of the assumptions and interpretations offered in your media biography. Given what we’ve discussed over the last few weeks, how would you rethink the importance of mediated communication in your life or the life of the person you interviewed? (Note: if the answer is that you wouldn’t rethink anything, you’ll probably want to pick another option.) Be sure to resubmit your original media biography.
2. Using at least two of the authors listed on the next page, write a paper that reconsiders some of the assumptions and interpretations offered in your ambient media phenomenology. Given what we’ve discussed over the last few weeks, how would you rethink the importance of mediated communication in the environment you examined? (Note: if the answer is that you wouldn’t rethink anything, you’ll probably want to pick another option.) Be sure to resubmit your original ambient media phenomenology.
3. Using at least two of the authors listed on the next page, advance a cogent and persuasive argument about the nature, importance, significance, or definition of mediated and/or mass communication.
4. Using at least two of the authors listed on the next page, advance an argument about any major issue or theme that runs across several of the readings we’ve discussed.
5. Build your own. I must approve alternative approaches, but I’m open to creative ideas.
Authorship: You may collaborate with up to two of your classmates in writing this paper. Since collaboration is purely optional, I will expect that any group work will run smoothly. If you do collaborate, submit 1 paper with all of your names on it. Collaborative papers will be held to the same standards as sole-authored papers.
Sources and Resources: You may use outside sources, but you will be graded on your discussion of the assigned readings. Obviously, your notes from lectures and class discussions should be helpful for the purpose of writing your paper. If you have questions or would like help in brainstorming, please meet with me. I am also available during office hours to read drafts of your paper.
Menu of Authors, in the order of their appearance:
James Carey
Jody Berland
Raymond Williams
Gary Gumpert
Charles Cooley
Liesbet van Zoonen
John Peters
Clifford Stoll
Walter Benjamin
Charles Keil
How You’ll be Graded:
A C paper will fulfill the basic requirements of the assignment. It will correctly and fairly interpret the readings and advance a thesis about mediated communication. It will meet the basic standards of college writing.
A B paper will meet all the C level requirements. It will advance a provocative thesis, take some chances, deal with some complex or difficult issues, or otherwise manifest some significant initiative, creativity, and engagement with the course material.
An A paper will rock my world. It will meet all the B requirements, and will particularly excel in one or more of the areas that separate the B paper from the C paper. All A papers are well written and exhibit substantial insight into some dimension of the course.