J320_FinalPaper_SP18
 

• Type of paperResearch Paper
• SubjectJournalism
• Number of pages6
• Format of citationMLA
• Number of cited resources6
• Type of serviceWriting

3 scholarly publications and 3 other sources

1

Final Research Paper/Project
J320: Gender, Media, and Diversity
Final Paper Due: On Canvas in doc or pdf —Friday, June 1st by 11:59 PM
Final Project Due: On a USB drive—Friday, June 1st in discussion section (accompanying
paper must be uploaded to Canvas by Friday, June 1st at 11:59 PM)

Pick a media-related topic that you will research and analyze in relation to one or more of the
concepts and contexts we have learned about this term. The topic you choose could grow out of
current or historical events, a news story, or a particular media text you would like to analyze
and discuss in depth—as long as you are researching a topic pertaining to media. You should
construct your argument using one or more of the concepts you learned in the first half of the
course and it should address one or more of the kinds of contexts we discuss in the second half.
If you are uncertain about your topic or are not sure if/how it fits within these areas, please feel
free to talk to us. We are here to help with exactly these kinds of questions!

Concepts

• Social Construction
• Ideology/Hegemony
• Representation
• Semiotic analysis/Textual analysis
• The gaze
• Queer readings
• Oppositional gaze
• Stereotype analysis
• Intersectionality

Contexts

• Gender
• Race
• Class
• Sexuality
• Ability
• Age
• Nationality
• Ethnicity

Research:
You are expected to use a minimum of 6 outside sources when researching and writing your
paper or project. At least three of these sources must be scholarly publications. This means
they are academic books or book chapters (written by a professor and published by a university
press or academic press) or articles published in scholarly (i.e. peer reviewed) journals.

Please note: You may use class readings to support your arguments, but they do not count
towards the required number of sources

In addition to obtaining books through the library, you can also search for sources through the
library’s online databases and journals. For tips on narrowing your topic and locating and
evaluating sources, see: http://researchguides.uoregon.edu/getting-started.

Remember, Wikipedia is not a valid source in and of itself. However, it often serves as a
useful place to start when gathering information as it frequently links to other books and articles
on the topic.

2

Paper Option
Research and write a 6-7 page paper that examines and makes an argument about a media-
related topic of your choice. Your paper must engage with at least one area from each of the
columns above.

Your paper must include:

• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title
• A clearly articulated thesis statement
• An introduction that lays out your thesis and outlines major arguments
• An organized body in which you use your research to analyze your media text, shed light

on your topic, and back up your thesis
• In-text citations, endnotes, or footnotes using standard MLA or Chicago style
• A brief conclusion that reiterates and wraps up your thesis and major arguments
• A bibliography that includes at least 6 outside sources, 3 of which must be scholarly

Format:

• 6-7 pages long (not including footnotes/endnotes and your bibliography).
Remember: 6 pages means that your writing covers the entire 6th page.

• Uses Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Text should be double-spaced
• Use 1-inch margins

Papers will be evaluated based on the depth and proficiency of your research, your ability to
synthesize that research into a convincing argument, and on the quality of your essay
organization and writing. Be sure to give yourself extra time to proofread and revise in order to
submit a well-organized, error-free paper. See the assignment rubric for more details.

Project Option
You will create a 4-6 minute video essay and submit an accompanying 2-3-page statement
establishing the scope of your research, summarizing the project, discussing your use of primary
and secondary sources and explaining how you used the video format to make your arguments.
Like the paper, your video must present your argument using one or more of the concepts you
learned in the first half of the course and it should address one or more of the kinds of contexts
we discuss in the second half. DO NOT select the video essay option unless you are
comfortable with the format and have access to and an understanding of the technology.
We do not provide technical support.

Your video essay must include:

• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title
• A clearly articulated thesis statement
• Visual evidence to support your thesis (images, video, etc.)
• Sound and/or narration and descriptive text
• An accompanying written statement (2-3 pages)
• A bibliography that includes at least 6 sources, 3 of which must be scholarly sources

3

Format:
Please turn in your video via USB drive or dropbox link during discussion section on March 9th
so your GE can verify that they are able to load and play the file. Your accompanying written
statement and bibliography should follow the same formatting guidelines as the longer paper (see
above) and must also be submitted on Canvas by the due date, March 9th at 11:59 PM

Some examples of video essays:

http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/intransition/

http://www.filmmattersmagazine.com/category/videographic/

http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/2017/03/videographic-screen-media-criticism-by.html

http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/search/label/Video%20Essays

https://feministfrequency.com/series/tropes-vs-women-in-video-games/

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism consists of using other people’s words and ideas and
presenting them as one’s own, whether the material is taken from a book, a friend, or the Internet.
Other violations of academic integrity include cheating, resubmitting assignments for more than
one class without the permission of the professor, and furnishing false information to a university
official. Please consult the University Student Conduct Code to acquaint yourself with the
university’s definition of and policies regarding plagiarism. If there is any question about
whether an act constitutes academic misconduct, it is the students’ obligation to clarify the
question with me first. Plagiarism or cheating will result in an automatic failing grade on this
assignment and will be reported to the University. Ignorance of the standards and policies of
academic integrity is not an acceptable excuse.

For more information on policies relating to academic integrity, see:

• https://dos.uoregon.edu/academic-misconduct
• https://researchguides.uoregon.edu/citing-plagiarism

1

J320 R
esearch P

aper R
ubric

C
riteria

U
nsatisfactory – B

eginning
D

eveloping

A

ccom
plished

E
xem

plary
Total

P
aper Focus:

P
urpose/

Thesis
S

tatem
ent

0-13 points
14-15 points

16-17 points
18-20 points

/20
Fails to identify a relevant
research topic or is not clearly
defined and/or the paper lacks
focus throughout. D

oes not
engage w

ith at least one of each
of the areas (concept and
context) listed on the prom

pt.

Identifies a research topic but m
ay

be too broad in scope and/or the
thesis is som

ew
hat unclear and

needs to be developed further.
Focal point is not consistently
m
aintained throughout the paper.

Engages m
inim

ally or w
ith only one

of the tw
o areas (concept and

context listed in the prom
pt.

Identifies a relevant research
topic and a thesis that provides
adequate direction for the paper
w
ith som

e degree of interest for
the reader. The thesis states the
position, prem

ise, or hypothesis,
and is the focal point of the paper
for the m

ost part. A
dequately

engages w
ith one of each of the

required contexts/concepts listed
in the prom

pt.

Identifies a relevant research
topic and a thesis that provides
direction for the paper that is
engaging and thought provoking.
The thesis clearly and concisely
states the position, prem

ise, or
hypothesis and is consistently the
focal point throughout the paper.
Excels in engaging w

ith the
required concept and context
areas listed in the prom

pt.

A
nalysis

0-20 points

21-23 points
24-26 points

27-30 points
/30

D
em

onstrates a lack of
understanding and inadequate
analysis of the research topic and
thesis. A

nalysis is superficial
based on opinions and
preferences rather than critical
analysis.

D
em

onstrates general
understanding w

ith lim
ited critical

analysis of the research topic and
thesis (argum

ent). M
ay sum

m
arize

perspectives, counter-argum
ents,

or opposing position, but broader
connections and/or im

plications are
not as thoroughly explored.

D
em

onstrates a solid
understanding and critical
analysis of the research topic and
thesis (argum

ent). M
ay w

eave
different perspectives, counter-
argum

ents, or opposing positions
into analysis and argum

ents.

D
em

onstrates a sophisticated
understanding and careful,
critical analysis of the research
topic and thesis (argum

ent).
N
uanced engagem

ent w
ith

different perspectives, considers
counter argum

ents or opposing
positions, and draw

s original and
thoughtful conclusions.

E
vidence

(S
ources)

0-20 points
21-23 points

24-26 points
27-30 points

/30
Lacks sufficient research sources
to support the central position
and/or, if included, are not the
correct num

ber/kind of source
required. Contains num

erous
factual m

istakes, om
issions, or

oversim
plifications. Sources, if

included, are not properly
referenced and cited in the
paper.

Provides som
e evidence to support

the central position but does not
use the correct num

ber/kind of
required sources. Som

e sources
m
ay not be relevant, accurate, and

reliable and/or appropriately
referenced and cited in the paper.

Provides essential, accurate
evidence to support the central
position w

ith the required
num

ber and kind of research
sources. Sources are referenced
and cited appropriately
throughout the paper for the
m
ost part.

Provides com
pelling and accurate

evidence to support in-depth the
central position w

ith at least the
required num

ber and kind of
research sources. Research
sources are highly relevant,
accurate, and reliable and add to
the strength of the paper; and
are effectively referenced and
cited throughout the paper.

O
rganization

0-6 points

7 points
8 points

9-10 points
/10

Paper lacks logical organization
and im

pedes readers’
com

prehension of ideas; and/or
the paper is m

issing m
ultiple

required com
ponents.

Paper is som
ew

hat organized,
although occasionally ideas m

ay not
flow

w
ell from

paragraph to
paragraph, connect to a central
position, or be clear as a w

hole.

Paper is w
ell organized; ideas are

arranged reasonably w
ith a

progression of thought from

paragraph to paragraph
connecting to a central position.

Excellent organization that
contributes to the im

pact of the
paper in a noticeable w

ay; ideas
are arranged logically and flow

sm

oothly, w
ith a strong

progression of thought from

paragraph to paragraph
connecting to a central position.

2

W
riting

Q
uality &

A

dherence to
Form

at
G

uidelines

0-6 points
7 points

8 points
9-10 points

/10
Paper show

s a below

average/poor w
riting style lacking

in elem
ents of appropriate

standard English and follow
ing

proper style guidelines. Frequent
errors in spelling, gram

m
ar,

punctuation, spelling, usage,
and/or form

atting.

Paper show
s an average and/or

casual w
riting style using standard

English and follow
ing style

guidelines. Som
e errors in spelling,

gram
m
ar, punctuation, usage,

and/or form
atting.

Paper show
s good w

riting style
and clarity in w

riting, using
standard English and follow

ing
style guidelines. M

inor errors in
gram

m
ar, punctuation, spelling,

usage, and/or form
atting.

Paper is extrem
ely w

ell w
ritten

and clear. Show
s excellent grasp

of standard English and follow
s

style guidelines. Basically free
from

gram
m
ar, punctuation,

spelling, usage, or form
atting

errors.

TO
TA

L P
O

IN
TS

(sum
of 6 C

riteria)
/100