Unit 6: Research Paper Proposal
Introduction
You will research how the media covered an act of terrorism that occurred between 1800-2018. You will submit a proposal for your research paper in Unit 6 and your paper in Unit 8.
You should begin thinking about what you want to research.
This link will be helpful to you as you begin your research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_the_United_States (Links to an external site.)
Note:
Wikipedia is not considered a legitimate source for your paper. It is a starting place and stepping stone. The material – particularly the footnotes at the end of articles – often lead to more substantial resources.
Because the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 in the U.S. and 2005 London subway attack are case studies covered in great detail in the course textbook those events are not an option.
Choosing an attack that occurred after 1920 means you are more likely find media coverage to analyze first-hand.
Your proposal and paper should relate to at least two of the following course themes:
Problematic definitions of terrorism.
The role(s) media plays in terrorist acts.
How media influences foreign policy.
Characteristics of media events related to terrorism.
Distinguishing characteristics of different forms of media.
The symbiotic relationship between media coverage and terrorism.
The positive and negative aspects of media coverage and patriotism.
How political science, communication, and other fields of study may be used to better understand the relationship between terrorism and the press.
The focus of your research paper should not be on the gruesomeness of the attack but on your detailed analysis of how one or two pieces of media covered the event.
For example, you can compare second-hand accounts of old newspaper reports that you can fine online or radio recordings or TV news clips available online on YouTube or on various credible history sites.
As you’ve been practicing in Discussions in this course, analyze the media coverage; look for evidence of bias, framing, assumptions, speculations and even factual, substantial reporting. You can also report on what historians, sociologists and political scientists wrote about how media covered the event.
If you find a front-page cover photo that sensationalizes the event, think about applying what you learned in chapter 4 of the course textbook about studies on the impact of images.
Directions for Proposal Assignment and Timeline
You should allocate time to consider and think about what you would like to research.
The proposal for your research paper is due the end of Unit 6. You will upload a document that looks and reads like an elaborated outline and includes at least three sources that you will use to discuss how they relate to 2 of the above 8 criteria listed above.
Don’t just upload a document that says: “I will go online and research x.” Your grade on your proposal will be determined by how well you have focused on a topic that meets the assignment criteria, which asks that you not only identify but discuss three sources that you have found and how they relate to your topic, i.e., how they will help you make your point.
For example, will the source you have chosen be useful to your argument that the terrorist event affected foreign policy (see #3 above). Or did the event illustrate the difficulty in defining terrorism (see #1 above).
Because this is a media course, your sources can come from popular, consumer media. In other words, you don’t have to just consider academic journals. But make sure your sources are legitimate, valid and trustworthy.
You will also speculate on how the same event might be covered by today’s media.
Submit Your Proposal Using This Outline (or something similar)
Introduce your topic. When it happened and any historical context that is appropriate. Tell us what happened. Where it happened. The parties involved and affected. The facts.
Identify at least two of the eight course themes you plan to explore and include the sources you will use to back up your claims.
Elaborate on your thinking on how this event might be covered in today’s digital media climate.
Format: The proposal document should be at least single-spaced page plus a correctly formatted reference page. Use APA style and at least 3 references and 12-point font.
Tips on Conducting Research Online
Watch the following curated list of video tutorials, especially if it’s been awhile since you have taken an English course on academic research and writing:
The CRAAP method of evaluating websites:
Evaluating Websites (Links to an external site.)
Evaluating Websites
More on using CRAAP to evaluate websites:
Evaluating Sources (Links to an external site.)
Evaluating Sources
A variation on the CRAAP method:
Evaluating Web Pages Tutorial (Links to an external site.)
Evaluating Web Pages Tutorial
On whether Wikipedia a credible source:
Is Wikipedia a Credible Source? (Links to an external site.)
Is Wikipedia a Credible Source?
Core Learning Outcomes Reflected in Assignment
At the conclusion of the course, learners will be able to:
Define terrorism (CLO 1, 2)
Compare distinguishing characteristics of different forms of media including social mediat related to the coverage of terrorism (CLO 3)
Explain the roles media play in terrorist acts (CLO 5)
Synthesize how political science, communication, and other fields of study may be used to better understand the relationship between terrorism and the media (CLO 4)
