Research Paper

Faculty of Communication and Culture
Communications Studies (COMS) 441.02
CULTURAL STUDIES IN COMMUNICATIONS
Winter 2006

Research Paper

Due: March 31
Length: 5-7 pages (double-spaced) maximum
Value: 35 per cent

Researchers like to explain that individual projects rarely provide the final word on a topic. They explain that any single project conveys information saying in effect: "this is what may be the case." Researchers thus replicate the research projects of their colleagues, so as to determine the reliability of the researcher's methods and the validity of the results attained. In practice, this means following the researcher's footsteps carefully: posing the same research question, proceeding from the same theoretical perspective, and employing the same analytical techniques. They know that coming up with the same results indicates that in design and in execution the project is fairly sound.

Accordingly, this assignment asks you to replicate the research of one of the figures we study, namely, Raymond Williams, Fredric Jameson, Dyer et al., Nicholas Garnham, Erica Carter, Janice Radway, Ken Plummer, and Stuart Hall. Imagine you are the figure under consideration. Follow the procedure for replicating research outlined above, and (1) cite three secondary sources for the purpose of clarifying points and illustrating arguments. Be sure (2) to select an appropriate communicative situation.

Remember, this assignment asks you to produce a report, not to write free-ranging, speculative essay. In other words, (3) write up your findings as a research report. See the headings below:

Introduction. Introduce your project, putting it into context and indicating why the topic is significant and why your project is important;
Research Project. Provide an overview of the project, describing the problem you tackle, outlining the communications situation you have chosen and formulating the research question you pose;
Approach. Outline the theoretical framework you bring to the project and describe the research method(s) you employ to uncover the data needed to answer the research question. This means outlining the theoretical framework the figure you model your project on brings to her research and describing the research method(s) she employs to uncover the data needed to answer your research question); and
Findings. Outline the major findings, indicating how the data helps you answer the research question;
Discussion. Share your insights into the research project, reflecting on the strengths and the weaknesses of the research model you tested, indicating (for example) how you might conduct the research differently the next time; and
Works Cited. Cite your references in your text in brackets (name, date of publication, and page number), linking them to an alphabetical list of works cited (at the end of the report). Provide additional information as endnotes at the end of the document, just before the list of Works Cited.

Reports will be read with an eye on four critieria: (1) conformity to the assignment, in terms of the difficulty of topic and the quality of research generally; (2) analytical sophistication: the researcher provides a sufficient context for appreciating the proposed research; (3) rhetorical effectiveness: she conveys her insight into this figure's work in clear and direct languge; and (4) presentation: the writer provides a neat and well-organized document, that is, she formats the research proposal in accordance with the instructions, double-spaces the text, cites (three) sources appropriately, and so on (I posted The Guide to the Presentation of Research on my COMS 441 Website).

Students who have queries about their writing (e.g., writing in the ACTIVE VOICE) should check The Detailed Marking Code (which can be found at http://www.ucalgary/~rseiler/code.htm), especially the sections devoted to such topics as WORD USE, SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION, and PARAGRAPH BUILDING.

Some important guidelines:

Use a standard font (Helvetica 10 or Times Roman 12) to type your document (double-spaced) on standard paper, i.e., 8.5 inches x 11 inches, and leave the appropriate margins, i.e., 1.5 inches on the right and the left, and 1 inch on the top and bottom.

Italicize the titles of works you mention, putting the date of publication in brackets, e.g., Jacques Ellul, Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (1964).

For more details about providing bibliographic information, consult the Guide to the Presentation of Research, which can be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/~rseiler/guide.htm

Please do not submit your proposal in a folder

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