1. Research Paper (~2500 words or 8 pages)
The research paper will entail picking an issue and analyzing the different forms it takes,
different solutions presented to a problem. Questions to consider:
1. What is the scope of the issue? How do various audiences consider it, and how are the
forms (style, tone, mode, length, etc) varied for those audiences?
2. Which forms discussing the issue, and its solutions you find most effective? Why?
3. What are counterviews to this message, and how do they successfully (or not) engage in
the conversation?
4. Lastly, a personal reflection on how understanding of these modes will affect your
consuming of messages in the future.
Optional: Instead of focusing on a message, you may also continue to investigate an aspect of
composition we’ve discussed in this course as related specifically to digital, visual, print, or
academic media (See question 3). Picking one of these aspects, make an argument as to why it’s
important, illustrating benefits to its use, and acknowledging and rebutting a counterclaim.
Structure:
1.Introduction
The first section of the paper will be 1 - 1.5 pages encompassing:
- your own perspective, background knowledge, and initial assumptions about this issue.
Why are you drawn to it? What questions do you wonder? What do you hope any
knowledge you gain about it, can do for you?
- Additionally: what have been your responses to rhetoric around this issue? How does
your socioeconomic status, gender, beliefs, or raising, affect how you relate to the
concept?
2. Research
The main body of research will be from 3 - 4 sources that are representative of your approach
to the issue. This should take up 2 - 3 pages of your discussion.
Either secondly (separately), or point by point, introduce 1 to 2 sources that are alternative/
opposing to the viewpoint you argue. This should take 1.5 - 2 pages of your discussion.
3.Conclusion/ Reflection
1 - 1.5 pages Synthesize what you’ve learned and why it’s important. Reflecting on research
process is a biopsy. What questions did you ask in your research? Where did you pull your focus
back in at? Why did you make these choices? What additional research seems to be needed?
- What new perspectives have you come away with? Why is this knowledge intriguing or
helpful to you? How do you see it impacting your own life or choices?
Required Sources: (at least) 1 book, 2 scholarly journal articles, 2 popular articles (can include
websites). These (or additional sources) must incorporate analyzing 1 image (photo/ painting/
2. video), 1 piece of hard data (a number, to provide context or an overview), 1 “out of the box”
source such as documentary/ art exhibit/ movie/ song (a photo also counts as this). 6-7 sources in
total.
