Research projects (i.e. research essays): overall assignment description TOPIC: Broadcasting: 1) How does the

Research projects (i.e. research essays): overall assignment description

TOPIC:

Second research essay assignment description: (I will send out updates as needed)

As with the first paper assignment, please pick a topic listed below and answer the guiding questions that accompany them as best you can in no less than 1200 words and usually no more than 2,000 words (that will translate to about 3-5 pages, double-spaced, at 12-point font; if you find yourself going beyond that approximate limit, check in with me. It is ok to go a bit longer).

You will need to cite at least seven sources total, including five academic sources (scholarly books/papers/sites/podcasts, etc.), of which at least two should be from law reviews/law- review articles, following APA or Chicago format. Going below the word minimum and/or not citing a sufficient and/or correct kind of source may result in grade deductions. I am interested in

MC 3080: Mass Media Law research assignment #2

your thoughtful use of scholarly sources. Your textbook can count as one. Two of your seven minimum sources can be from news outlets.

You should have a beginning, middle and end, and make a persuasive case: your arguments should draw on scholarly material to support your claims. If there is a topic that is not listed below that you want to address, please reach out to me and/or the course TA, to get our approval before proceeding. The goal of the paper is to practice thinking through problems in media law, using the kind of reasoning/arguments you will need in your exams, and, eventually, in your work in the mass-media world. At a more basic level, you will practice thinking about how the First

Amendment remains relevant to our society’s challenges and our lives as members of that society. I can provide example “A” papers for this assignment.
Practically, then, to summarize:

• pick and respond to a topic/set of prompts; you can expand on the prompts but you must address the ones listed; you can also propose your own topic

• include a title that identifies the topic (i.e. “Theories of the First Amendment;” some variation is OK, but the course TA and I must be able to tell what topic you addressed); you do not need a cover page or abstract

• include your name, date/title of our course on the title page or in a running head

• starting with an introduction, write a research essay of at least 1,200 words, but no more than about 2,000 words

• you can use APA or Chicago style; if you really want to make the case for another citation style, talk to me in person1

• use one-inch margins, and double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman Font; if you really want to use a sans serif font, you can check with me

• cite at least seven sources total, including five academic sources (scholarly books/papers/sites/podcasts, etc.), of which two must be from law reviews/law- review articles (we’ll talk about that more in class)

• you do not have to cite your notes, per se, but please cite the Mass Media Law textbook for definitions or legal tests, etc.

• have a conclusion! Make sure to expand beyond a restatement of your argument

• include a reference list

• turn in the paper via Moodle/our class site by the deadline; late papers will be

  deducted points as per the syllabus (see it for more guidance)

  One final note: for many, if not, most of these topics/prompts, there might be several “correct” ways to argue for or against something, or different ways to make a case. That is OK. As with your midterms and finals, the course TAs and I are looking for solid reasoning and research.

  
  

  MC 3080 research paper grading criteria/rubric: (same as with the first paper)

  Introduction and Issue: (20 points maximum)

  1. Accurately and concisely summarizes the most relevant information for the topic/prompts (includes context)

  2. Accurately and precisely identifies what First Amendment freedom or concern is at issue and

     how it is at issue

  3. Includes a clear thesis statement by the end of the first paragraph that correctly identifies and

     explains the issue(s) relevant to the assignment topic/prompts chosen. The thesis statement also clearly states what the paper argues and is supported by the rest of the paper.

  Rule of Law and Analysis: (50 points maximum)

  1. Clearly and correctly identifies, explains, and applies any relevant trial/appellate court rulings covered in the course textbook, class readings/class discussion/research, and/or historical examples, as needed.
  2. Cites at least seven sources, five of them academic in nature, with at least two of those being from law-review journals/articles, and then also makes a reasonable and logical argument based on these sources.

  Conclusion: (15 points maximum)

  1. Summarizes the paper’s argument in a manner that is clearly and logically supported by the analysis/evidence marshalled throughout the paper, and …
  2. Restates why the topic remains relevant today/matters.

  Writing (15 points maximum)

  1. Overall quality of writing (organization, clarity, persuasiveness),
  2. Use of citation and reference list, and
  3. Proper use of spelling, grammar, and punctuation and the Manship Writing Essentials.

  MC 3080: Mass Media Law research assignment #2

  Deductions (number of points will vary)

  A paper missing foundational requirements will earn a substantial reduction from the total points otherwise earned. Deductions may be applied when:

  1. A paper lacks a clear, strong thesis statement that provides a clear argument that is logically supported by the rest of the paper (at least 5 points).

  2. A paper includes errors in applying grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation, or the Manship Writing Essentials (up to 2 points per error).

  3. A paper lacks a reference list or has a reference list that does not include all sources used for the paper (5 points).

  4. A paper, or any section of the paper, is not unique work created by the author solely for this assignment. The paper includes writing that is not unique. Or the paper includes plagiarized material (it will be reported to LSU Student Advocacy and Accountability; 100 points may be deducted in the case of plagiarism or other forms of cheating).

  5. A paper includes at least one significant factual error, such as not accurately addressing the constitutional issue at hand or an important step of a constitutional standard or mention a critical legal test (up to at least 15 points).

  6. A paper does not accurately identify, explain, and apply the relevant standard or law (up to at least 15 points).

  7. A paper lacks a clear conclusion logically supported by the rest of the paper (up to 15 points).

  8. A paper does not follow assignment instructions (up to 20 points).

     Reminder of citation information from our course syllabus:

  For APA style, you will need to use parenthetical in-text citation whenever your text addresses material that is not readily known by the general public. In other words, if you found information in a book or online source, citation must be provided after you explain that information in your own words or use a quotation. In-text citation for paraphrased information must include the last name of the author and year of publication (Trager et al., 2018). In-text citation for quoted information must include the last name of the author, year of publication, and page number on which you found the quoted material (Trager et al., 2018, p. 213). For Chicago style, you must use footnotes (see related style guides). Each assignment also needs to have a reference list that includes each of the works cited in your paper. That list must provide the author(s) name(s), title, publication date, and publisher for each source. The formats for most sources used in this course are listed in this section of the syllabus.

  For additional guidance, please use the Purdue Online Writing Lab resources athttps://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/or the APA Style Blog at http://blog.apastyle.org/. NOTE: for Chicago, see: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org orhttps://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_for matting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_17th_edition.html