Q COM 309 Emerging Media History Fall 2019 Final Paper and Final Paper Proposal Due Dates: Proposal (Nov. 8); Final Paper (Dec. 9) Purpose: The final paper requires that you take up the critical perspective and concepts provided in this course as well as conduct additional research in order to answer a guided research question about a specific topic that relates to emerging media history. Although this is an emerging media history course, students can choose a variety of topics that engage with emerging media history, including looking at the historical precedents for contemporary topics such as social media or streaming video. Review the course schedule to get an idea of the range of topics available. However, each paper must have an historical perspective, so students should address the history of their emerging media topic. For example, if students want to write about a particular video game topic today, they should trace that topic back through history to understand how it developed. If students are unsure of topics, they can meet with the instructor during office hours or propose topics via email. Skills: The purpose of this assignment is to apply the critical perspectives and concepts from the course to a specific issue in emerging media. • Practice applying a critical media studies perspectives to a pertinent issue of emerging media and emerging media history. • Apply lessons and critical concepts learned in class to an original research topic of your choice. • Write a clear and concise paper that addresses the background, major concepts, and debates surrounding your topic. Knowledge: This assignment will also help you become familiar with the following important content knowledge in this discipline: • Scholarly research on emerging media history not covered in class. • Deeper knowledge of a specific emerging media topic. • Doing historical research using old newspapers, magazines, commercials, and other primary sources. Task: To complete this assignment you should: 1. Pick a topic related to emerging media that interests you. Examples: Film, Music, Video Games, Television, Computers, etc. 2. Perform preliminary research on this topic in popular media (newspapers, magazines, online, etc.) and in scholarly databases (articles, books, chapters). Be sure to use Proquest to get historical coverage of your topic during the period you’re interested in. 3. Write a proposal consisting of the following material, to be turned in Nov. 8 via Blackboard in the correct folder. a. A summary of the topic (1-2 paragraphs). What does somebody need to know about your topic to understand it? b. The significance of the topic (Why does the topic matter?) c. The guiding research question(s) the paper will address (what question will your paper be answering?) d. The periodization of your paper (what years will you be researching?) e. The initial position or argument (thesis) the paper will offer on the topic (this can change during the research and writing process) f. A summary (1-2 paragraphs) of the material already written on the topic (2-3 sources for the proposal; at least 1 has to be peer-reviewed/scholarly). g. A preliminary works cited list of the 2-3 sources in either APA, MLA, or Chicago citation style. 4. Once your proposal is submitted and evaluated, finish conducting research on the topic. Your final paper should have at least four popular press sources and two scholarly/peer-reviewed sources. But you are encouraged to use as many sources as necessary to explain your topic and make your argument. 5. Write a 4-6 page paper (not including Works Cited) that introduces your topic, offers necessary background information, explores and analyzes your media topic during a particular period in history, and argues for a particular position on the topic using the popular and scholarly sources that you have gathered. Criteria Your proposal will be evaluated on the following criteria. Rubric Short summary of topic ____ / 2 pts. Why the topic matters ____ / 2 pts. Research Question / Periodization ____ / 1 pt. Initial position regarding topic ____ / 1 pt. Summary of 2 trade sources and 1 scholarly source ____ / 2 pts. Clear writing and works cited ____ / 2 pts. Total ____ / 10 pts. Your final paper will be evaluated on the following criteria. Revision is part of the writing process. Revise. Revise. Revise. Rubric Summary and Significance ____ / 10 pts. Provides adequate background/history on topic ____ / 20 pts. Clear research question(s) and position/argument ____ / 15 pts. Organization and structure ____ / 10 pts. Well-researched (at least four popular press & 2 scholarly) ____ / 20 pts. Clear and error-free writing ____ / 20 pts. Follows MLA or APA style ____ / 5 pts. Total ____ / 100 pts. Possible Topics: These are just examples of possible topics. You are free to write about any topic related to emerging media history, as long as your instructor clears it after you write your proposal. If something inspired you during a particular day of class, I encourage you to write a paper based on that! • The history of online piracy. • The history of the political use of new media. • The history of pranks and trolling across early media. • How an emerging medium was marketed and domesticated • The development of a emerging media tech based on social use • The emergence of the radio. • The history of multiplayer video games. • The history of social media. • The history of the music industry. • Early cinema technologies. • The history of failed media technologies. • Other histories of the television (portability, TV in the car, TV on airplanes, etc.) • The history of particular genres of video games. • The history of music sampling. • The history of web 2.0. • The possibilities are endless! Please contact the instructor if you have any questions about this assignment: johnvanderhoef@gmail.com or jvanderhoef@csudh.edu.