Media Effects Research Paper Guidelines
Media effects, also known as media influence are ideas and theories about how mass media influence people as individuals, as families, as communities and as nations. (Sterin 498) Many different theories help to illuminate this phenomenon. Theories of exploration include but are not limited to; uses and gratification, magic bullet, social penetration, cumulative effects, cultivation, and media hegemony. Your task will be to select a group of people who are effected by the media and provide an in-depth term paper which describes who is effected, how they are effected, and what this means on a greater social level. Your process will involve seeking sources of information that may include facts, statistics, historical writings, and current media influences. A research paper presents the results of your investigations on a selected topic. Based on your own thesis and the facts and ideas you have gathered from a variety of sources, a research paper is a creation that is uniquely yours. The experience of gathering, interpreting, and documenting information, developing and organizing ideas and conclusions, and communicating them clearly will prove to be an important and satisfying part of your education and are most certainly valuable in the field of Communication Studies. Suggested Topics Are Media Effect On: Violence, Obesity, Eating disorders, Trends and consumerism, Language, Gender roles, Crime, Politics, Video games, Education, Food Industry, Treatment of animals, ETC … Research Paper Requirements 4-6 pages in length 5-10 academic sources Typed Use the font Times New Roman only Use 12 point font One inch margins Double spaced Works cited page (and labeled as such) Cite your sources according to MLA style No title page
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Media Effects Research Paper Format Procedure
Directions: Your paper should be written using-the following guidelines as a roadmap for your format. Follow
these suggestions to ensure a thorough and cohesive research paper.
Introduction
• Identify the group you are researching
• Provide a basic introduction of how the media effects that particular group
• State your focus (thesis statement)
Body
• Analyze and provide the history of this particular group and how it is portrayed in the media
• How the media specifically effects this group (theory and application are necessary)
• Offer a chronological account which explains events of media effect over time
• Cite authorities who have also investigated this phenomenon including citations and paraphrase
Conclusion
• Reaffirm your thesis statement and answer the question you presented in your paper
• Discuss the consequences of this specific media effect to the world
• Thoughtfully conclude with a fact, opinion, or call-to-action for the future
Sample Rubric Below: 11
Media Effects Research Paper Rubric
Introduction to Mass Media CMST & 102
M. Lampros
5=Excellent 4=Good
Name:
3=A verage 2=Below Average l=Poor
Content and Ideas
Information based on careful reading and analysis
Coherence of information and content depth
Demonstrates understanding of media theory
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
Writing Style and Organization
Concrete thesis statement 5 4 3 2 1
Complete sentences and clear style 5 4 3 2 1
Clearly communicates ideas 5 4 3 2 1
Follows writing assignment outline 5 4 3 2 1
Spelling and Grammar
Works cited and in-text following MLA format 5 4 3 2 1
Meets rough draft requirement 3 2 1
Topic Approval 2 1
Free of grammatical and spelling errors 5 4 3 2 1
