final essay
SPCH 391 – Fall 2022 10-11 Page Formal Essay Option With Three Deadlines: The 10-11 Page Essay Option allows you to write a traditional research paper exploring a topic in Speech and Communication of interest to you. You should choose a specific area you want to study, use specific examples to illustrate that topic, and tie all of this information into theoretical foundations and researched resources. You should also think of socio-political issues impacted by your area of study i.e. gender, race, religion, politics, class, religion, etc. 1) 3-4 Page Proposal (Due September 29th, 2022): As the initial step in building your research over the semester, each student must write a 3-4 page proposal (prospectus) which outlines the goals of this project, the focus area, the theorists/theories involved, and the highlighted hypothesis/goal of the text. This is your opportunity to propose an argument, build a case study, explore a specific question that you will attempt to answer with the completion of the final essay. The prospectus MUST BE APPROVED by the instructor before the student continues working on the next phase of the formal essay, the literature review. There are multiple sources in guiding students to write a proposal/prospectus: https://blogs.umass.edu/honors291g-cdg/how-to-write-a-paper-topic-proposal-thesis-statement/ https://owlcation.com/academia/How-To-Write-A-Proposal-Essay https://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/Handouts/HowtoWriteaPaperProposal.pdf 2) 4-5 Page Literature Review and Bibliography (Due November 3rd, 2022): In order to build a complete formal essay that incorporates multiple texts and sources, each student is required to write a complete literature review including 6-8 legitimate sources (peer-reviewed articles, books, presentations, theoretical research). There are several sources to help guide students as they build this lit review, including: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/reviewofliterature/ https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215199&p=1420828 The selected articles/books etc. should correspond with the student’s own individual interest and focus area for this course. To assess the literature available, each student should write a 4-5 page essay which briefly summarizes each text and explains how these texts work together to build a stronger foundation for the final essay. Each student must answer the following questions when assessing each text/article: How is your chosen area of interest defined and constructed in this text? What is the author’s background and how does that influence her/his interpretation of communication studies? Who are the major theorists the author uses in this text? What is the overall thesis/message of the text? How can this text work as a model for your own research in communication studies? The lit review MUST BE APPROVED by the instructor before the student continues working on the completion of the formal essay. 3) 10-11 Page Final Essay and Bibliography (Due December 15th, 2022): Each student will select a focus area of communication studies (early on in the semester). This specific path of study will inform much of the student’s work throughout the semester. The ultimate goal of this focus will be the completion of one formal essay at the end of the semester. This essay will be at least 10-11 pages in length, follow the development of this specific area of speech and communication studies, and utilize at least 8 outside sources. In these essays, students will select communication theories and discuss how these concepts apply to their research. These essays will also explore how these theories help us understand the ways in which communication studies intersect with other constructions of identity. The professor will propose revisions to the drafts to help improve elements of style, organization, content, and editing. While there are designated due dates for the three major components, at any point during the semester, each student should feel comfortable submitting ongoing progress and rough draft material for feedback. Following this scaffolding process ensures an ongoing dialogue that continuously improves the final drafts. ***Keep in mind, each phase in the writing of this process will be compiled in the final essay. With necessary revisions, edits, etc., the proposal becomes the introduction of the essay, the literature review becomes its own section that produces a foundation for the student’s consideration of the topic, and the final pages of the essay build on all of this material and your own research and knowledge of the topic. https://blogs.umass.edu/honors291g-cdg/how-to-write-a-paper-topic-proposal-thesis-statement/ https://owlcation.com/academia/How-To-Write-A-Proposal-Essay https://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/Handouts/HowtoWriteaPaperProposal.pdf https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/literature-reviews/ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/assignments/reviewofliterature/ https://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215199&p=1420828