Guidance to Linked Producrion

Guidance for Linked Production

Writing Academically

Here are some ground rules:

1. Reference according to academic conventions (see exemplar & Harvard referencing guide, lower down on this blog.)
2. Use the 3rd person - THE WHOLE TIME - Don't say, 'I think...' / Don't say 'Personally', - instead say (if you need to give a measured opinion), 'It is the opinion of this writer...'
3. MATTER OF DEGREE -it's not all black and white, rather it is a matter of degree - so you need certain types of connectives:

* To a certain extent
* To a limited extent
* To a large extent
* Inasmuch as
* Insofar as

4. (as guided by the essay plan - DO NOT INDUCE YOUR CONCLUSION
(Don't reveal your findings at the end of the essay - STATE THEM AT THE START (YOur thesis statement), and reiterate/emphasise them at the end.

5. Anticipate objections / counter-arguments - evaluate them carefully - do not ignore them.

Essay Plan (suggested)

1.Thesis statement – what you have found out in a nutshell

2.How you plan to prove your findings – briefly outline to the range of methods and texts you have covered

3.Outcome of surveys you conducted – link to thesis statement

4.Secondary text 1 – explain / evaluate  

5.Secondary text 2 – explain / evaluate    

6.Secondary text 3 – explain / evaluate    

7.Secondary text 4 – explain / evaluate   

8.Any other Secondary texts 1 – explain / evaluate – then link to primary texts by way of comparison/contrast/evaluation/reference to thesis proofs

9.Primary text(s) – over-arching evidence of thesis proofs, from notable sections of the text (e.g. key scenes, paragraphs or photos – must use excellent media terminology when discussing media forms used to construct specific representations)

10.Primary text(s) – narrative codes – link to relevant theories – evaluate

11.Primary text(s)  – institutional sources – link to thesis  - who is behind this text and what are their motives for key representations

12.Primary text(s) – Audience – link to relevant audience theory – evaluate

13.Conclusions – prognosis for future media texts  - contrast with what you would like to see happen in terms of positive representations (if applicable). –

14.BIBLIOGRAPHY!

  

Reminder of what to do with your secondary sources / guide to Referencing & Footnotes

Phase 2 - Research and Planning - Critical Investigation
    

1. Decide upon your secondary texts - articles or journals ideally.
2. Print them out.
3. Write a summary of each text:
include:
a) who / when /where
b) main ideas / arguments
c) key quotes
d) strengths and weaknesses of arguments - for example - how much is mere opinion or surmise - and how much is based on research / (supposed) evidence etc.?
e) How reading these text is developing your own generation of a thesis.
4. Post each article on your blog and send me the link

Thank you. Mr Baines

 

Now here's the referencing guide - your essay must be a proper, bona fide academic document, and must therefore keep within the conventions of footnoes and referencing (essentially, saying where you got your information from).

 

 

Homework

All post-survey evaluations and analysed secondary texts MUST be on the blog by Friday 16th October 2015

Exemplar 3 - Critical Investigation MEST 4

 

 

Exemplar 2 - Critical Investigation MEST 4

 

Exemplar 1 - Critical Investigation MEST 4

 

 

MEST 4 - Blogs from other schools

Check out these student blogs to get to grips with how students from other schools are going about their business. Student blogs are on the left hand side.

CLICK HERE

 

Phase 2 - Research and Planning - Critical Investigation

1. Decide upon your secondary texts - articles or journals ideally.
2. Print them out.
3. Write a summary of each text:
include:
a) who / when /where
b) main ideas / arguments
c) key quotes
d) strengths and weaknesses of arguments - for example - how much is mere opinion or surmise - and how much is based on research / (supposed) evidence etc.?
e) How reading these text is developing your own generation of a thesis.
4. Post each article on your blog and send me the link

Thank you. Mr Baines

Key Theories Audience

Remember that your homework for week 2 is to make notes on the following key theories for Audience.