January 12

Project 1: Research and the

American Media
Project 1 Overview
 Focus is on looking at the conversation
surrounding your topic – in academic and
popular sources
 This is a multi-step project that includes:
◦ Presearching a topic
◦ Writing a proposal for your topic
◦ Outlining the main ideas of your paper
◦ Writing a draft and participating in peer review
◦ Revising your work for submission
◦ Reflecting on your writing and revision
Proposal requirements
 Introduction that explains
why you chose this topic.
 Discussion of how you will
approach the topic.
 Explanation of intended
audience.
 Documentation style chosen.
 Bibliography of at least two
sources.
 Request for feedback.
Evaluation will focus on:
 Information and insight
◦ Responds to all questions
◦ Offers insight into topic
 Evidence of Presearch
◦ Provides bibliography
◦ Shows awareness of some
available information and
sources
 Formatting and Conventions
◦ Follows MLA/APA guidelines
◦ Contains errors that do not
interfere with message.
Essay requirements
 1200-1500 words Evaluation will focus on:
 MLA or APA formatting  Your analysis of the
 Minimum of 5 sources articles and their
◦ 2 scholarly articles relationships.
◦ 3 media articles  Use of evidence from
the articles to support
 Peer review: Feb 5 that analysis
 Mini-Portfolio: Feb 7  Awareness of the
rhetorical situation.
 Organization of ideas.
Mini-portfolio requirements
 Cover/title page
 Table of contents
 Reflective letter (based on questions provided)
 Proposal
 Outline
 Project 1 draft with works cited and peer feedback
 Project 1 revised draft with works cited page
What questions do you have for me?
Generating ideas
 Brainstorming: writing without organization, just
getting ideas down onto the paper.
 Listing: generates ideas without explanation,
good way to gather search terms for presearch
 Looping: similar to brainstorming, but helps to
narrow focus and interest
 Clustering: organizes ideas to make
connections between different elements
Brainstorming and Listing
 Take 3-5 minutes to write  Take 3-5 minutes and
about a topic or topics make a list of
that you might consider topics/terms that you
for this project. might use in your
 Don’t worry about presearch.
grammar, spelling,  This can be from the
coherency. Just write! brainstorming activity or
can include new ideas.
Looping
 Choose one idea from your brainstorm writing
and take 2-3 minutes to write only on that idea.
Again, don’t worry about grammar, spelling,
coherency – just write!
 Now take one idea from the writing you just
completed and spend 2-3 minutes writing on
only that idea.
Clustering
 We will do a clustering exercise on the day that
we outline, but it can also be used to help you
make connections between ideas that might
seem unrelated at first.
 If you would like to do some clustering before
beginning the next activity to help clarify where
your topic is headed, feel free.
Presearch Activity
 Once you have a broad idea of your topic, it’s important to do some
presearch to see what information is readily available.

 For the remainder of class, I would like you to do the following:

◦ Google your topic using at least two of the following:
 Google
 Google Scholar
 Google Books
◦ Go the the WSU library website and do some general searches to
see what sources and types of sources are available.

 Be prepared to share with the class and feel free to work in pairs.
For Wednesday
 Read Thonney Ch. 2: Strategies for Reading
Academic Writing
 Read Fox “Beyond AI: Multi-Intelligence (MI)
CombiningNatural and Artificial Intelligences in
Hybrid Beingsand Systems”
◦ This is available on the course website under “Readings
and Links”
◦ Take reading notes based on the strategies from Chapter
2 to prepare for discussion in small groups.

Reminder: Monday is a university holiday and

classes will not meet!