In not more than 1000 words, draw up a research plan to investigate any one of the issues listed below. Choose a methodology taught in the unit and establish its appropriateness. The assessment involves identifying the theoretical/conceptual framework, justifying the methodology and detailing the method as applicable to the study of the issue. (Note: ‘methodology’ refers to approach and method, including details of data collection). You are not required to conduct the study or report findings.

1. Political polarization

According to a 2014 Pew Research Center when it comes to political affiliation, the United States is more divided than at any time in the last 20 years. The Australian Election Studies 2016 revealed that Australians are becoming more polarised in their political. Similar studies in other democracies have established that political polarisation is increasing in the age of social media. Draw up a design to investigate how the changing face of the media has played a role in this increasing political polarization. (For example, you might consider how particular TV news channel's biases affect viewers' voting choices, or how the release of political news stories on social media shapes viewers' perceptions of the facts. An important point to note is the relationship between mainstream and social media.)

2. Diasporic belongingness

Myria Georgiou (2013: 80-99)* argues that media must be understood as spaces where minorities increasingly communicate interests, make claims and mobilize identities. While living in western nations, they also sustain political and cultural connections across boundaries, largely through the media. The ubiquitousness of transnational television however calls into question the nature of representations. Catering as they are to broad categories transnational television tend to homogenise populations.  Draw up a design to investigate whether transnational television enhance diasporic belongingness or challenge it.

*Georgiou, Myria, 2013, 'Diaspora in the Digital Era: Minorities and Media Representation,' Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe, Vol 12, No 4, pp.80-99.

3. Symbols of global culture

Contrary to popular belief that 'global culture' has resulted from gradual spontaneous processes that depended solely on technological innovations - increased international trade, global mass communications, jet travel, recent studies show that the processes are anything but spontaneous. 'Global culture' is now seen as a result of tremendous investments of time, energy and money by transnational corporations. The common theme of transnational culture is 'consumption'. As advertising expresses this ideology of consumption in its most synthetic and visual form, devise a research design to identify and understand the symbols of transnational culture employed in transnational advertisements. (Examples of some symbols of transnational culture - automobiles, advertising, supermarkets, shopping centers, hotels, fast food chains, credit cards, and Hollywood movies. They are used to indicate themes such as happiness, youth, success, status, luxury, fashion, and beauty.)

In not more than 500 words, submit an abstract for a research paper on an issue of significance in the disciplinary areas of comunication and media studies. The topic must be new and contemporary.  Events related to the topic must preferrably be on-going and should NOT have occurred earlier than January 2016. In other words, the issue chosen for study must concern large sections of population, must engage global attention and must be part of public discourse.

The submission made online on Turnitin must contain 1. Title/research question 2. The abstract must describe the topic and significance briefly and mention of methodology and 3. contain a comprehensive Bibliography. (A good starting point will be to familiarise oneself with the structure of academic journal articles in the field).

Please choose an appropriate methodology as you will be required to flesh it out in Part B.

It will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Research viability

Significance of the topic

Clarity of ideas and process as evidenced in the submission

Relevance and significance of the works listed and details in the Bibliography.

Please note that a  'F' in this assessment will require the changing of the topic  in consultation with the Convenor for Part B. Re-submission of Part A will not be possible; however, students with the approval from the Convenor can work on a fresh topic for Part B.

This is a continuation of the earlier assessment. Based on the feedback, students are required to submit a 1000-word research project proposal. This involves fleshing out the earlier submission.  The focus in this paper is on Methodology.

The proposal must contain 1. Background 2. Significance in more detail than in the earlier assessment 3. Aims and 4. Method. It is an academic research proposal and must meet the requirements in structure and content. The focus must be on method.

Method must be qualitative and chosen from one of the methods taught in the unit. (DO NOT REPEAT THE METHOD that you had opted for in the earlier assessment). This assessment does not require application of the method. It must however contain all details of the method, including details of how it could be applied. The proposal must make clear how the method is appropriate to the study of the issue, the period of data collection and the parameters of analysis and a timeline.

Marking rubrics will be available on ilearn. The following criteria will be used for marking the assessment:

1.  Proposed framework for analysis:  Identification of appropriate conceptual and theoretical framework.

2. Data collection plan: Data selection and discussion of appropriate analytical method.

3.  Structure: Use of comprehensive and accurate content according to academic conventions.

4. Grammar and language: Good spelling and grammar, academic language.

The two hour weekly seminars will involve a range of activities designed to explore the academic research process and methods. Students' participation will be graded on the level of engagement witnessed in the seminars. They include participation in discussions facilitated by the lecturer, general questions asked during the seminar hours and involvement in set activities. Participation is expected to be well considered and relevant to the unit of study. Rubrics in ilearn.