Assignment task:
This assignment asks you to conduct research to identify recent literature about a particular topic in mass communication theory and practice, and then put that literature to work in service of an articulation of the current state of research as it relates to that topic.
Start by selecting a theory of interest to you from the course - this can be one we have covered already or one we will discuss later in the semester. It can be the same theory as you focus on in your theory-in-practice presentation and/or for your case study assignment if you wish, although please note those assignments have different guidelines. For this essay assignment, you will write a 4 to 6 page (double-spaced) essay that articulates the theory in question, what recent scholarly/academic literature tells us about that theory and the contexts in which it can be applied, how practitioners can benefit from examining those contexts through the lens of the theory, and what gaps in the literature exist that ought to be the focus of future research considerations. You should exhibit a good summary of the current literature/research on the topic - you must cite a minimum of 5 readings in addition to those provided in the course readings.
An excellent essay will
1. Demonstrate mastery of the theory or theories explored
2. Provide thoughtful insights about the recent research employing and/or relating to the theory or theories explored
3. Adhere to conventions of strong writing (e.g., be concise, organize information according to a governing logic, include a coherent introduction and conclusion, etc.), and
4. Include a minimum of five academic sources in addition to any class readings you want to use
5. Adhere to APA style rules for references and in-text citations.
Your essay should be structured in the following order:
- Introduction (introduces the theory, why the topic is important, and purpose of the paper)
- Body of paper (explain the theory, summarize recent literature, discuss how practitioners can benefit and what gaps in the literature exist that ought to be the focus of future research considerations)
- Conclusion (brief reminder of key points, wrap up)
- References in APA style
Please submit your assignment as a Microsoft Word document if possible (if you use another platform such as Google Docs, you can usually export/save your file as Word .docx). Microsoft Word allows me to provide you with feedback more easily than in PDF.