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Plan, construct and write a long-form essay on a particular area of media research that interests you. Using an established theoretical framework, explain how your research offers new insights into the topic.
Notes:
• The project should conform to the standards of an Masters-level dissertation/thesis.
• Additional guidelines on the project will be provided in one-on-one meetings.
• Media staff and examiners cannot read drafts of the work, but are able to review and provide comments on an outline and any in-depth ideas.
• The document should conform to submission standards (double-spaced, 3cm margins, with pages numbered and Harvard in-text referencing).
• The assignment must be submitted as either a Word or PDF file through Turnitin on the course MyUni page.
• Assessment criteria is standard for a Masters-level course in media.
Remarks on previous assignment –
Hi Shruti,
This is a really strong assignment, well done! Your introduction was really focused and it was great to see you so clearly articulate the objectives of this research. It was also great to see this clearly inform your annotated bibliography—the references you chose were very relevant and it was great to see you so clearly discuss how you will use them/how they fit into the context of your work. However, I did think that all of the sources you identified were quite recent—since you are approaching traditional media here, it could be worth investigating some of the more foundational theory based texts to further enhance your work. This would also help ensure that your literature review is appropriately balanced.
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
1. Choose a Clear Research Topic
- Select a topic within media research that genuinely interests you. Since the project is for a Master’s-level dissertation, make sure the topic is substantial enough to explore in-depth, but also something you are passionate about. If you haven’t already, consider revisiting your initial ideas and narrowing them down to a specific question or area of media.
2. Establish Your Theoretical Framework
- Your assignment requires you to explain your research using an established theoretical framework. Start by identifying one or two key media theories or models that can best help explain your topic. For example, you could look at theories like media effects theory, agenda-setting theory, or framing theory, depending on your topic. If you’ve received feedback to explore foundational theory-based texts, this would be a good time to integrate older, more established works alongside recent literature.
3. Create an Outline
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Introduction: Begin with a brief overview of your topic and state the research question or problem you’re exploring. Explain why this area of media research is significant and what you hope to achieve with your study. Make sure your objectives are clearly articulated, as this helps guide the rest of your research.
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Literature Review: Discuss previous research in the field. In your case, ensure a balanced mix of both contemporary sources and foundational texts. Highlight key debates, gaps in existing research, and explain how your work will contribute to filling those gaps.
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Methodology: Outline the methods you will use to gather data or analyze media texts. This section should be detailed enough to demonstrate how you will approach your research, whether through qualitative or quantitative methods, case studies, content analysis, etc.
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Analysis: This is where you will apply the theoretical framework to analyze your topic. Use your framework to interpret the data, texts, or case studies you’ve gathered. Provide critical insights into how this framework sheds new light on the topic.
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Discussion/Conclusion: Conclude by summarizing your key findings, restating how your research contributes new insights into the field of media studies. Consider any limitations of your research and propose areas for future research.
4. Draft the Essay
- Once you have your outline, start drafting. Be sure to follow the required formatting guidelines: double-spacing, 3cm margins, and page numbers. Remember to cite sources using Harvard in-text referencing. Your writing should be clear, cohesive, and logical.
5. Revise and Proofread
- After completing the draft, give yourself time to revise and improve. Check for coherence in your argument, clarity in your writing, and whether your essay effectively addresses your research question.
- Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and syntax to ensure your writing meets the academic standards expected at the Master’s level.
6. Final Submission
- Make sure to double-check all referencing and formatting requirements. Once you’re satisfied with your final draft, save the document as a Word or PDF file and submit it via Turnitin on your course MyUni page.
If you follow this structure and approach each step carefully, you should be able to develop a strong, well-researched essay that showcases new insights into your chosen media topic.