3. Final Essay
Due: 17 February 2006
Value: 50%
A 3000 word research essay that develops an analysis of an area of news and current affairs reporting and relates it to the theoretical perspectives explored in the course.
Task Requirments
To write a 3000-word essay on an area of News & Current Affairs reporting.There should be clear links between the topic, the subject readings, your blog research and the content developed in your essay.
The 3000-word essay should include
- an introduction,
- a central proposition that organises the material,
- data from your blogging research study
- arguments supported by evidence in support of your central proposition,
- a critical examination of opposing viewpoints,
- a conclusion
- a bibliography.
Task Aims
This task has three aims:
- to encourage you to draw on the research and learning experiences accumulated during the semester;
- to encourage you to creatively present your ideas in a written essay form using the conventions of academic presentation and referencing
- to encourage you to treat the essay as an opportunity to display the knowledge you have acquired about news and current affairs through research, reading and reflection.
Assessment criteria:
Research skills: demonstrated ability to develop a clear, logical and convincing argumentative essay that relates to the topic, draws on relevant intellectual resources, and integrates the case study
Critical analysis: demonstrated understanding of the topic as evidenced by the quality of the central proposition, of the case in support of that proposition based on scholarly research and evidence, of the critical examination of opposing points of view , of the integration of the case study into the argument and of the conclusion
Effective communication: demonstrated ability to write up an interesting essay that observes academic referencing and bibliography protocols (Harvard style)
