Rebecca Moore Howard
Office: 237 HB Crouse
Office hours: Tuesdays 1:15-2:15; Thursdays 11:15-2:15; and by appointment
Telephone: 443-1620
E-mail: rehoward@syr.edu
Home page http://wrt-howard.syr.edu
Assignment, Paper #1
Media Coverage of the Presidential Primary
WRT 205, section 283
"Engaging Presidential Politics"
Spring 2004
Time: TTh 2:30-3:40
Place: 323 HB Crouse
Course website: http://wrt-howard.syr.edu/Syllabi/205S04/Syl205S04.html
Explain your evaluation of media coverage of the current presidential primary.
Purpose and audience: Your classmates and I will be reading this paper. So you're writing to an audience whom you already know, an audience that has some information on the topic; we're all looking at the same issue together. Write for your primary audience, the members of WRT 205-283, and tell us something we don't already know: your analysis of the situation. You'll also be working with materials that the rest of us may not have read, so you'll need to be specific in your description and explanation of them. You'll need to explain your claims and evidence unambiguously--especially because, unless you tell me you don't want me to, I intend to publish your papers on the course website, where people all over the world might read them.
Thesis: The Longman Companion has good advice on framing a thesis; see section 4b. And of course :) the Howard handbook has good advice; see section 5a. For this paper, your thesis can be broad (e.g., "Media coverage of the primary won't help me decide who to vote for") or specific (e.g., "Word choice and metaphors in the various media sources indicate their political biases" or "CNN offers the best coverage of the primary campaign").
Evidence: You need to explain why you believe your thesis, and why we should. Howard Ch. 5b offers advice on developing evidence.
Materials to include in the paper: websites, online newspapers, and print newsmagazines that you have consulted. Include analysis of two U.S. television or radio news broadcasts. Include analysis of two or more international sources that are covering U.S. politics; Sandra Jamieson maintains an extensive list of media sources where you can find links. At your option, you may include additional materials. Your international media sources can be radio, websites, newspapers, or magazines.
Analysis of materials: Be specific about your analysis of the reliability of your sources; see Howard Ch. 18. Figure out the agenda of not only the article you're reading but the source in which it's published.
Length of paper: 1000-1500 words, plus list of works cited (see Longman Companion Ch. 51).
Design specifications: Put your name, email, and phone number on the first page. Number the pages of your manuscript. Double-space your text. Find a printer that prints legibly.
Due date: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 4.
Submission procedures: Hand in a print copy at 239 HB Crouse Hall (the main office of the Writing Program). Put it in the drop box provided there; a secretary can direct you to it. Sign the clipboard beside the box. Also send me an electronic copy: attach your file to an email.
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