PROJECT ASSIGNMENT - COMM. 342/642

By Sept 30 or before you or your research group (I recommend doing the project yourself and not in groups) must schedule a meeting with the instructor to present their idea for the research project. Immediately after class is a good time for me typically.

By Oct 9 your or your research group must have a written proposal that should (when appropriate) follow these guidelines:

1. No more than two pages. Encourage submission via e-mail at any time. Will facilitate comments, approval, and turnaround: louden@wfu.edu
2. Include the hypothesis or hypotheses you plan to examine (a clear declarative statement of what is to be tested) and some indication of the methodology for examining the materials
3. Indicate the materials (and availability) you will examine
4. Attach a second/third page with preliminary bibliography. Obviously it is helpful to do some preliminary reading on your topic of interest.
5. If your project takes the form of examining a body of primary materials you may want to work in groups (i.e., tracing historical trends, coding several spots, surveying/interviewing)

All projects must be approved. Thus if the project is not clearly defined, too broad, or an inappropriate topic you will be asked to resubmit the proposal until it is accepted.

Be creative. A more innovative project (i.e., working in an actual campaign, writing & filming a political spot, or whatever) than a standard research project could better fit your needs. Projects other than written papers will be considered. You may find a preliminary/informal visit about your topic thoughts of use.

This is a research project not a normal term paper. Thus you would want a "review of literature" section but also method, results, & discussion sections.

HINT: To find an appropriate project you may want to peruse the texts and appropriate journals. Avoid settling too early on a topic or looking only at topics were have covered in class at that point. Allow your natural curiosity about events or items you have observed in politics lead you to an appropriate research question. Remember to narrow, narrow, narrow, the focus of your research question. Also reference the collection of bibliographies in the bibliography packet on library reserve and in Dept. office. The one titled Misc. may prove particularly interesting, if for no other reason than to see the variety of ideas which are possible. If you have no idea, just pursuing the bibs should help generate ideas. Also there are amazing materials available on web sites. I really do not want to talk to anyone about their project if they have not consulted the bibliographies on reserve. Bib on homepage, just backup and follow the bibs section.

For a review of picking a topic see Research Project Power Point