• MID-TERM GUIDE
 
Int'l Journalism

Guide to the mid-term


     Here's the guide sheet for the mid-term examination. Good luck to all. If you have any questions, come by my office or e-mail me, and I'll get back to you ASAP. Thanks, Malcolm

Guide sheet for mid-term exam for JOUR 502, International Journalism. Select one of three questions, which will be sent to you by e-mail shortly after class on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

Deadline: Deadline will be noon, Monday, Oct. 21, in my office, 305 Stauffer-Flint, or the desk in the Journalism Resource Center, where it will be time-stamped and put in my mailbox.

Notes and suggestions:

  • I suggest the following three-part format:
    • The issue as addressed in “Reflections.”
    • The issue as it relates to your topic.
    • Conclusion (in which you use the points raised by others – “Reflections,” readings and your research –  to make your point[s]).
  • You must use examples from “Reflections” and our readings and/or research relating to your own research topic to support your view(s) or conclusion(s).
  • You must make relevant your selected topic of study into this dissertation.
  • An important reminder: In academic papers, you express your opinions – findings – through the opinions and research of others – “Reflections,” readings on reserve, and your own research. Avoid (in other words, no need to use) “I.”

Instructions:

  1. Main text, no more (or much less) than five pages*, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times or Times-Roman, one-inch margins, for your answer. (And I have templates for both PC and Mac, so don't “fudge.”) Bibliography — works cited and second references — is extra…so that’ll make it six pages total. That means you must be concise and to the point. Make every sentence count. Points off for wordiness. Pay close attention to guidelines below about headings and attribution.
  1. Name atop page and Question # you’ve selected on one line. That’s all. No titles, subheads or other adornments. Example: Mary Jones, Question #2. (Skip a line and start writing.) No cover sheet. Staple the six pages (five-page answer plus bibliography) at the top left corner.
  1. Attribute your sources in the following ways:
    • For “Reflections” – (p. ##). For example, (p. 10). (If no name, I know it’s Pintak.)
    • For other references – (Author’s last name, p. ##).  For example, (Jones, p. 10). Or: Jones (p. 10) says… (Note: Include page number ONLY if relevant; otherwise, just last name.)
    • Bibliography at end for all sources other than Pintak: Author (last name first), Title, Publication, Date, Page ## (if necessary). Bibliography does not count as total page count; in other words, no more than five-pages* for your answer – bibliography is extra.

*Not much less, either.

Grading: Content (strength of issue and argument) – 50%; support (quality of sources and source material) – 25%; writing (grammar, conciseness [wordiness is heavily penalized], syntax, etc.) – 25%. (Note: If one or more areas are significantly deficient, I can weigh that section or sections greater. For example, if there are many misspellings, that section could count for more than 25%. That is the same grading procedure/rule for the entire class, as stated in the syllabus. That ensures that you pay equal attention to all areas.)

*  *  *

Deadline: Noon, Monday, Oct. 21, in my office, 305 Stauffer-Flint, or the desk in the Journalism Resource Center, where it will be time-stamped and put in my mailbox. Note: Late submissions will result in a one-letter-grade deduction and one-letter-grade deduction per day thereafter, unless other arrangements are made well in advance.

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Updated Oct. 10, 2013