QTV

MEDIA LITERACY RESEARCH PROJECT

 

Throughout this class, we will be looking at media through a critical lens.  For this project you are being asked to analyze media, conduct research, and present findings based on a thesis or essential question. .Topics for this assignment are wide open, as long as there is a clear connection to media literacy.  Once you have decided on a topic, you will need to refine it with a question or hypothesis. 

 

Here are some ideas that you can choose from:

           

            TOPIC           

Guiding Question/Thesis Ideas

New Fall Television Show

Will the Show succeed?

Comedy

What makes something funny?

What are different techniques used for humor?

Why are sitcoms a dying breed?

Sports

How has cable and satellite TV affected sports on television?

Advertising

What are effects of advertising?

How is gender portrayed in advertising?

Movies

Compare movies that have been remade (Oceans 11, Posiedon, etc.)

Compare similar characters in movies new and old (high school girls, stoners)

Discuss the impact of violence in movies

Music Videos

How do music videos affect the way we dance

How do music videos portray women

Animation

Research the difference in the process of hand animation v. computer animation

Television Systems/History

What are rating systems?  How do they work?  Why are they important.

What happened to the old black and white shows?

What is HDTV, digital TV and what happens in February 2009?

Reality TV

How real are the shows?

Issue in Media

The impact of violence in media on kids

Stereotypes in television

Race portrayal in the media

Copyright and Piracy

 

Here are a few places you can look for more topic ideas and resources:

            Center for Media Literacy

Media Literacy Clearinghouse

 

There are three phases to this project, once you have refined your topic:

 

PHASE 1—RESEARCH

You need to research from a minimum of 4 sources.  2 or more of these must be actual television shows, videos, or movies.

 

PHASE 2—PRODUCTION

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ARE:

ü       telling basic information about your topic

ü       incorporation of the 5 core concepts into your presentation

ü       clear evidence of analytical level thinking

ü       multi-media presentation

ü       complete bibliography

ü       well-delivered presentation

ü       PRESENTATION MUST INCLUDE SOUND OR VIDEO      

 

PHASE 3—PRESENTATION

After fine-tuning and rehearsing, you will deliver your presentation to the class.  Presentaions can be done the week of June 9-13.

 

HELPFUL INFORMATION

 

 

Use a variety of resources. In your research.  The home network site is good, but may be biased.  Be sure you read reviews from newspapers and magazines.

 

Some good ones are:

o        http://www.latimes.com/

o        http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

o        New York Times

o        Washington Post

o        Google News

Some sites for getting popular opinions are:

o        Metacritic

o        Entertainment Weekly

o        Yahoo TV

For bibliographies, use MLA style—here is an example for television:

"Title of Episode or Segment." Title of Program or Series. Credit (Performer, writer, etc). Name of Network. Call Letters (if any), City of Local Station (if any). Broadcast Date.

EXAMPLES:

"Daddy Knows Best." Cold Case Files. Narr. Bill Kurtis. A & E. 6 Sept. 2004.

"Why the Towers Fell." Nova. PBS. KHET, Honolulu. 7 Sept. 2004.

 

MLA STYLE GUIDE

GETTING YOUTUBE VIDEOS (you need to do this at home)

EXPANDED QUESTIONS