1. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
1. You should already be researching your object.
A. Consult your notes from the librarian’s presentation.
B. Seek out help from the library if you are having trouble
finding information.
C. DO NOT put research off until the last minute. It will be
obvious if you do.
D. One of your guiding research questions should be:
“What do others say about my object?” You MUST work
with credible sources. NO WIKIPEDIA.

2. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
2. Follow directions!
A. Read the directions carefully
B. Do as the directions say.
1. If the directions ask you to name your file a
specific way, name your file that way.
2. If the directions ask you to double space your
text, double space your text.
3. If the directions ask you to talk about formal
elements, talk about formal elements.
C. Ask questions if the directions are unclear to you.
D. Failure to follow directions will not be tolerated and
will be punished severely.

3. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
3. Proofread your work very carefully
A. Spell check will not catch the misuse of actual
words (e.g. “premier”)
B. It is obvious when someone has not proofread
their work carefully; such work will see
significant point reductions.

4. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
4. Avoid uncritical language
A. This is not a media appreciation class. I have
said this from day one. The assignment
directions are clear about this as well.
B. I am not interested in whether you think
something is “good” or “bad.”
C. Your job in the Research Paper is show your
grasp of critical concepts and your ability to
apply them to an object of your choosing.

5. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
5. Make only those claims for which you have ample,
credible evidence.
A. When you characterize someone or
something, what evidence backs that up?
B. Is your claim too large for the scope of this
Paper?
C. Base your argument on credible evidence, not
guesses, feelings, or unsubstantiated ideas

6. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
6. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE
A. Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism includes:
1. Using someone else’s exact words
without citing them.
2. Paraphrasing someone else’s thoughts
without citing them.
3. Passing of someone else’s work
(including another student’s) as your own.
4. Using the same work for multiple
classes w/out instructor’s consent

7. Proposals and Research Papers: Observations
B. The penalties for plagiarism are severe:
1. An automatic zero on the assignment.
2. An “F” for the course.
3. Potential expulsion from IPFW.
4. Likely documentation of transgression
on your academic record/transcript.

8. Proposals and Research Papers:
7. Recommendations
A. Get started on research now.
B. Take notes.
C. Utilize IPFW’s resources!
D. Read the assignment directions multiple
times.
E. Be sure that you know what you need to do.
F. Consult with the IPFW Writing Center
(http://new.ipfw.edu/writing/), your notes, and
your assigned readings on how to write a paper
and how to avoid plagiarism.
G. Ask questions

9. Choose a partner.
Exchange one copy of your Proposal with each other.
Take 5-7 minutes to read through your colleague’s Proposal. Ask
yourself the following questions as you are reading:
1. What is your partner’s object of study (specifically)?
2. What specific scene within the film/tv show/online program is your
partner going to use for their formal analysis? Why?
3. Is your partner using course terms in their pitch? If so, which ones? If
not, ask them what course terms they are going to utilize. (Just saying
“formal analysis” is NOT enough. They must be specific).
4. What thoughts do they provide about the bigger picture, the
significance of the object within the broader world?
5. Where specifically is your partner making claims? What kind of
evidence are they using to back up their claims? Is it sufficient to
convince you?
6. What else could they consider as they start expanding this into a
Research Paper?

10. Now take 5-7 minutes to exchange responses to each other’s
Proposal.
1. Provide for them an oral synopsis of your written notes on their
Proposal.
2. Go through your individual responses to the questions posed
above.
3. Use the copy of your partner’s Proposal in front of you to take
notes. Mark the locations in the text where they are responding to
the above questions.
4. If they do not answer a question, make note of it on the
Proposal and bring it up with them. If they did not talk about a
specific scene, ask them to provide you with one.
5. You have the tools to do critical analysis, and so does your
partner. If they have not demonstrated so in their Proposal, you
need to ask them to be more specific, to demonstrate that
knowledge.
6. Be professional and collegial in your questions and your
discussion. You are asking questions because you want their
Proposal, and the work that grows out of the Proposal to be as
strong as it possibly can be.

11. The Peer Review assignment asks you to expand on the
workshop exercises you have been doing in class. Now, however,
you have to respond in writing, in full sentence paragraphs, to
your colleague’s work and think about their response to yours.
1. Exchange email addresses with your partner
2. Send your Proposal to your partner tonight (as
appropriately named email attachment)
3. Read through the questions before you read your
colleague’s Proposal.
4. Print your colleague’s Proposal and take notes

12. 5. In your meeting with your partner, follow up
with them regarding how their Proposal holds up
against the assignment questions.
6. Direct them to specific places in their Proposal
that you are referring to.
7. Write down their responses to your questions
and comments.
8. These notes are needed for your Peer Review!
9. Be sure to write down what your partner says
about your Proposal as well!
10. Bring a voice recorder to capture the
conversation if that is easier for you.

13. Upcoming schedule:
11/13: Exchange email addresses with Peer Review partner
11/13: Send your Proposal as email attachment to partner
11/13-11/20: Meet with Peer Review partner
11/20: Peer Review due via email attachment by 12PM
11/19-11/23: I will post readings for 11/27, 11/29
11/27: Class resumes. I will return exams, extra credit, appeals,
and Peer Reviews. We discuss Feminist Film Theory, Rear
Window, and begin our discussion of television.
Come to class ready to talk about Rear Window. Come ready to answer the
following questions:
1. In Feminist Film Theory, who looks and who is looked at?
2. Given that these “looking relations” (who looks and who is looked at) are
fundamental to Hollywood filmmaking, what conclusions can we reach about
Hollywood’s treatment of women and Hollywood’s gender politics?
I will send out additional reading prompts to accompany the television materials.