1. The short answer response differs from the research
paper in several important ways:
1. IT IS SHORTER
2. IT TENDS NOT TO REQUIRE A CONVENTIONAL
THESIS STATEMENT
3. IT REQUIRES FAR LESS WRITING
4. IT ASKS YOU TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR
KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF ADDED
TIME, NOTES, BOOKS, AND THE OBJECT IN
QUESTION (FILM, TV SHOW, BOOK, ETC.)

2. Here is how you successfully respond to short answer questions:
1. READ THE QUESTION(S) VERY CAREFULLY. READ IT/THEM
SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH. IF THE LANGUAGE IS UNCLEAR TO
YOU, APPROACH YOUR INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY AND ASK
THEM TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION.
2. TAKE NOTES OFF TO THE SIDE REGARDING WHAT THE
QUESTION(S) IS/ARE ASKING FOR.
A. IS/ARE THE QUESTION(S) ASKING FOR A SINGLE
DEFINITION? MULTIPLE DEFINITIONS?
B. IS/ARE THE QUESTION(S) ASKING FOR A LISTING OF
CHARACTERISTICS?
C. ? IS/ARE THE QUESTION(S) ASKING FOR YOU TO
CONNECT ONE THING (OR MULTIPLE THINGS) TO
SOMETHING ELSE?

3. TAKING STOCK OF PRECISELY WHAT THE QUESTION (OR QUESTIONS)
WANT FROM YOU IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT GIVES
YOU THE ROADMAP AND THE CONFIDENCE TO WRITE A PRECISE
RESPONSE THAT NOT ONLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION(S) BUT LIKELY
SAVES YOU TIME AND CONFUSION.
3. CONSULT THE NOTES YOU’VE WRITTEN NEXT TO THE
QUESTION(S) AS YOU ARE WORKING YOUR WAY THROUGH.
A. MARK OUT YOUR NOTES AS YOU INCORPORATE
THEM INTO YOUR ANSWER.
4. DO NOT RESTATE THE QUESTION(S) AS STATEMENTS.
A. THIS WASTES YOUR TIME AS THE WRITER AND THE
READER’S TIME AS WELL.
B. IT DOES NOTHING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
C. TAKING NOTES OFF TO THE SIDE WILL HELP YOU TO
FORMULATE YOUR RESPONSES AND SHOULD HELP YOU
TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM.

4. REVIEW THE QUESTION(S) AND YOUR ANSWERS CAREFULLY.
5. DID YOU RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THE QUESTION(S)?
A. DID YOU PROVIDE THE NECESSARY KIND OF
MATERIAL (I.E. MAKE CONNECTIONS WHERE NEEDED,
PROVIDE LISTS WHERE NEEDED)?
B. DID YOU PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO BACK UP CLAIMS THAT
YOU HAVE MADE?

5. In general terms, what is the Telecommunications Act of
1996? What is the logic behind the Act, and how has it
generally transformed the telecommunications industries?
How do the telecom industries after the Act compare to the
telecom industries before the act, and what does this suggest
about the significance of the Act overall?

6. TAKE A MOMENT AND REVIEW YOUR RESPONSE TO THE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TELECOM ACT OF 1996.
DID YOU:
1. PROVIDE A GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE ACT IN TERMS OF
WHO PASSED IT AND WHAT SECTOR OF AMERICAN SOCIETY
IT ADDRESSED? DID YOU ADDRESS THE LOGIC BEHIND IT?
2. DID YOU EXPLAIN ITS REPERCUSSIONS IN
COMPARISON/CONTRAST TO THE LANDSCAPE OF
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BEFORE THE ACT?

7. NOW YOU NEED TO TEAM UP WITH A CLASSMATE. READ
ONE ANOTHER’S RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE RESEARCH PROJECT ‘IDEA.’
DOES THEIR RESPONSE:
Of the 2-3 Research Project ideas you brought to class
with you today, which one do you most want to do?
Briefly explain your choice utilizing the critical
terms/concepts particular to your medium of choice.
Utilize course concepts to explain your critical interest in
the object and offer an informed perspective on the
significance and politics of your object. Do this in
approximately 5 sentences, abiding by the conventions of
short answer responses we’ve discussed in class.

8. TEAM UP WITH A CLASSMATE. READ ONE ANOTHER’S RESPONSE TO THE
RESEARCH PAPER ‘IDEA’ QUESTIONS. READ FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. DOES IT SPECIFY ONE IDEA? IS IT CLEAR WHAT MOVING
IMAGE OBJECT THEY WANT TO ANALYZE FOR THE PAPER?
2. DOES IT EXPLAIN THEIR CHOICE UTILIZING THE CRITICAL
MEDIUM-SPECIFIC TERMS WE’VE ENCOUNTERED IN CLASS?
WHAT SPECIFIC TERMS ARE THEY USING? WHAT OTHER
TERMS COULD/SHOULD THEY CONSIDER?
3. WHAT OTHER TERMS MIGHT THEY WANT TO CONSIDER
THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THEIR RESPONSE?
4. WHAT IS THEIR INFORMED PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR OBJECT?
CAN YOU PICK IT OUT IN THE RESPONSE? IF SO, WHAT IS IT
THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE OBJECT ON
A BROADER SOCIAL/CULTURAL LEVEL?
5. WHAT QUESTIONS COME TO MIND FOR YOU WITH REGARD
TO THEIR OBJECT? WHAT ELSE SHOULD THEY CONSIDER
THAT PERHAPS (AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THEIR RESPONSE)
THEY HAVE NOT AT THIS POINT?
WRITE DOWN YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND SHARE THEM WITH EACH OTHER.