Essay #4: Critically Reading and Evaluating Original Scholarship Purpose of Assignment The fourth program learning outcome (PLO) for the Communication Studies major at San Francisco State is that its majors can read critically and evaluate original scholarship. This essay allows you to explain what primary/original scholarship means and how you critically read and evaluated original scholarship within your major. Requirements In 4.5 to 5 pages (typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-pt font), write an essay that adheres to the following content guidelines.  1. Your first paragraph should state that the ability to read critically and evaluate primary scholarship is central to the Communication Studies major at SFSU. You should then explain what “primary scholarship” refers to and how it differs from secondary sources. 2. Your second paragraph should make clear that there are different types of primary scholarship (e.g., books, book chapters, research articles, performances, legal decisions) and then explain what it means to read critically and evaluate primary scholarship. 3. Your third paragraph should explain why it is important to be able to read critically and evaluate primary sources. 4. In the remainder of your essay (3-4 pages), you should identify a specific assignment for a course in which you read critically and evaluated primary scholarship, summarize the content of the primary scholarship you read in detail, and summarize your evaluation of the primary scholarship. 5. Be sure to provide closure to your essay. ** See the sample Scholarship essay within this iLearn Assignment Book.   Within the Communication Studies major at San Francisco State, I developed the ability to read critically and evaluate primary scholarship. Primary scholarship refers to original work. Examples of primary scholarship in Communication Studies include research studies published as academic articles, books and book chapters by originators of theories or research, as well as performances created by scholars, and even original legal decisions regarding communication law. Primary scholarship (or primary sources) differ from secondary sources, which offer summaries or interpretations of the original. In others words, a secondary source, such as a textbook or newspaper article, summarizes communication scholarship, but the primary source is the original, unedited work.             Reading primary scholarship critically means being able to break it down and fully understand the creator’s goals, processes, and meanings. For example, when reading original research, critically reading means being able to articulate the focus of the research, the specific methods that were used, and the results of the research. Critically reading also means being able to explain why the particular research methods make sense given the researcher’s goals and why the results might be the case. For example, in one of my classes we read a research article that found younge ...

1. Essay #4: Critically Reading and Evaluating Original
Scholarship
Purpose of Assignment
The fourth program learning outcome (PLO) for the
Communication Studies major at San Francisco State is that its
majors can read critically and evaluate original scholarship.
This essay allows you to explain what primary/original
scholarship means and how you critically read and evaluated
original scholarship within your major.
Requirements
In 4.5 to 5 pages (typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-pt
font), write an essay that adheres to the following content
guidelines.
1. Your first paragraph should state that the ability to read
critically and evaluate primary scholarship is central to the
Communication Studies major at SFSU. You should then
explain what “primary scholarship” refers to and how it differs
from secondary sources.
2. Your second paragraph should make clear that there are
different types of primary scholarship (e.g., books, book
chapters, research articles, performances, legal decisions) and
then explain what it means to read critically and evaluate
primary scholarship.
3. Your third paragraph should explain why it is important to be
able to read critically and evaluate primary sources.
4. In the remainder of your essay (3-4 pages), you should
identify a specific assignment for a course in which you read

2. critically and evaluated primary scholarship, summarize the
content of the primary scholarship you read in detail, and
summarize your evaluation of the primary scholarship.
5. Be sure to provide closure to your essay.
** See the sample Scholarship essay within this iLearn
Assignment Book.
Within the Communication Studies major at San Francisco
State, I developed the ability to read critically and evaluate
primary scholarship. Primary scholarship refers to original
work. Examples of primary scholarship in Communication
Studies include research studies published as academic articles,
books and book chapters by originators of theories or research,
as well as performances created by scholars, and even original
legal decisions regarding communication law. Primary
scholarship (or primary sources) differ from secondary sources,
which offer summaries or interpretations of the original. In
others words, a secondary source, such as a textbook or
newspaper article, summarizes communication scholarship, but
the primary source is the original, unedited work.
Reading primary scholarship critically means being able
to break it down and fully understand the creator’s goals,
processes, and meanings. For example, when reading original
research, critically reading means being able to articulate the
focus of the research, the specific methods that were used, and
the results of the research. Critically reading also means being
able to explain why the particular research methods make sense
given the researcher’s goals and why the results might be the
case. For example, in one of my classes we read a research
article that found younger, middle-age, and older couples
communicate differently during conflict. Reading critically
means understanding that finding, but also being able to explain

3. why it might be the case.
Evaluating primary scholarship means being able to
explain what it achieves as well as its limitations. For example,
the research study I mentioned regarding couples’ conflict
behavior was conducted with primarily White participants, and
all participants were in heterosexual relationships. It is possible
that cultural differences could impact conflict communication,
so although the research was well-conducted and produced
interesting results, the knowledge is incomplete until more
research is conducted that includes diverse participants.
Evaluating primary scholarship means that I can see limitations
and advocate for future research to address those limitations.
The ability to read critically and evaluate primary
scholarship is significant. Thanks to the internet, we all have
access to more information than we could possibly ever read or
view, but not all of that information is accurate or truthful.
Knowing the difference between primary and secondary sources
means that I do not have to take what others say at face value. I
can search out original, credible sources of information. Being
able to read critically means that I can make sense of complex
ideas, understanding underlying assumptions and the logic of an
argument. Being able to evaluate primary sources means that I
can also ask questions and see where our knowledge is still
incomplete.
One example of my ability to read critically and evaluate
primary scholarship is a literature review I wrote for my COMM
321GWAR class. “GWAR” stands for Graduation Writing
Assessment Requirement. COMM 321GWAR focused on the
topic of communication theory as well as writing for the
Communication Studies major. In that class, I utilized primary
communication scholarship to write a literature review
regarding the portrayal of female athletes in diverse media.

4. My literature review required me to read, then
summarize and synthesize, four primary, peer-reviewed
academic journal articles regarding my topic. Each source
reported original research. Some focused on detailed
comparisons of how male and female athletes are portrayed in
the media. For example, one team of researchers focused on
how commentators differently described male and female
athletes during the 2000 Final Four men’s and women’s
basketball tournaments. Other researchers focused specifically
on how female athletes are portrayed. For example, one author
focused on how members of the 2004 women’s Olympic soccer
team were sexualized by media reports. All of the research
regarding media portrayals of female athletes led to my thesis
that media often focus on their appearance and social
characteristics, rather than celebrating their athletic abilities
and achievements.
To critically read the primary sources for my literature
review, I had to clearly identify the focus of each article, the
specific methods the researcher or researchers used, and their
specific findings. I then had to summarize the focus, methods,
and findings in my own words and eventually synthesize the
summaries. I synthesized the research by creating two main
sections in my literature review—research focusing on the
frequency of mediated portrayals of female athletes, and
research focusing on the nature of the portrayals.
Research regarding the frequency of portrayals of
female athletes in media indicates that female athletes are
reported on less frequently and are positioned as less important
than male athletes. For example, in one study that analyzed over
500 print newspaper articles focused on athletes, almost 74% of
the coverage focused on male athletes. Particularly interesting
was that when photographs of athletes appeared, male athletes
were most often shown engaged in their sport, while female
athletes were rarely shown engaged in their sport. Not only are

5. female athletes underrepresented, they are presented as pretty
objects to look at, not as powerful, capable athletes.
Research focusing on how female athletes are portrayed
by media suggests they are often objectified and presented
within traditional gender roles. For example, one study focused
on print and televised media coverage of the 1999 U.S. w omen’s
soccer team found strong emphasis on these athletes as wives,
mothers, and daughters, rather than on their athletic abilities
and accomplishments. Another study focused on portrayals of
Caster Semenya, who was the winner of the 2009 World
Championship women’s 800-meter race and was later subjected
to gender testing. Subsequent portrayals of Semenya featured
her in “feminine” and alluring clothing and poses, objectifying
Semenya and reinforcing a gender binary.
To evaluate the primary research that I read and
synthesized, I had to think beyond what the researchers had
done. I had to consider what was missing from the research and
what else researchers could do to expand knowledge regarding
this topic. I suggested that studies could focus on sport-specific
networks, such as ESPN, to compare coverage of male and
female athletes. I also suggested that future research might
compare how an athlete’s race intersects with sex to impact
media portrayals. Are Black and White female athletes
portrayed differently in the media, for example?
By learning how to critically read primary scholarship,
I am able to go to the original source for an idea. I can break
down a primary source’s focus, method, and findings to explain
it in my own words, as well as explain how multiple sources
regarding a topic combine to create understanding of a topic.
Critically reading primary scholarship helps me think like a
researcher. I am also able to evaluate what is missing from a
body of research and propose questions of my own.

6. Evaluation
You can earn up to 20 points for this assignment, based on the
degree to which you clearly address and fully develop the parts
of the essay as well as the quality of your writing. This essay
will become part of the central focus of your ePortfolio. You
want to represent yourself well; therefore, the quality of your
writing is especially important. Edit and proofread carefully!!!
Be clear and accurate.