2. Assignment asks for:
You to reflect on:
- research process
- sources
- concepts
- medium (of one source)
- a takeaway
3. Reflecting on: Research Process (1)
Did you answer the question you set out to, or did you discover it is more nuanced
or complicated? That is, no one answer for all scenarios?
Ex. of weak statement: “Throughout research I learned that there are many
different outlooks to take into consideration.”
To improve: Use your keywords, reference the thesis or conclusion you came to,
what population or stakeholders this applies to, and where there is a weakness.
Ex: of strong statement: “While I came to see that indie films are valued
for their ‘authenticity’ by highly-educated and older viewers, it also became
apparent that those that seek out blockbusters, instead, value the action and
entertainment factor.
4. Research Process (2)
Provide a follow-up statement with where additional research could be done, or
another question this leads you to. How could you work to understand the
limitations of where your thesis ends?
Ex.: It would be interesting in follow-up research to evaluate the appeals of the
different audiences, to see what action/ entertainment provides, such as catharsis
or escapism, that more nuanced indie films do not. While that question is outside
the parameters of this research, indie films must be evaluated by their goals, and
not considered by definitions of other films.
5. Reflecting on: Sources (1)
Do you feel you incorporated voices from all angles involved? What other
viewpoints, in the future, could be included, that didn’t get included here?
Ex. of weak statement: “There are sides on this topic that agree, disagree, and
don’t have as much a stake in the issue, so it was important to find a balance of
viewpoints.”
To improve: Describe your range of sources, including types (academic,
narrative), as well as groups (the background fields/ credibilities of sources) - as
well as your counter-viewpoint.
Ex. of strong statement: “Considering film critics, directors, and movie-goers,
including those that patronize indie films and those that don’t, made the question
of aesthetic also a business question, that is, about the profit and return of types
of films.”
6. Sources (2)
This can also be a place to talk about specific sources, either:
- one that helped change or clarify your thinking, or
- one that directed you to other sources, or a specific concept
(using your free-write)
Also, consider the limitation of the sources you used, and what may be worth
considering to expand the question:
Ex.: “As most of the film critics and reviewers were men, however, even in
commenting on diversity in indie films, the lack of female reviewers not only
reflects patterns in the industry, but still leaves out important voices for who seeks
out indie films and why.”
7. Reflecting on: Concepts Used
If you chose the included three concepts to discuss, what other concepts or
themes were not part of your paper, that you feel could also be included?
Move from vague (“many others”) → to specific
Ex.: By focusing on directors’ diversity, plots, and marketing (of indie films), my
discussion was limited to pre-production and release, and did not take into
account post-production, such as how DVD sales may affect how people access
indie movies.
State how this is important/ could affect understanding of your topic
8. Reflecting on: the medium of a single source
Analyze why it was so effective for your argument. What was the language/ style/
tone used in it? What was the visual layout on the page: colors/ headings/ bullet
points/ subtitles, text columns, etc.? How did this lend itself to credibility?
Pick one source. Tell me about how it reached its audience and why it appealed to
it.
Ex: “The website for the Sundance Film Festival did a stunning job of showing
what people are looking for when they go to events to see indie films. The website
included posters of the films, like a theater marquee, as well as photos of people
attending it; the number of viewers, expression, and body language showed an
eagerness and excitement for the screenings. The headings for different film
categories made it easy to access information quickly…” (etc)
9. Reflecting on: the takeaway...
The “So What?” Why is your conclusion valuable? How does that help us in our
thinking?
You’ll tell us, but also SHOW us:
10. “The Pitch”
Two minute presentations - trying to “sell us” on reading your paper
Includes:
- 1 image
- A “set-up”
- A closer look
- Why it matters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhjkhuVO3YQ
11. “The Pitch”
Two minute presentations - trying to “sell us” on reading your paper
Includes:
- 1 image: photograph (perhaps chosen from visual analysis)
- A “set-up”: facts and knowledge audience already has
(pulled from introduction or background)
- A closer look: something new revealed in research that audience wouldn’t
assume
(pulled from a source from the body section)
- Why it matters: What would we be at risk of misunderstanding, if we didn’t
investigate this topic?
(the “So What?”/ look into the future)
