The document provides guidelines for a term paper assignment in a public relations course. It outlines that outlines are due by December 30th and can be on the same topics as in-class presentations. The goal is to familiarize the reader with the general topic by learning about it through existing literature and writing a summary. Papers must include an introduction, body with citations from at least 3 books and 3 articles, conclusion, and references page with a minimum of 6 sources. The body should not include case studies discussed in class. Papers will be graded on research, topic adherence, coverage, argument, conclusions, citations, grammar, and instructions followed.

1. PRA 311 Term Paper Guide
Important Note: Deadline for submitting outlines is December 30, 2010. Outlines will be
printed and submitted to Pınar Umul (Office: A Block 505). Topics for term papers are the
same with in-class case study presentations. You may either work on the term papers
individually or with your team members.
Goal of Paper
Imagine you wish to describe a particular topic within the field of public relations to a
person who has no preliminary knowledge of what you wish to discuss. This is the way in
which the term paper for this course is to be written. Your paper should be designed such that
it familiarizes the reader with the general topic that the paper is discussing.
The main point of preparing your term papers is to learn more about a topic relevant to
the course and write down what you have learned in an organized, readable fashion. Doing a
term paper involves reading what scholars and critics have had to say about a particular topic
and evaluating it. A term paper is not a "research" paper in the strict sense, as you are not
expected to produce new data or hypotheses. Instead, you should develop a thorough
understanding of some topic through a study of the existing literature and then provide a
written summary of this study with the conclusions that can be drawn from it.
Literature Review and Making Use of Sources
Preparation of the term paper requires thorough knowledge of the chosen topic
through a study of the existing literature in public relations. Since the basis of a term paper is
pre-existing knowledge, there will probably be very little information in your paper that didn't
come from the work of other people. Scholastic ethics require that we give sufficient credit to
the work of those who provide the foundation upon which we build. Therefore, information
obtained from existing literature should be adequately cited within your text. This is not
restricted to student term papers -- all scholarly publications require citations.
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2. - When using research sources, there are certain important considerations to keep
especially in mind. Normally you are expected to use to a research library and real,
paper books and journal articles (though more and more journal articles are
available online through library services--talk to a reference librarian to get help
with this). When drawing on sources, don't just string quotations together, or
paraphrase what they have to say by changing a few words. Master the material
and incorporate it into your own argument, still remembering to cite the source
you've drawn on whether you quote it or not.
Main Points:
- All papers should be typed in 12 font size, using Times New Roman, in double space
and justified.
- The paper should have the following margins: 3cm from left, 2,5cm from top, bottom
and right.
- Be sure to give your paper a specific title which clearly describes its contents.
- You should have the first page unnumbered, which will be your title page. Title
page should include your title of the term paper, author’s (your) name, date, course
name and the name of lecturer.
- Always write at least the amount assigned. Optimal length for your term paper
project is around 3000 words. Always number your pages.
- There should be at least 6 references
- Allow yourself time to proofread and correct your paper. You are responsible for
any errors in the finished product.
- Plagiarism can be avoided by reading the source material and taking notes and
NEVER copying word for word.
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3. The Content:
The actual term paper text must have the following sections contained within it. In addition,
each section must be labeled within the paper.
I. Introduction
II. Body
III. Conclusion
IV. References
I. Introduction
The actual topic being discussed and its importance should be presented here. An inability to
compose an introduction may indicate that you have failed to address a topic in a way
necessary to produce an acceptable paper.
II. Body
In this section you will be presenting your chosen topic in detail. You are expected to make
use of existing literature on your topic, quoting or paraphrasing from sources (books and
articles, internet sources should not be used). This section should at a minimum include three
books and three articles about your selected topic. Keep in mind that this term paper
should not be including any case studies about your topic, since you have already
presented case studies in class. What you should be doing is to review selected readings on
your topic and to inform the reader about your public relations topic in an organized way.
Be sure to adhere to the particular topic in your writing. Presenting information that strays off
the topic or contains irrelevant information will result in a lowered score.
• Quotations longer than 40 words should be in 10 font size, indented, typed in single
space and separated from the main text. There should not be any quotation marks.
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4. These quotes should not be longer than 60 words. Note that there are no double
quotation marks.
Companies are spending more and more money and time on ‘reputation management’. Most large
enlightened companies now have some sort of crisis communication manual in place, sitting alongside
business continuity plans in case of serious emergency. Most also have some sort of issues management
structure (Griffin, 2008: 5).
• Use double quotation marks when beginning a direct quote (not longer than 40 words).
Jdjwd wdddjwk dwkdwkd wkd wkd ll cmsklsli. “Most large enlightened companies now
have some sort of crisis communication manual in place, sitting alongside business continuity
plans in case of serious emergency” (Griffin, 2008: 5).
• If you give the author’s last name just before the quote (Griffin) only include the date
of the book and the page numbers.
Sjdsfdsf dkfdkfdk kdvdkfdck vkdlkfdlkfc dckdl, Griffin argues, “that most large
enlightened companies now have some sort of crisis communication manual in place”
(2008: 5).
• If you are not taking direct quotes but are only rephrasing, just give the name of the
theorist and the date of his/her work in parentheses
According to Smith (1998), X style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
III. Conclusion
You should present here a summary of the arguments you have made and your final
statement. Only in this section you may use first person (I), since you are giving a final
statement rising from your own opinion.
IV. References
• The references should be listed at the end of the article, on a separate page and in
alphabetical order. Have at least six alphabetized sources (books, journal articles,
database articles etc.).
• The references should be in 12 font size, Times New Roman and single space.
• Every work cited in the main text should be listed in the references.
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5. For books
Last Name of the author, Initial(s) of the author. (publication date) The title of the book. Where it was
published: Which publishing house published it.
Smith, H. (1999) Public Relations. London: Routledge.
For a chapter of an edited book
Last Name of the author, Initial(s) of the author. (publication date) The title of the chapter. In Last
name of the editor, Initial(s) of the editor (ed) The title of the book it was published in, Where it was
published: Which publishing house published it.
Theaker, P. (2005) Public Relations and Employee Communication. In Smith, F. (ed) Public
Relations, London: Sage.
For articles
Last Name of the author, Initial(s) of the author. (publication date) The title of the article. The name
of the journal in which it was published. Volume, Issue: Page numbers.
Hayworth, S. (2008) Public Relations and Employee Communication: A Research in Turkey.
Journal of Public Relations. 21, 1: 59-69.
Grading Philosophy
Papers will be graded out of hundred. Factors that will be considered in the grading will
include, but not be limited to:
• Quality, quantity, & thoroughness of research
• Adherence to topic
• Thoroughness of coverage of the topic issues
• Relevancy and clarity of argument
• Persuasiveness and accuracy of conclusions
• Correctness and quality of works cited
• Grammar and spelling
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6. • Adherence to instructions
In order to learn more about the format, you may visit:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ and make use of Sample Paper in the
website.
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