Journal Overview and Citation Practices
1. I have chosen the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications. They have journal topics ranging from the use of Twitter in political campaigns to the influences of rap and hip-hop music. A lot of the studies/journals focus on women and the effects that each topic has on them. These journals center on popular culture and relevant situations and happenings in today's society.
2. I have chosen the article entitled The Influence of Rap/Hip-Hop Music: A Mixed-Method Analysis on Audience Perceptions of Misogynistic Lyrics and the Issue of Domestic Violence.
a.Young adults between the ages of 16 and 30 are the most likely age group to consume rap/hip-hop music, and in turn, may become desensitized to the derogatory lyrics condoning relationship violence and sexual aggression (Smith, 2005). Specifically, the college-aged demographic has been influenced by the prevalence of sexually explicit media and the negative images of women presented in hip-hop culture, which “teach men that aggression and violence are closely linked to cultural views of masculinity” (Wood, 2012, p. 105). Furthermore, the physical abuse of women is celebrated in rap/hip-hop songs promoting “models of masculinity that sustain and encourage misogyny” (Cobb & Boettcher, 2007, p. 3026).
In the first sentence the author starts out with a general statement regarding who and what her journal is about, and what she is going to be “proving”. She concludes the first sentence citing her source to validate her facts and to reassure the reader of her research and knowledge. She then, in the next sentence, chooses a specific group of people to report on and quotes her second source. The author is directing her information to the reader in a straight and concise manner. The final sentence builds on her argument of hip-hop, its effects on college-aged people and what it promotes to them. She ends her paragraph citing the quote promoting her thesis.
3.By using the citations, the author is letting the audience know that she is very well versed in the facts regarding her topic/thesis. The author is attempting to reach and audience where this sort of thing is relevant and interesting. She goes into depth in her thesis letting the readers know what exactly she is talking about and where exactly she wants the readers minds to go when they view this journal. It is obvious that she is not fond of the lyrics and meanings behind hip-hop music or the fact that it promotes and celebrates violence towards women. Informing the audience of this and her thoughts and researched facts will get their attention, but I doubt it will get them to stop listening to hip-hop if they already do.
In Class Work-
1. 8330 words per article w/ ~15 references
2. In the paper that I am basing this project on, I only have half a dozen sources. That is less than half of the sources that the articles I am researching have. When doing this project I will need to use more of these scholary articles/journals to fully understand what other work has been done on my topic and to validate some of my thoughts. I will also have the pleasure of rewatching a lot of the films that I will be referencing to assure that I have the stories and facts correct.
Definition Practices
In this journal regarding Dietary Supplements and their advertisements, the author only defines a few words throughout the article. The author mainly discusses what the FDA approves, what they do not, how to tell if a supplement has been approved, and the strategy of advertising for such supplements. The author has more formal definitions than sustained definitions.
In class when defining the difference between sustained and formal definitions, there were a lot of big words and complex ways of defining them. I liked to think of things in a simpler context. My interpretation of what a formal definition is what something is, and as for a sustained definition, I like to think of it as what something does. This is not one hundred percent correct, but it is the only way I can understand and put to use finding them in journals.
The author states, “Dietary Supplements are defined as ‘any product designed to supplement the diet that bears one of the following ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, a herb or other botanical agent, an amino acid, weight-loss supplement, or herbal remedy’ (Main, Argo & Huhmann, 2004, p. 29).” This definition is used to inform the reader of what exactly the author is talking about; make clear a should-be general knowledge. There are few other definitions as lengthy as this one, other words or phrases are defined by a word or two just to make sure the reader is up to speed.
There is not much in this article that could be defined as something different if looked at from a different perspective by someone of a different field. They are more or less straightforward definitions of what something is and what it is meant to do. They few scientific definitions are there to confirm that the reader is knowledgeable and informed enough about what these dietary supplements are. And as for the marketing definitions, a reader can define them easily as they are mostly self-explanatory.
Style and Dense Passages
Article 1: “After understanding the science behind the use of framing as a media tool and the fact that through governmental deregulation media could be bought and merged between major corporations, it is imperative to now grasp how to incorporate these truths in the examination of who it is that owns the media and the effects these owners might have on the way the news is portrayed to its audiences.”
Rewrite: After understanding the ways the framing method can be used as a tool by the media, and the fact that the government can control how it is being used and by whom, it is important to use this knowledge and inspect the true ownership of the media and the effects these owners may have on the way to news is being told to the masses.
Article 2: “While it is naïve to assume that the reasons for these differences lie in media ownership alone, this study calls to question the agenda, intentions and motive behind the various frames. For example out of the 12 people sitting on the board of The New York Times, all 12 of them had an interest tied to at least two other major corporations, businesses, banks, advertising companies, pharmaceuticals or industries under government influence.”
Rewrite: While it is simple to assume that reasons for these changes lie in the ownership of the media, this study investigates the agenda, intentions and motive behind the numerous frames. For example, out of the 12 people sitting on the board of the New York Times, all 12 of them had associations to at least two other major corporations, business, banks, advertising companies, pharmaceuticals or industries run by government guidance.
Article 3: “Viewpoint: A person’s perception of a news event is a product of the viewpoint(s) from which they heard about it. Contrary to the majority of mainstream articles, those written by alternative sources included a wide-breadth views and perspectives.”
Rewrite: Viewpoint: A person’s opinion of a news event is the product of the opinion from where the heard about it. Contrary to the mass of popular articles, those written by non-conventional sources included a wide range of views and perspectives.
Response: Each of the passages I have rewritten above, use a lot of big words and are an in-depth look at the topic at hand. This style of writing appears to be a technique of displaying intellect and knowledge ability on the topic/thesis. It displays a level of higher and a more accomplished style of writing. It gives the audience the impression that the author knows what they are talking about and have indeed done the necessary research to have written a journal on this topic.
General Academic Style
The articles I have chosen to compare for the sake of this wiki assignment are both from the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications. One entitled Social Media and Politics: Twitter Use in the 2012 Congressional District of Virginia, and the other Portrayal of the American Legal System in Prime Time Television Dramas. I chose these two articles because they both deal with media, but they deal with very different kinds.
The Twitter article is very detailed in the way it explains what Twitter is, how it is used and how the politicians are using it to benefit their campaigns as demonstrated in this excerpt:
“Twitter’s short posts, called “tweets,” enable users to share updates with
friends, colleagues, and in a politician’s case, potential voters, giving users the ability to influence, inform, and engage each other in topics across the board.”
It is meant to be read by anybody, knowledgeable or not on the subject. The way the author uses real tweets as examples and stepping stones for her argument really seems to me like the easiest and most effective way to make a point.
The article regarding crime television is written for an audience who is familiar with the author’s vocabulary and knowledge on the subject. There are a few times where the author does give definitions to benefit the readers experience. For example, “Though the definition of crime is subjective and evolving, for the purposes of this research, crime is defined as “an act committed or omitted, in violation of a public law, either forbidding or commanding it.” This occurs fairly early in the article and is a great way to let the reader know the basis of the argument that the author is presenting.
Both articles have their own way of attempting to reach the reader and allow them to participate in the study via the article. Although the writing style in the Twitter article may not be as effective while I read it, it may (and probably does) work very well for people of other educational and vocabulary backgrounds. Whereas the article on crime dramas was easier for me to follow and comprehend.
Knowledge Making Cues
The article that I have chosen from the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications is entitled Posting Grief on the Wall Using Facebook to Grieve and Offer Support After a Tragedy.
The article researches how people use Facebook to grieve, offer support and are openly emotionally regarding a situation. Because they are observing HOW, this makes the article qualitative.
In the methods section the author, right away in the first sentence, uses “I” referring to the research she conducted. It is appropriate because she is studying something that happened in her life rather than invading in someone else’s. She talks about how her family posted things regarding her recovery on their walls and how it effected her online and in real life.
Introductions and Conclusions
The article that I have chosen for this assignment is from the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications entitled Social Media and Politics: Twitter Use in the Second Congressional District of Virginia.
The introduction paragraph of this journal was very short and very to the point. The author explained what she was going to be talking about, what the purpose of this journal was and who this journal regards. There are no definitions or anything to suggest that the author is going to cater to a knowledge deficit. She assumes that the reader knows what Twitter is, what this particular election means, and who these people she based this whole journal on. However, she does explain what kind of election and what kind of political candidates her specimens are.
The expressions used in the introduction are consistent, if not word-for-word, what is used in the conclusion. Although the conclusion was much longer, it had all the same points. The conclusion had to elaborate on the entirety of the journal and get all the key facts in. It also had “Motivate, Activate and Differentiate” section along with a “Future Study” section. Assuming that throughout the paper there are definitions and elaborations on what was said in the conclusion, the reader should be up to speed on what everything means and how it applies to her argument.
Summary of Good Academic Writing in the Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications
The paper that I have chosen to base my journal off of was something I had completed almost 4 years ago. It was a research paper comparing the Disney movie Pocahontas and the real life person and events that the movie was (loosely) based on. I went into depth discussing each character and what role they played from history and how they contributed to Disney’s telling of the story. I also made the effort to break down the style of storytelling used in the film, including the animal friends, songs, and heroism of the main characters.
The Elon Journal, what I am basing my journal structure off of, has a lot of media based journals and research pieces. Each piece is put together in a structured manner, almost all the same. There are specific section that near every entry has. The paper needs to demonstrate the thesis and really inform the audience of what it is they are to be understanding. There are definitions of words and phrases just in case the reader is unaware of their meaning, as well as summaries of certain situations, events and people.
I have tried to be as specific and correct as possible in my wikis. Although I had some struggles understanding what some wikis were asking of me, I eventually figured it out and it has benefited the newest additions to my wiki page. The standard of good writing is something that I always strive for and that is something that is always evolving in my own head, on paper and in the world. If one does not follow or evolve with it, then their writings will seem less than what they could be.
Wiki Post 7
The website I have chosen to be host for my second project in this class is Common Sense Media. It is a website where one can look up TV show/movie reviews, see a list of worst role models, see positive and negative feedback on new apps and games, view blogs, videos, do research, and there is a whole section on online education offered by this website. These options show me that the main focus of this website is for the use of parents. Their mission statement says that exactly, “Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.”
This website has many movie reviews and different ways of funneling through them to find a topic, subject, age group, genre, etc. that you want. I chose to use the topic button “princesses and fairies” to find a movie review on The Little Mermaid. There is first a section on what parents need to know about the movie, then user reviews, and finally movie details. The what parents need to know section has a story segment, an area where it discusses whether or not the movie was any good, and finally discussion topics for families to engage in to further the entertainment and education. What I like most is the scales that are available. There are scales 1-5 on educational value, positive messages, positive role models, violence and scariness, sexy stuff, language, consumerism, and drinking, drugs, and smoking.
This is exactly the type of venue that I am looking for. It has everything to do with what my paper is about. How and why the Disney Princesses are who they are today, and what that says to young girls and children watching them. There has been progression in how the princesses act, and this website has the means to see how that makes families and their kids feel about it.
Project 2 Revision Plan
Common Sense Media is the public forum that I have chosen for this next project. This online journal has posted articles ranging from all over the entertainment spectrum, as well as reviews of popular television shows, apps and games, and links to other articles/blogs not posted on this website. Based off the type of articles on this site, it appears to be a site for all adult ages. But the focus seems to be on parents, particularly mothers. The evolution of Disney Princesses is something that mothers will find interesting and relevant. Parent’s want to ensure that what their kids are engaging in is appropriate and delivers the right kind of message to their children.
My purpose in this next project is to inform parents and movie junkies that there has been relevant development and substantial growth within the concept of Disney films. Disney is making an effort to follow the times and keep updated on what children and parents want to see on the screen. To do so, I will have to reorganize my previous paper by cutting out paragraphs regarding things other than the examples that I have used, and perhaps adding a few more ‘in-between’ films to help the evolution timeline seem clear.
Wiki 8
At first when deciding what I wanted to do for this third project, I had no clue what direction I would go in. But after our meeting I had two great ideas on my plate to choose from.
The first is to rewrite Project One and to make it more clear and add a few details—kind of like what I did in the article section of project 2. The other option is to write an article for Ms. Magazine. As discussed in our meeting I would have to take a more feministic standpoint and discuss the evolution and development of Disney over time.
For option one I would have to write for the same audience, so there would be no real change to the audience I'd be aiming at. But there would have to be a lot of changes to the way that the paper is organized and how long the summaries are. Detail would have to be something that I added a lot of. Short, sweet and to the point.
Option two would be a little trickier. Ms Magazine has many different types of readers, but the feminist terms and timeline would be more or less common sense to them. The article style would also need to be shorter, with less filler words and more direct details.
My indecisiveness in choosing which direction to take will be short lived. I just need to sit down and start.