Write a word essay on a topic introduced on the module. You should develop an argument that responds to an issue raised within the module topics, referring to the relevant readings and screenings used on the module.
- You MUST keep your essay within the confines of what has been taught on the course over the year as well as the Learning Outcomes for the module.
- You MUST restrict your choice of case study film or television programme to THE SCREENINGS FROM THE COURSE which can be chosen from EITHER Semester A or B (or both, if relevant).
- You MUST choose your own title for this assignment. This does NOT need to be a question but should indicate the overall topic of your essay.
- You MUST give attention to cultural contexts (not just industrial context) and place your case study text/s within that context considering how the aesthetics of the film or TV programme construct particular social or political meanings.
- Your research MUST draw from essential and recommended readings from the course, but you must also read and apply additional related academic work. Remember, also, that essential and recommended readings from one week can be used to further enlighten a topic from another week.
- It is recommended that you include at least 10-15 sources for this essay to demonstrate a wide range of research.
- TURNITIN will be used on this assessment in accordance with University guidelines. An option for students to check their work via TURNITIN once will be provided.
Context:
The Film and TV: Cultures and Aesthetics module argues that cultural artefacts, e.g. films and television, are carriers of cultural and social messages that are impacted upon by film and TV regulation. The aim of this final assignment is to further help you to understand how cultural norms, ideological conditioning and political ideas are transmitted through media narratives and are sugar-coated with ‘pleasurable and seductive forms of popular entertainment’ (Durham M. G. & Kellner D. M [eds.] [2006] Media and Cultural Studies: Keyworks: ix).
Please note:
• Please refer to the assessment criteria for details on how your work will be marked.
Submission Requirements:
• You must submit your assignment via StudyNet by MONDAY 8 APRIL 2019 at 3pm. Do NOT leave it until the last minute to submit your work ONLINE as any delay in processing your submission will result in the work being marked as a late submission. It is best to submit by lunchtime of the deadline date.
• Work submitted late (without proven extenuating circumstances) will be subject to the standard university penalties: up to one week (5 working days) and a maximum score of 40 (Threshold pass); more than one week late, no mark (automatic fail). Students should be advised that a partial submission is advisable (rather than a non-submission), as this will increase the likelihood of a referral opportunity.
• Wherever possible extensions should be discussed with tutors before submission and ALL extensions need documentation to support them.
• A Study Needs Agreement (SNA) does NOT automatically qualify you for extra time. Please discuss with your seminar tutor well before the deadline date.
• All extensions will be considered by the exam board.
• A sample of the assignments will be moderated.
• Marks and feedback will be returned by 3pm on Thursday 9 May 2019 via Studynet.
• All marks will be finalised at the exam board in June, until then marks should be considered provisional.
Presentation:
The essay must be 3,000 words (+/- 10% excluding bibliography), word-processed in a clear font (e.g. 12 pt Arial), and double-spaced on A4 paper with consecutively numbered pages. It must use an academic style and tone throughout. Quotations, illustrations and ‘borrowed’ facts/ideas (including those taken from the web) should be accurately sourced: the essay must therefore include references and a bibliography presented in the Harvard style. (See The Creative Arts Toolkit for style guidance [http://catoolkit.herts.ac.uk/] and detailed advice on reference presentation). At the end of the essay please state the word count excluding titles, endnotes and bibliography.
Please take particular care to avoid plagiarism: reference your work fully and accurately, and include a full bibliography. You are required to declare that the coursework you submit for assessment is your own and that full credit is given in the form of footnotes or endnotes where reference has been made to the work of others. Your signature on the Assessment Form means that you have signed up to this declaration.
General Advice:
Research widely. The best way of learning how to write an academic assignment is by reading a wide array of sources. The module reading list provides a substantial range of reading with links straight through to electronic sources where available. Each source also has a wide bibliography, which you should also use to research your assignments. Writing is a skill that is helped by reading, so make good use of the module reading list (under Module Information on the module web site). Good research is varied research: books, journals, web sources, newspapers, etc. As a rule, your bibliography should include at least ten good quality sources.
Use the online library for your research before researching on Google. Books are key to good essay practice. Also widen your research by using articles on databases such as FIAF, AFI and BFI websites, etc.
Some journal articles may be available online through the UH Athens link. If a book or article is not available from the LRC, use the Inter-Library Loan system.
Use the web wisely. The internet is a fantastic research tool, but it is not subject to the same vigorous editing processes as published books and journals: in other words, quality control is not guaranteed. Always evaluate what you use and try to focus your research by using academic resources via Voyager, Google Scholar etc.
To Wikipedia or not to Wikipedia? Wikipedia is a mixed bag – and academically, it is suspect, not least because it is anonymous and essentially a fact-based, rather than critical, resource. It is, like all encyclopaedias and dictionaries a starting-point, not an end-point.
Do not generalize or waffle. Focus on specific aspects of the case studies you discuss, and concentrate on criticism, analysis, evaluation, interpretation, argument, rather than simple survey and description.
Sample Solution
