Getting ready for writing the Senior paper (DLB)

Notes for class on 1/4/19 (friday).

For Fridays class, we started with reviewing with our groups to discuss what conversation is:

What is a Conversation?

• Exchange of statements/opinions and responses
• Exchange of ideas
• Evolution of thought

Next, we watched a bad dialogue scene between Ed Helms and Amy Poehler from their Romantic-comedy film They came together. Then discussed why Helms isn’t good at communicating. Helms doesn’t really listen, his tone shows that her ideas don’t matter, and he doesn’t compromise.

The class then moved on to things to think about while deciding a topic for Monday’s class.

Conversation goofs: WATCH OUT FOR THESE:

1. Trying to fit TOO MUCH into one conversation
1. 2000 words may be too long, but it isn’t enough to cover all of World war II or the history of religion or race relations in the USA!
2. Use your research to zoom in and you’ll actually be able to talk more effectively
2. Treating the film as non-fiction
1. Don’t blame fiction for being FICTIONAL!
1. INTERPRET the artistic choices (symbols, themes)
2. Replace yes/no research questions with interpretation
1. Is (topic) realistic?
2. How does (choice) challenge (scholar’s) interpretation of (topic)?
3. The Buzz-feed effect: journaling the academic conversation
1. Journalism and academia have different purposes
2. PURPOSE & AUDIENCE
1. Distill (simplify) for public v. Exchange for experts
2. Broader brush strokes v. Nuanced arguments
3. “Psychopathy” doesn’t exist in the DSM
4. What can/do academics know/prove?
5. NO TIME TRAVEL ESSAYS!

Literature Review structure:

1. Introduce major speakers/topics/events
1. WHO(Scholars, artist) is talking and WHAT are they talking about?
2. Providing CONTEXT and carving out your path:
1. Using precision to NARROW RESEARCH FOCUS
2. (Psychology → PTSD → from Afghanistan → PTSD treatment for veterans of Afghanistan)
2. Distill current state of conversation
1. What are these scholars saying to each other about your selected topic/idea/question
1. Key debates and other areas of contention?
2. What are researchers (today) trying to do/prove?
3. How are they doing it (research methods)?
3. Call for research

Senior Paper

Product:

• Literature Review (500-750 words)
• Synthesis Paper (1300-2000 words)
• Works cited/References (2+ Database, 1+ Cinematic)

REMINDER FOR MONDAY (Must have):

• Films
• Lens
• Academic question, problem, solution, or connections

Have a wonderful weekend!