Clarifying Components of the Project

Communication question

Object(s) of study

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals

Communication question – What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to understand?

Communication question – What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to understand? – In what (specific, actual, concrete) communicative practices does it appear?

Communication question – What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to understand? – In what communicative practices does it appear? – For whom should this matter and why?

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals

Communication question Object(s) of study – What specific texts will be your primary “data?”

Communication question Object(s) of study – What specific texts will be your primary “data?” – Remember: our claims must be supported by things real specific people actually do and say

Communication question Object(s) of study – What specific texts will be your primary “data?” – Remember: our claims must be supported by things real specific people actually do and say – A communication theorist has no access to people’s minds, intentions, etc. We only have words (and other symbols) to work with. Gather these

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations – What have other communication scholars been saying in published scholarly work about your subject?

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations – What have other communication scholars been saying in published scholarly work about your subject? – Identify the conversations that matter and write “They say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations – What have other communication scholars been saying in published scholarly work about your subject? – Identify the conversations that matter and write “They say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review. Identify the main argument made by a theorist/critic, explain how they arrived at their judgment, and why it matters to your study.

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations – What have other communication scholars been saying in published scholarly work about your subject? – Identify the conversations that matter and write “They say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review. Identify the main argument made by a theorist/critic, explain how they arrived at their judgment, and why it matters to your study. – Cite your sources properly along the way, using MLA, APA< or Chicago style.

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals)

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals (this will be part of your “analysis” section)

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals – Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals – Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying – Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals (remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience)

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals – Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying – Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals (remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience) – Show evidence of these theories in the texts that make up your object of study (remember: that is our data).

Communication question Object(s) of study Scholarly conversations Theory-driven rituals – Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying – Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals (remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience) – Show evidence of these theories in the texts that make up your object of study (remember: that is our data). – Focus on ambiguity, conflict, and contradiction

Remember Write clearly and with good grammar and style

Remember Write clearly and with good grammar and style Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections

Remember Write clearly and with good grammar and style Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections Cite your sources as you go and stay organized

Remember Write clearly and with good grammar and style Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections Cite your sources as you go and stay organized Use your occasional/journal writing to work on analysis and critique of related rituals

Remember Write clearly and with good grammar and style Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections Cite your sources as you go and stay organized Use your occasional/journal writing to work on analysis and critique of related rituals Make written, documented progress each week