Readings for Wednesday, November 4

"Analysing Media and Cultural Texts" from Jane Stokes' How To Do Media and Cultural Studies

"Rhetoric of the Image" by Roland Barthes

"A Currency of Signs" from Judith Williamson's Decoding Advertisements

(sorry for the small type on third reading - book is oddly shaped)

Remember to bring an advertisement (print or television) for semiotic analysis in class on November 4.

Update (10/28): I have one extra paper copy of the first reading. It's in my mailbox in the office. The first person to tackle the readings is welcome to take it.

Peer Editing of Literature Reviews

Does the structure move from known to unknown? Is literature synthesized rather than summarized? Are the RQs a natural result of the lit review?

Is it clear why (or how) each study cited is relevant to the current project?

Is the current study present throughout the literature review? Does the lit review identify gaps or disagreements in current knowledge and make a strong case for what the current study is contributing?

Is it clearly written (free from typographical and grammatical errors, poor word choice, overly long sentences, and awkward phrasing)?

Readings for Wednesday, October 14

Excerpt from Virtual Methods

Excerpt from Internet Inquiry

QCRM – Chapter 8 (247-278) is now optional 

(you don't have to read it if you don't have time)

Methods Section Samples

Study using interviews in the Journal of Marriage and Family

Study using focus groups in Communication Quarterly

Study using textual analysis of a website in the Western Journal of Communication

To better acquaint yourself with the language of qualitative research, please read the methods sections of all three pieces.