SELENA QUINTANILLA — The ever lasting impact of Selena has empowered Latinx people to be proud of their roots, embrace their culture and find power in their identity.

Cumulative Research Paper-Step by Step
Final Paper due: Friday August 7th at 11 pm
The paper will drop 10% for each day it is late.
Final paper must be submitted by August 9
th at 11:59 at the
latest because grades are due Monday the 10th.
Make sure to submit on time.
This paper is worth 30% of your overall grade.
Purpose: Through the writing of this paper, you will be able to construct a thesis unique to your
research findings, be able to identify scholarly sources, and be able to examine the evidence
you obtain through these articles. The goal of this course is to increase your ability to think
critically and write critically. The student learning objective for this humanities course is to
construct coherent and sound arguments with support from multiple sources, including library
resources and proper citations that communicate what students have discovered. This is a skill
that will support you in whatever profession you enter as you will need to research and present
your findings in the science, law, social work, education and engineering fields, among others.
Mastery of these skills will allow you to excel in college and beyond.
LTNS 530: Latina/os in the Media
Step one: Complete Research Paper Proposal
TASKS:
What to do: The final research paper will be a minimum of 1250 words excluding the
works cited page. This is your opportunity to build off of the themes presented in this course
by applying key terms and methods of analysis to a form of media.
The first part of this assignment is the research paper proposal. Although this is only worth 5%
of your grade, a thoughtful proposal can make a big difference in whether or not a student
establishes solid groundwork for the final paper.
Proposals are important in all areas of work whether it be Biology, Business or Social Work.
This assignment helps you practice identifying an area of research that is neither too broad or
narrow. This assignment will help you with your next step which is researching. I will provide
feedback on all proposals. Keep in mind, many your topic must focus on the media (this is a broad
umbrella) and have a Latinx focus. Make sure you are focused in and is not purely looking at how
Latinx are portrayed. We have discussed this in class, you will need to narrow in on a specific
research question you want to answer.
How to do it: Your research paper proposal must include answers to the following nine
questions. Please turn this in as a list rather than an essay.
A good research question often begins with a researcher making the following statement:
“I’m working on X because I want to find out Y, so that I (and you) can better understand Z.”
This statement identifies the paper topic, research question, and significance of the study.
Please complete this sentence by filling in the blanks identified below.
Topic: I am studying _________________________
Question: because I want to find out what/why/how _________________________ ,
Significance: in order to help my reader understand __________________________ .
Now answer the following questions:
Why should people care about this research question?
What kind of evidence do you expect to use to support your answer to this research question?
How do you know an article or book is a scholarly source?
Imagine someone who may be in agreement with you thesis and someone who may not agree
or would need more evidence to be convinced. These can be friends, family, your boss at work,
a former teacher, a current professor, etc. How might they respond to your argument?
What kind of evidence will you need to present them?
Will they have other evidence in mind? In preparation for our library research workshop…
List ten search terms/keywords/subjects that you plan to use when searching the library
catalogue and databases.
Lastly, what pieces of media (are there song, TV shows, films or advertisements you have in
mind?) will you use to help you make your case?
LTNS 530: Latina/os in the Media
Criteria for Final Paper
When I grade your final I will be looking for the following. If you are unsure how to move
forward or feel stuck, please set up a meeting with me or email me as soon as possible to
discuss.
When I read your paper I will be looking for:
• A clear thesis statement
• What is your research question?
• What is your main argument?
Students will receive initial feedback on this after turning in their proposal. I encourage students
to email me for feedback as they continue conducting research.
1. Your paper must present evidence to support your argument.
2. Your final paper MUST include five fully developed references to course readings or
academic or scholarly articles or books you find in your research. Documentaries, New
York Times articles, etc, are NOT peer reviewed academic sources. Make sure your
sources are journal articles or books.
3. Your paper must provide a case study (where you should not just tell what this looks like)
4. Please make sure to reference the authors’ key arguments.
5. Final papers must include a works cited or reference page.
6. For students who use quotes: quotes must be introduced and followed by sentences that
demonstrate that you understand the author’s key arguments and are able to build off of
them in your own words.
LTNS 530: Latina/os in the Media
Grading Rubric for Final paper
I. Clearly demonstrated understanding of course materials
● Presented thesis statement, developed clear argument and supported
argument throughout essay
● Include one of two theories we have discussed in class “Manufacturing
Consent” or “Encoding, Decoding”
● Ability to develop a case study which aligns and furthers thesis.
II. Incorporated relevant research from course material as well as from outside of
class
● Developed research skills and found out of class scholarly sources
● Referenced at least seven academic or scholarly articles
● Identified authors’ key arguments
● Included fully developed references to authors’ key arguments
● Student was able to present key arguments in their own words
● Connected these articles/books to thesis statement
III. Writing Style and other requirements
● Clearly communicated thoughts and ideas
● Proofread for spelling and grammar (run-on sentences, fragments, etc.)
● Used a consistent citation format (refer to links below) • bibme
http://www.bibme.org/ or Citation/biblography generator (APA, MLA, etc.)
● Students should revisit their thesis statement/research question at the end of the
research paper.
● Uploaded essay to iLearn by,Due on iLearn /Turnitin:
● Meet minimum length requirements. Students will not be penalized for going over
the page limit
● Please do not end your essay abruptly. Take the time to revisit your main
argument(s) at the end of the essay,
Students are encouraged to use the resources of the Learning Assistance Center
(LAC), the Community Access and Retention Program (CARP) and the Ethnic Studies
Student Resource and Empowerment Center. For more information visit:
www.sfsu.edu/~lac www.sfsu.edu/~carp1 www.sfsu.edu/ethnicst/studentcenter
Citation examples and instruction (APA, MLA, etc.)
Owl Guides http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/
LTNS 530: Latina/os in the Media
Checklist for final research paper
Have you…
The purpose of your research paper is to support your critical thinking and research
skills to excel academically and professionally.
Through this research paper, you will be able to work towards meeting the following
course objectives:
● Applying key media studies concepts to the media that surround you.
● Writing a research paper that demonstrates your capacity to engage in
critical discourse.
● Integrate theory discussed in readings and in class into your own writing.
● Strengthen your research and writing skills which can be translated to your
career and field of study.
Please complete this checklist. Have you…
❏ made sure you have at least 5 peer reviewed journal articles or books? (Confirmed-are
they really academic sources?)
❏ Met with a librarian if you are unable to find your sources?
❏ incorporated Stuart Hall’s Encoding, Decoding theory or Noam Chomsky’s Manufacturing
Consent theory into your paper?
❏ reviewed and revised (if needed) your thesis?
❏ included a case study or scene or song or advertisement analysis illustrating the points
covered in your research? Does this give specific examples of the point you are proving?
❏ made sure your paper at least 1250 words without works cited?
❏ properly cited all your sources within your text as well as at the end of your paper?
❏ gone to CARP or another tutoring center that is available remotely?
❏ reread your whole paper from top to bottom for clarity?
❏ read the plagiarism statement in the syllabus, understand it, and agree to abide by the
definitions and penalties described there.