Description
COM3706 Assignment 3 Semester 2 (Portfolio) 2024 | Due 17 October 2024. All questions answered.
Topic: A topic that mentions the name of the newspaper should be included 1 [15 words]
1. INTRODUCTION 5 [150 words]
Read the feedback on Assignment 01 on this Tutorial Letter to learn how to write an introduction.
2. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT 5 [100 words]
Read the feedback on Assignment 01 on this Tutorial Letter to learn how to write a research problem statement. Also, visit the COM3706 myModules page (announcement tab) to view the recorded class that dealt with the research problem statement.
3. SUBPROBLEMS 4 [select four subproblems)
You will need to select four subproblems out of the seven that we gave you. Check the feedback on Assignment 01 for the list of subproblems. Unlike in Assignment 01, you are now required to choose at least four subproblems for your study. Choose carefully as this will form part of your data presentation and analysis section at a later stage. We gave you the subproblem because many students selected subproblems that did not align with the main research problem. Also, visit the COM3706 myModules page (announcement tab) to view a recorded class which dealt with subproblems.
4. LITERATURE REVIEW 10 [300 words]
Read the feedback on Assignment 01 in this tutorial letter to learn how to write the literature review. In addition, visit the COM3706 myModules page (announcement tab) to view the recorded class that dealt with literature review.
5. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 5 [200 words]
Read the feedback on Assignment 01 in this Tutorial Letter to learn how to write a theoretical framework. Also, visit the COM3706 myModules page (announcement tab) to view the recorded class that dealt with the theoretical framework.
Reading Tips: Agenda-setting theory is featured a lot in other communication science modules, such as COM3702 (Media Studies: Institutions, theories and Issues) and COM2604 (Mass Communication and Media Theory). Those who have done these modules can use the study guide or prescribed book to understand the theory of agenda setting. If you have not done these modules, there are many sources on Google Scholar or in library databases that explain the theory of agenda-setting. The suggested readings by Kotze, 2012 and Tyali, 2017 have also used agenda-setting theory in their research. As indicated in the previous section, we use Turnitin to reveal the sections that have been cut and pasted from various sources. You need to paraphrase what the readings are saying to demonstrate your understanding.
6 RESEARCH DESIGN 12 [360 words]
Check the feedback on Assignment 01 to learn how to write a research design. Also, visit the COM3706 myModules page (announcement tab) to view the recorded class that dealt with research design. The research design should be written in past tense.
7 PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS 28 [720 words]
Now that you have submitted your Assignment 01 (proposal), you are expected to collect and analyse data and also present the findings.
In this section, you are expected to present and analyse your qualitative data in written format. Your quantitative data should be presented in numerical form, that is, in tables and graphs. Your presentation and analysis of the data should be linked to your main research problem and subproblems. Whilst presenting your data, you will be expected to attach evidence of data collection as an addendum. Attach some interesting news stories to demonstrate what was happening in your selected newspaper.
The following topics should be covered in your analysis. You need to select the four topics that correspond to your four subproblems. You will lose marks if your topic of analysis does not correspond to your subproblems. Go back to the feedback for the assignment to select the subproblems that match your topic of analysis.
7.1 – 7.4 The leading political stories in the (name of the newspaper) during the (month/s, week or period of analysis).
Newsrooms will often report a certain story over several days or weeks because of its perceived importance. Read the cover page stories within your selected newspaper in order to determine the leading stories during the period of analysis. By reading through the stories, you may also identify the common thread between related leading stories. Describe the leading stories and justify why such stories were leading (what was so important about such stories?). Do you think such stories deserved to be leading stories during the period of analysis? (If not, which other stories were more deserving?) What is the agenda that the newspaper is trying to set by running a specific story for several days or weeks? Attach the evidence which show the leading story in your newspaper (Addendum 2 – 52).
7.1 – 7.4 The space occupied by political stories in the (name of newspaper) in relation to other themes
The space occupied by political stories may say something about the agenda that the newspaper is setting for the public. You are required to do some counting or measurement to determine how much coverage is given to political stories as compared to other themes. Use your own discretion to categorise stories under various themes. For instance, you may have themes such as politics, economy, arts, sports and so on. Present your findings in graphs or charts and do the analysis. Based on the space given to political news, would you say that your selected newspaper is predominantly a political newspaper? Attach some evidence to demonstrate the average space occupied by a political story (Addendum 2 – 5).
7.1 – 7.4 The location and number of political stories within the (name of the newspaper)
The placing and number of political stories may say a lot about the importance of political stories. You will be required to describe the location of political stories during the period of analysis. Some political stories may be placed on the cover page, the second or third page, the middle of the newspaper, or on the back page. Check the pattern within your selected newspaper to describe the location of political stories. In addition, you need to present your findings in relation to the number of political stories that are covered during the period of analysis. Attach evidence from your newspaper to back your analysis (Addendum 2 – 5).
7.1 – 7.4 The angle taken in presenting political stories in the (name of the newspaper)
Here, you will be required to read the story to determine the angle of the political stories. As you are aware, news stories are written by journalists and approved by editors who have certain agendas to fulfil. The newspaper owners also have certain expectations regarding the direction that the newsroom should take. As you read through the leading stories, you may realise that some stories are positive, negative or neutral toward certain people or institutions. Based on your analysis, you could describe how such specific leading stories portrayed a specific person or entity in a negative, positive or neutral way. Attach a evidence from your newspaper to back your arguments (Addendum 2 – 5).
7.1 – 7.4 The most featured voices within the (name of the newspaper) political stories
The newsroom carefully selects the sources/voices that they deem to be relevant during the construction of a news story. In most instances, they repeatedly select certain sources/voices in order to set a specific agenda for the public. You will need to read the leading stories in your selected newspaper to determine the dominant voices during the period of analysis. You will have to check the sources that are mostly quoted/mentioned within the news stories and establish
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the patterns. Indicate whether such voices are those of politicians, ordinary citizens or political parties. Based on your analysis, does the newspaper represent the voices of the marginalised sufficiently? Attach a evidence from your newspaper to back your argument (Addendum 2 – 5).
7.1 – 7.4 The use of images within the (name of the newspaper) to convey the message.
The newsroom carefully selects the images that are used to set the specific agenda for the public. The photojournalist captures many images during the event, but only one or two are selected to convey a specific message. During a graduation day, for instance, the students often capture a lot of photos of their graduation, but only a few photos that best represent them are selected for their WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok stories. News reporters use the same principle when presenting the story to the readers. This tells us that the images chosen have an important role to play in conveying the message. Conduct a visual analysis of the images that appear on the cover page of your selected newspaper and describe how the newspaper uses images to convey the message. Attach a evidence from your newspaper to back your argument (Addendum 2 – 5).
8 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS 5 [150 words]
You need to indicate if the findings agree/disagree with the literature review and the theoretical assumptions of agenda setting and point out that there is an agreement/disagreement between the research findings and the theoretical assumptions. Also, indicate if the research has achieved its objectives.
9 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 3 [90 words]
Were there any limitations to the study and, if so what were they? What would you like to recommend for future studies (recommendations)?
10 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS 7 [210 words]
As a researcher, you need to demonstrate that you understand the UNISA Policy on research ethics. We have attached the UNISA Policy on Research Ethics for more information about the University’s stance on ethical research (see Additional Resources). The prescribed book also has a relevant section on research ethics. Do the following:
• Explain your understanding of research ethics.
• Select the two most relevant basic principles of research and indicate how your research will adhere to them. Read Part 2 Section 1.2 of the Unisa Policy on Ethics to learn about the 10 basic principles of research ethics.
• Attach the ethics class approval as an addendum to show that the research has received the class ethics approval. Go to Additional Resources to download the ethics class approval.
NOTE: Students are expected to attach the research ethics class approval as Addendum 6 (for 2 marks).
11 Conclusion 5 [150 words]
Conclude your research project with a brief paragraph. In other words, briefly remind your readers of what has been discussed in the previous sections of the portfolio and your research findings. Check the feedback on Assignment 01 to learn how to write a conclusion.
TECHNICAL PRESENTATION 5
Third-year students are expected to submit logically structured assignments that adhere to the principles of technical presentation provided in Tutorial Letter CMNALLE/301/2024.
The importance of correct technical presentation cannot be over-emphasised.
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