MC 1143 Reaction Paper Guidelines Defining a reaction paper: A reaction paper is an informed discussion on paper. That means you cite outside sources, including but not limited to communication and related fields’ journal articles, articles from the popular media, interviews with media professionals in the field, or consultations with professors with some media or related expertise. In other words, you must support your position with relevant information from other recognized sources. You need a minimum of five sources and the video we watched in class counts as one source. Your textbook does not. For this particular assignment, I want you to tell me what you think about fake news. The topic is discussed at the beginning of chapter one of your text as well as in Sharyl Attkisson’s video, which you’ll find at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQcCIzjz9_s This assignment is due no later than midnight, Sunday, Oct. 29. Please upload it to the Assignment folder in Canvas. Citing sources in reaction papers: Like all credible professional writing, sources are given credit by citing them in your paper. For these assignments, you do NOT need to use formal footnotes or any particular term paper style. The method for these assignments should contain: 1) Reference in the body of your paper to the source and author; 2) A complete reference to each source cited at the end of the paper. Example: In the body of your paper, you may write that according to mass communication researcher Dr. John Smith, it’s very important for companies to study the people to whom they market their products. At the end of your paper, you need to provide the complete citation for Smith’s work so that anyone else could look up the citation if she or he wanted to. Citations are arranged in alphabetical order by author; if no author is listed, alphabetize by title. Reaction paper format: Your paper should be three to five pages of discussion, plus your bibliography of at least five sources. That does not mean two and a half pages. Your paper will be typed, double-spaced using 12 point font, edited for clarity and sense, and carefully proofread for grammar, spelling and punctuation. In the upper left-hand corner of your paper, type your name, the course citation and date. Center the paper’s title below this information and begin your paper below the title. Indent all paragraphs five spaces. No spaces between paragraphs! There is a separate file which shows you how to cite various kinds of sources. If you have any questions, just ask. Example Your name MC 1143, Reaction Paper #1 Oct. 29, 2023 “Fake News” Sharyl Attkisson’s Ted Talk shows looks at how the term “fake news” is being used as a tool of propaganda … (create your own lead sentence, don’t use this). Reaction paper grading: Each reaction paper will be graded as follows: Sources cited:Variety, correctly cited, relevant 25 Position taken:Clearly expressed, thoughtful analysis & commentary, supported by sources 50 Quality of writing:Correct spelling, punctuation, grammar (one point deducted for each mistake) 25 Total points: 100
