1. CMNS 130 COMMUNICATION POLICY Research
Sylvia Roberts, CMNS librarian
The use of published materials to investigate research questions

2. Context: Actions for essay proposal due in week 6:
Select an appropriate topic
Search for information sources to support your discussion
Write a 2 page proposal
“Too often students haven't found good resources, or relevant resources, or haven't really read them, or have done all of their research on google”
Proposal and bibliography due week 6 – Feb 2?
I’ll be away the week it’s due Feb 18-22
CMNS Fall 2014

3. Context: Actions for essay proposal due in week 6:
Select an appropriate topic
Search for information sources to support your discussion
Write a 2 page proposal
“Too often students haven't found good resources, or relevant resources, or haven't really read them, or have done all of their research on google”
Proposal and bibliography due week 6 – Feb 2?
I’ll be away the week it’s due Feb 18-22
CMNS Fall 2014

4. Goals for this session:
Discover the CMNS130 research guide
Introduce mass media policy research
Discuss characteristics of scholarly / academic information sources
Learn how to find these
Find out who (and how) to consult about your specific research questions
CMNS Fall 2014

5. Research requirements
Write an essay on a topic related to the focus of this course – mass communication....your topic must have some regulatory or policy angle. 
Your proposal will make an exploratory type of topic statement and some research questions that you intend to answer.  You need to fully research and understand your topic before you can come to an opinion or thesis statement about it
The bibliography accompanying your proposal must contain a minimum of 4 references: 1 academic book, and 3 academic articles. 1 of the articles must be a course reading.  You may use more references than four; all must be academic sources.   
For your final paper, you must have a minimum of 5 academic peer reviewed sources, 4 from outside course material, and at least 1 from course readings.  You may use UP TO 3 non-academic sources in supplementary research.
As stated in the GUIDELINES FOR ESSAY PROPOSAL AND TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT
CMNS Fall 2014

6. Definitions of policy
course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual (
a)  a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions
b)  a high-level overall plan embracing the general goals and acceptable procedures especially of a governmental body (
CMNS Fall 2014

7. Examples of media policy topics
Includes an aspect of mass media regulation:
State / government : example example2
Court precedents : example
Industry self-regulation : example
NGO-initiated: example
No regulation? : example
CMNS 130 research guide
Government regulation means there are administrative or criminal sanctions for not complying with the rules. Failure to comply may mean a fine or loss of a broadcasting license.
Sometimes court cases set precedents for how future legal proceedings shall be determined
Industry regulation, also known as self-regulation, can usually be identified in articles that discuss the topic. Often an organization is formed specifically for this purpose, funded by member groups but operating as a separate entity. Canadian Advertising Standards Council, e.g.
NGOs may be focused on regulating media specifically, such as the media awareness network, or have an interest in a broader topic in which media plays a role, for example, the Canadian Pediatric Society's interest in children includes an interest in regulating media violence.
CMNS Fall 2014

8. Research requirements
Write an essay on a topic related to the focus of this course – mass communication....your topic must have some regulatory or policy angle. 
Your proposal will make an exploratory type of topic statement and some research questions that you intend to answer.  You need to fully research and understand your topic before you can come to an opinion or thesis statement about it
The bibliography accompanying your proposal must contain a minimum of 4 references: 1 academic book, and 3 academic articles. 1 of the articles must be a course reading.  You may use more references than four; all must be academic sources.   
For your final paper, you must have a minimum of 5 academic peer reviewed sources, 4 from outside course material, and at least 1 from course readings.  You may use UP TO 3 non-academic sources in supplementary research.
As stated in the GUIDELINES FOR ESSAY PROPOSAL AND TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT
CMNS Fall 2014

9. Scholarly / Academic sources
Requirement for bibliography – why?
Is this an academic article?
How can you tell?
Demo finding academic sources on the topic of net neutrality in Canada
Author affiliations
Length
References
Journal
Language
CMNS Fall 2014

10. Research consultations
Ask a Librarian
In-person
Chat
TXT Us!
Phone
Consultation by appointment: Sylvia Roberts -
CMNS Fall 2014

11. Writing your paper
The Student Learning Commons is your academic success centre!
We offer…
free writing workshops
a wide range of online writing resources
one-on-one consultations (appointments or drop-ins) with trained peer educators
assistance with learning, reading, and studying skills and strategies.
services at all three SFU campuses
Go to
CMNS Fall 2014

12. Goals for this session:
Discover the CMNS130 research guide
Introduce mass media policy research
Discuss characteristics of scholarly / academic information sources
Learn how to find these
Find out who (and how) to consult about your specific research questions
CMNS Fall 2014

13. Good luck with your research!
Sylvia Roberts
Liaison Librarian for CMNS