Clarifying Components of the Project

• Communication question

• Communication question• Object(s) of study

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals

• Communication question– What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to

understand?

• Communication question– What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to

understand?– In what (specific, actual, concrete) communicative

practices does it appear?

• Communication question– What is the problem or phenomenon you wish to

understand?– In what communicative practices does it appear?– For whom should this matter and why?

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals

• Communication question• Object(s) of study– What specific texts will be your primary “data?”

• Communication question• Object(s) of study– What specific texts will be your primary “data?”– Remember: our claims must be supported by

things real specific people actually do and say

• Communication question• Object(s) of study– What specific texts will be your primary “data?”– Remember: our claims must be supported by

things real specific people actually do and say– A communication theorist has no access to

people’s minds, intentions, etc. We only have words (and other symbols) to work with. Gather these

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations– What have other communication scholars been

saying in published scholarly work about your subject?

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations– What have other communication scholars been

saying in published scholarly work about your subject?

– Identify the conversations that matter and write “They say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations– What have other communication scholars been saying in

published scholarly work about your subject? – Identify the conversations that matter and write “They

say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review.• Identify the main argument made by a theorist/critic, explain

how they arrived at their judgment, and why it matters to your study.

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations

– What have other communication scholars been saying in published scholarly work about your subject?

– Identify the conversations that matter and write “They say, I say responses.” These will be the material for your literature review.• Identify the main argument made by a theorist/critic, explain how

they arrived at their judgment, and why it matters to your study.

– Cite your sources properly along the way, using MLA, APA< or Chicago style.

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals)

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals (this will be part of your

“analysis” section)

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals– Identify the rituals that sustain the

problem/phenomenon you are studying

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals– Identify the rituals that sustain the

problem/phenomenon you are studying– Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals

(remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience)

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals

– Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying

– Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals (remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience)

– Show evidence of these theories in the texts that make up your object of study (remember: that is our data).

• Communication question• Object(s) of study• Scholarly conversations• Theory-driven rituals

– Identify the rituals that sustain the problem/phenomenon you are studying

– Identify the underlying theories that drive the rituals (remember window-bashing, cat/dog/tree/squirrel, and the politics of experience)

– Show evidence of these theories in the texts that make up your object of study (remember: that is our data).

– Focus on ambiguity, conflict, and contradiction

Remember

• Write clearly and with good grammar and style

Remember

• Write clearly and with good grammar and style

• Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections

Remember

• Write clearly and with good grammar and style

• Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections

• Cite your sources as you go and stay organized

Remember

• Write clearly and with good grammar and style

• Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to each of those four sections

• Cite your sources as you go and stay organized• Use your occasional/journal writing to work

on analysis and critique of related rituals

Remember

• Write clearly and with good grammar and style• Keep folders for writing/texts that contribute to

each of those four sections• Cite your sources as you go and stay organized• Use your occasional/journal writing to work on

analysis and critique of related rituals• Make written, documented progress each week