Proseminar: American Media and Society 4219-ZP015

Upon completion of the course, the student will:
Knowledge:
- Be aware of the requirements for academic work.
- Be able to locate and use appropriate sources of information; know techniques and tools for data acquisition, and understand that the research process is governed by specific rules and actions.
- Recognize the differences between academic and popular texts/sources.
- Be familiar with basic principles and concepts related to intellectual property protection and copyright law, especially regarding plagiarism and academic ethics.

Skills:
- Be able to communicate on topics related to American studies using English terminology.
- Be able to gather information from various American studies sources, select data, interpret them, draw conclusions, formulate opinions, and provide interpretations.
- Be capable of preparing written reports in English.
- Participate, under the guidance of a supervisor, in the preparation of research projects related to the USA.

Social Competencies:
- Be ready to cooperate and work in pairs and groups, respectfully listen to and comment on the opinions of others.

Final grade is going to be formulated on the basis of the following criteria:
1. In class participation (live or online, depending on the situation) - studetns are advised to attend all classes, though they can be absent twice. For no absences, students may get additional 5% of their grade.
2. Active participation - 10%
3. Portfolio - all in-class and at-home exercises and assignments connected with the development of a BA work: summary, paraphrase, quoting, formulation of the thesis, outline, completing a bibliography) - 75%
Detailed contents of portfolio id decided after identification of needs in a particular group.
4. Presentation - 15%

Students must gather min. 60% of the final grade to pass the course. If they do not fulfill basic course requirements, they will fail. students need to have a formulated and approved topic of their BA work to be able to continue their studies at BA Seminar in the following semester.

Not applicable

Works dealing with the craft of research and writing academic texts in English. Texts on methodology of media studies.

Bailey, Stephen. Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students, 3 rd ed. New York:
Routledge, 2011.
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research, 2nd ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
Harvey, Michael. The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing . Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2003.
Kirszner, Laurie G., Stephen R. Mandell. Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide.
12 th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012
Lipson, Charles. How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from Your First Ideas to Your Finished
Paper. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses and Dissertations, 7th ed. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 2007.

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 4219-ZP015 in USOSweb