Department of TV-Radio-Film-Theatre
GRADUATE SEMINAR

RESEARCH IN THEATRE AND MEDIA ARTS
TA 200 (3 units #16133)

SYLLABUS - Fall 2002
[schedule]

FACULTY

Dr. David Kahn
TV-Radio-Film-Theatre
HGH 110;
924-4540
dkahn@email.sjsu.edu
FAX 924-4543
Office Hours:
TR 1:30-3:30

RESOURCES

SJSU LIBRARY RESOURCES PAGE

Strunk & White's Elements of Style

Roget's Thesaurus

Harvard Writing Program Writing Guide

SF Performing Arts Library and Museum

Theatre Journals and Publications

Rhodes theatre links

. . . .more to follow

CLASS MEETING TIME AND LOCATION -- T 3:30-5:45 pm; HGH 114

COURSE TEXTS

Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th Ed)
Zinsser, On Writing Well (6th ed.) (recommended)
Selected journal articles, videos, and theatre performances

COURSE DESCRIPTION

TA 200 explores the nature and processes of advanced research in TV-Radio-Film and Theatre. We start by identifying motives for doing research, explaining why research is important within the field and central to academic pursuits.

Through class readings, lectures, presentations and written assignments we study the sequential development of successful research projects, beginning with selection of appropriate questions-- specific, limited areas of investigation worthy of critical scrutiny and expected to make a contribution to the existing literature on the subject. We examine methods of conducting comprehensive searches for evidence, looking at connections between subject matter and different modes of research, including resources available through the library, through field research data collection, online sources and others. Active evaluative engagement between the researcher and these materials is emphasized. Seminar participants will apply critical perspectives to identify a researcher's intentions and structural methods, to reveal the strengths and limitations of the work, and to determine the validity of its conclusions. We pay particular attention to relationships between research and production, showing how research is "staged" and how production can be an instrument to gather evidence and test theory. Finally, we focus on appropriate reporting techniques including task organization, writing style, documentation, and physical preparation of manuscripts, all geared toward the creation of publishable scholarly research exemplified by the Master's thesis.

Class materials include examples of recently published articles in leading journals along with presentations by members of the TRFT faculty covering aspects of their own research projects.

COURSE STRUCTURE/GRADING

• READING ASSIGNMENTS/DISCUSSION (25% of grade)

Students are expected to contribute actively to class discussion of assigned reading. Attendance is required and absence will lower grade.

• RESEARCH TASK ASSIGNMENTS (25% of grade)

Locating and evaluating a scholarly article for class discussion; abstracting a scholarly article from literature review.

• PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS(25% of grade)

Prepare a formal written statement of two distinct research proposals, including 1) a statement of the question or problem, 2) a suggested methodology, and 3) a preliminary literature review, with a minimum of twenty (20) sources.

• TERM PAPER PROJECT (25% of grade)

Develop and complete a scholarly paper (4000 words) derived from the definition of a specific research question or problem pertaining to the study of television, radio, film, theatre or dance performance. Components of the term paper project are as follows:

Due Dates

Oct 22	Formal statement of research question or problem
Oct 29	Preliminary bibliography/literature review
Nov 26	Preliminary abstract (250 words max.)
Dec 10	4000-word term paper according to formal guidelines in MLA Style Sheet and including final bibliography
Dec 17	Revised abstract
Late Assignments Will Be Penalized One Letter Grade For Each Day Overdue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE (8/27/01; subject to revision)

Students should be aware of University policies regarding
“Consequences of Academic Dishonesty” and “Sexual Harassment.”

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