Media & Politics (Political Communication—whatever) Final ExamWhich Questions Do You Answer?This exam consists of three questions. Graduate students should select two questions to answer, and undergraduate students should select one to answer. Exam RequirementsYour answers must be typed, and double-spaced. Please cut and paste the question you are responding to above your answer. I know you’d prefer strict guidelines, but there is no page limit or requirement for question answers. Different questions could be different lengths, but I could probably see answers being around 3 to 4 pages (that’s a rough estimate because I’ve never given these questions before). You should write until you feel that you have sufficiently but succinctly answered each part of the question. Some tips:1. There’s no need to waste your time constructing flowery introductions and conclusions. It’s better to spend your time and words on answering the question.2. Use direct quotes very sparingly—in fact, it’s probably better not to use them at all! I already know what the readings say. Your job is to convince me that you understand those readings in your own words. For this reason, an over-reliance on quotes from the readings will not be evaluated favorably.EthicsIt’s fine to collaborate with other classmates to plan out your answers. In fact, I would encourage it if you think your classmates know what they are talking about. But obviously you shouldn’t submit anything that even resembles writing that is similar to anyone else’s. Grading This exam is worth 75 points in total. Proper grammar, spelling, and in-text citations are expected. If you cite a source other than your readings (which isn’t needed), please include a properly formatted references page. You will be graded on the organization of your answers and how well you demonstrate your mastery of the course material. I am looking for evidence that 1) you understand the major concepts and research from this class, and 2) you understand how they connect enough to integrate them. For this reason, you should support all your answers with evidence from the readings from class. Convince me that you really know the specific material we’ve covered.Exam SubmissionPlease submit your exam to be by e-mail ([email protected]). The deadline for submission is 5:00pm on Saturday, May 11. If you hand in the exam late, I will deduct 10 points from your grade for every day it is late. I will send you a confirmation within 24 hours of receiving your exam.Media & Politics (Political Communication—whatever) Final Exam Questions1. There are several different ways that the news media can influence citizens’ attention to and beliefs about different issues. First, define priming, framing, and agenda setting effects, and give examples of each (be sure your answer makes it clear how these different media effects differ). Second, think specifically about the recent news coverage of Ebola in the U.S., and explain how priming, framing, and agenda setting effects could lead to public panic. Again, include specific examples in your explanation (whether they are examples you have actually seen, or not).2. Many media scholars have argued that U.S. politics are becoming increasingly polarized and the citizens are becoming increasingly less informed because people selectively expose themselves to news and social media that supports their pre-existing beliefs and they avoid news and social media that conflicts with their beliefs, but there’s conflicting evidence for these propositions. First, explain three reasons or psychological mechanisms thatpeople would only expose themselves to likeminded information. Second, drawing from research on the history of news bias, selective exposure, filter bubbles, and/or echo chambers, argue whether or not you believe that partisan selective exposure has ill effects for democracy or not. 3. The line between U.S. politics and entertainment seems to be becoming increasingly blurred. Drawing from research on fake news, political entertainment media, and celebritization of politics (be sure your answer draws from all three bodies of research), argue whether or not the merging of entertainment and politics has positive ornegative effects on democracy. Your answer should consider politainment’s effects on at least three specific democratic outcomes (e.g., voting, activism, or other types of political participation, apathy and cynicism, citizen knowledge, political efficacy, trust, misinformation, political discussion, politician corruption, etc.), and you should make sure that you explain how politianment affects these
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