Guidelines for paper and presentation topics Topics due 10 4 at beginning of class One typed paragraph Your presentation 10 minutes and final paper 6 8 pages should provide you an opportunity to apply specific course concepts to explore in depth a topic and or context of interest to you You have much freedom in this assignment in terms of the topic you explore but as I explain below you should focus and structure your paper according to fairly specific guidelines I recommend that you schedule a meeting with me to discuss how you will proceed well in advance of your presentation date Think of your presentation as a dress rehearsal for your paper You will receive feedback after your presentation You will need to show that you are incorporating that feedback for the final paper General Requirements for a successful presentation paper Although you have a great deal of freedom to explore topics and ideas of your choice there are several dimensions that I expect to find for everyone Your presentation paper should use concepts theories from class applied to a novel context It should be an analysis rather than a report On the day of your presentation please turn in to me an outline and list of references Your actual paper is not due until the very end of the semester All papers must include a complete bibliography formatted APA style authordate Be very careful citing work if it s not your idea then cite the source I have failed papers that contained inadvertent plagiarism Please see the student handbook for definitions and explanations of what counts as plagiarism Specific Required elements The presentation paper should be hour glass shaped By this I mean that you should organize your paper with the following organizational format going from broad to specific to broad again 1 Introduction What is the broad question in icc which my presentation paper addresses e g How do stereotypes emerge in ICC What role do languacultural difficulties play in icc 2 Theory Which course concept s am I using to explore this question briefly defining the concept and its significance in your own words e g rich points micro vs macro approaches to icc standard language ideologies accent discrimination How will I apply them Do not try to use every author we have read this semester or of every possible example you can think of 3 Data in context What context situation data I am I using the course concepts to analyze Here it is wisest and will help keep you focused if you discuss concrete particulars in detail As Carroll and Geertz tell us look at the examples in slow motion and describe them thickly e g transcribed scenes from a film where people from different backgrounds misunderstand each other close analysis of how a comedian implicitly presents the cultures of particular groups an ethnography about why headscarves are seen as a problem in France how rich points emerge in the language and culture of a particular group as shown in a novel movie etc 4 Analysis of Data How do your chosen course concepts illuminate the materials It should then include a close meaty analysis of empirical materials in the middle I greatly prefer papers that discuss their subject in depth rather than papers that cover a lot of ground superficially 5 Conclusion As a result of your applying the course concept to your materials how can we now better understand your initial question Are there broad questions we are still left with 6 References Possible topics A careful analysis of issues of intercultural communication in some specific context a film novel ethnography televised interview standup comedy youtube clip or memoir An analysis of an interview with an international student or a student who has studied abroad Despite this range of possibilities although you may use your own experiences to help you identify a topic of interest you may not directly write about your own experiences Please speak to me if you would like help narrowing down your topic This list is certainly not exhaustive If there is a different kind of project you would like to pursue please feel free to come discuss with me ANY PROJECT INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS MUST UNDERGO HUMAN SUBJECTS REVIEW I CANNOT ACCEPT ANY PAPER BASED ON WORK WITH HUMAN PARTICIPANTS THAT HAS NOT UNDERGONE REVIEW PLEASE COME SEE ME VERY SOON TO HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE THE REVIEW PROCEDURES Examples of recent paper topics Interviews with Study Abroad Students about their Experiences of Cultural Difference Translating Humor what doesn t work and why exs British vs US versions of the Office How shit people say videos tap into implicit cultural understandings Portrayal of Ethnic Minorities in Shrek Modern Family etc Languacultural Issues of Immigrants or study abroad students Analysis of Slang use and Ethnic Identity among U of I Students A Comparative Study of Giftgiving in the US and Italy