COMS FINAL EXAM- INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES
25 points (25% of your final grade) + 5 POINTS (5% BONUS- OPTIONAL QUESTION)
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students should be able to:
critically read an academic study in communication and media studies,
identify the author’s conceptualization of communication and media issues, and
evaluate the author’s argument and findings by comparing them to the theoretical material learned in class.
READ:
Moreno-Almeida, C. (2021). Memes as snapshots of participation: The role of digital amateur activists in authoritarian regimes. New Media & Society, 23(6), 545-1566.
ANSWER:
Please, keep the Q&A format.
Submit your answers in a word or PDF document. No PAGES document accepted.
Use an abbreviated APA format for in-text citations (i.e. Author, year, p#). No reference list needed if you are citing the textbook or the study provided.
What is a main finding of Moreno-Almeida’s paper? Explain in your own words. (2 points)
Provide an image that captures what you learned from this paper (this may be the same as the “main finding” or something different). Provide a brief explanation of the image (approx. 100 words). (3 points) If your image is directly taken from the Internet without any editing on your part, please provide a full reference. Instructions on how to cite an image are found here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_audiovisual_media.html
How does Moreno-Almeida’s study define communication? Is this definition consistent with any of the models discussed in Chapter 1 of your textbook? Explain and support with at least two quotes from Moreno-Almeida’s paper. (approx. 200 words excluding quotes). (Note that this definition is what you conclude from reading the paper and may not be explicitly stated by the author) (5 points)
What is the view of the audience that Moreno-Almeida’s study introduces? (Note that this view is what you conclude from reading the paper and may not be explicit). Is it consistent with any of the
approaches to audience research discussed in chapter 4 of your textbook? Explain and support your discussion with at least 2 quotes from Moreno-Almeida’s paper. (approx. 200 words excluding quotes) (5 points)
Is Moreno-Almeida’s study technological constructivist (Chapter 6)? Explain and support with at least two quotes from the paper. (approx. 150 words excluding quotes). (5 points)
Explain this quote from Moreno-Almeida’s article:
This result indicates that in certain contexts memes might not be as ambivalent as the literature suggests. (Moreno-Almeida, 2021, p. 1562)
Explain the quote in your own words. (approx. 100 words) (2 points)
Does the quote challenge Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding model (Chapter 3)? Explain. (approx. 100 words). (3 points)
BONUS- 5%
Propose a question that engages with both the study by Moreno-Almeida and any of the topics and theoretical concepts discussed in class and in your textbook in connection with journalism (Chapter 10). Provide an answer to your question. (5 points- approx. 150 words)
I’ve added the article under analysis below. As well as some files regarding chapters that the assignment outline has mentioned.
