Introduction

Your paper should be the minimum equivalent of 5 pages (not taking into account the inline rich media content, images, or bibliography) and be formatted in the MLA style. Including inline citations for all rich media materials and photos. A bibliography is required. Please provide the final paper in Microsoft Word (even if prepared with Google Docs) For information on the MLA format see the Purdue OWL.

For guidelines on the writing process for research check out this excellent primer from Martin Irvine at Georgetown University,  Writing to be Read: A Rhetoric For Writing in the Post-Digital Era.

What I am interested in within a research paper is a research question that you are investigating. You should make yourself knowledgeable on the subject (for example: the fall of the Disney studio) and as a researcher, ask yourself what insights can you add to the scholarly conversation that is happening? This takes understanding the subject. So the kind of paper I am not interested in is just finding out the facts and regurgitating them. Your paper certainly needs to take us through the facts, establish the scholarship that has preceded yours, give us an understanding of any arguments that are taking place in the literature and then offer up your insights which are original to you. This should include well documented and cited insights from others —if you are offering up their research and opinions. It can include original research (for example, your personal interviews of people).

Research Sources

A variety of databases for scholarly research including journals, books, and films are available through our Bonisteel campus library. Other resources can be found through the Traverse City library system

eJournals in the library:

Animation Magazine
 
The journal of visualization and computer animation
 
Computer animation and virtual worlds
 
 

Ebooks:

 
216 eBooks with Animation in the title (ebooks the best for scholarly research imo)
 
3321 ebooks “Animated Films” (keyword search)
 

Citation Generator:

 
I have found NoodleTools Express to be one of the best.

Tools

A variety of online tools is available to support your research endeavors.

Diigo. I use this for tracking my own notes on various websites. It’s a tool that will allow you to highlight text on a website and add your own notes. Notes are compiled within Diigo’s system for you to review.

Our goal with your research is to work at a level that can be published. If you are interested in a particular subject consider subscribing to a journal related to your topic of interest. Not all journals will be available through KCAD or Ferris resources. Not all journals are available for free online. Often, journals will provide sample material to get a sense of the flavor of their publication.

Subject Matter

Find a subject matter that interests you and will be within the reach of your time for this class to research. This means that while material may be available through MelCat for an elusive subject, better to pick something you can find at least 5 sources cited. You may pick a studio, a animator, or a movement in animation, for your subject. Please no Anime as a subject. This is not to do with Anime as much as using this opportunity to research something you are less familiar with.

Abstract

Your abstract should be around 300 words, and provide the reader a general overview of your overall purpose in writing the paper and your intended research. Also, include your goals and some of the lines of inquiry that you will be pursuing. Since your conclusions are still to be determined, this abstract will follow the form of a descriptive abstract. See Purdue OWL here for a more in-depth understanding.

Example Abstracts here.

Paper Rough Draft and Outline

  • Students should provide at least one page of paper for review by this deadline along with an outline providing the planned research for the completion of the paper.

Paper Final Draft

As noted above papers are minimum of 5 pages. Papers must include:

Note: Page count total does not include images, rich media or works cited.

 Presentations

Student presentations are 25-30 minutes in length when presented verbally. Students should not simply read their papers but should practice and polish their public speaking skills. Provide visual examples supporting your arguments. Papers are due either on the last day of class or on the day of your presentation. If you are not turning in your paper on the day of your presentation, then I will need a copy of your bibliography and the presentation itself. Presentations can be presented in Powerpoint or Google Presentation.