Current Trends

Your task is to write a
researched argument about a conclusion you have reached based on a study of
current trends in our society. You will
begin by looking at indications of popularity you find by reviewing “best-selling”,
“most popular” or “highest grossing” lists.
As you study the list, using your critical thinking skills, you should
develop questions that you want to find the answers to, and that lead you to
your own conclusion about our society. You must take a clear, debatable stance that
you can support with additional outside source material. Your paper must be 2000-2500
words (eight to ten typed pages/ double spaced) and make use of at least six
sources. Your source material should be
varied and your support should come from at least three different perspectives. All source material must be properly
incorporated and documented using MLA guidelines.
Topics
Begin by reading about a subject
you are interested in already. Look at
popular films, if you are a fan of the movies.
Consider best-selling lists from your favorite genre of music or look at
all of popular music and try to see if you can develop a theory about our
culture today. Maybe you are interested in websites or video games or sport
teams. Choose a topic which is already
intriguing to you and then look at it with a critical thinking mind. As you
read, pay attention to the concepts that you find most intriguing. Look for what troubles you, what interests
you, what inspires you about the conclusions that you find. This should then become the source for your
topic or focus for your research paper.
I expect you to apply your own good mind to the issue. Get beyond the obvious. Go to where the thinking gets interesting.
Then go a little further! Make sure you are listening to the lectures to get
more help with this paper.
Sources
Within your six sources, I would
like you to use information that comes from at least three perspectives
(economics, sociology, psychology, etc.) You will need to make a judgment about
the quality of the Internet sources you use (keeping in mind that there is a
lot of junk out there.) Review the information in the Correct Use of Borrowed Information. This will give you the
guidelines for correctly incorporating your source material. Make sure to
properly introduce each source before you make use of material from that
source.

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