MDSB61H3 – MAPPING NEW MEDIA
IDEA assignment with annotated bibliography – 20 marks
Use APA formatting guidelines
Due OCTOBER 16 2023, 23.59 on Quercus / Assignments 

This assignment represents the foundation of the final project you will submit in this class.
You will submit the following: A and B
A The topic you wish to pursue (250 to 300-word response to items 1, 2, 3 and 4 altogether)
(1) State the topic.
Choose a topic that is related to the topics we discuss in class. You may choose from the topics we will cover in the
course, or you may come up with your own topic. Either way, the topic must be related to new media and society. A topic
that is too technical / technological – i.e., “how do solar panels work?” may not be a good option for this assignment.
Please choose a topic that interests you. If you have an idea but are not sure how to narrow it down, we can have a chat
during my office hours or in an online meeting.
(2) Narrow down the topic.
Once you come up with an idea, it is important to narrow it down. In our week 3 lecture, I will explain how this can be
done, using examples.
One of the common issues with too broad topics is “[f]inding tons of sources of information, which makes it difficult to
choose what to omit or include, or what’s the most essential.” (thesishepers.com). To narrow down your idea, please
respond to the following questions. Use one bullet for each response.
2
(a) WHAT is the idea about?
(b) WHEN is the idea/ the story in the idea happening?
(c) WHY is the idea happening?
(d) HOW is the idea happening?
(e) WHO is the actor/ are the actors in the idea?
(f) WHERE is the idea happening?
More on the importance of narrowing down the topic, here:
Narrowing Down Research Topic: Ultimate Guide With Examples
Thesis Helpers
https://www.thesishelpers.com/blog/narrowing-down-research-topic/
(3) Provide a rationale for choosing this topic. Why is it relevant to you?
(4) Think of a person that has nothing to do with this course and with the ACM/ Media Studies program you are pursuing.
This can be a friend, a neighbor, a relative or a family member of any age. In a few sentences explain who this person is.
Provide the person’s first name – you can use a pseudonym, if you wish – and age, and explain why you have chosen this
person.
NOTE: In the final assignment you will be required to explain your topic to this person using a media artifact that would be
appealing to them.
B Deconstructed annotated bibliography.
Include at least 4 (four) NEW scholarly sources – books, journal articles - that are not included in your course
bibliography (that we have not studied, either as in-class or required readings).

3
For each source (use one bullet for each question):
-Summarize it in a sentence or two.
-Explain in a sentence why it is relevant for your assignment (how it is related to your topic).
Respond to both requirements, “summarize and explain”, in 125-150 words for each source. Please do not write more!
Very important: do not use the author’s exact words, as this would represent an academic integrity issue (plagiarism). Use
a paraphrase, instead.
See below: how to summarize a scholarly source for an annotated bibliography. See also the Paraphrase handout.
Writing an annotated bibliography
http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/types-of-writing/annotated-bibliography/
How to write an annotated bibliography
https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/annotated-bibliography.php
Here is how to distinguish between a scholarly and a non-scholarly article:
SCHOLARLY VERSUS NON - SCHOLARLY SOURCES
Created by Natasha Molet Worthington, June 2014
https://writing.ecu.edu/wp-content/pv-uploads/sites/175/2019/04/Scholarly-vs-Non-Scholarly-Sources.pdf