Digital research ethics
MDSC27
Department of Arts, Culture, and Media
University of Toronto @ Scarborough
Fall 2025

Individual Research Outline
20% of the final grade
Dr. Joseanne Cudjoe
Joseanne.cudjoe@utoronto.ca

Due Date: Oct 26th, 11:59 pm

Submission: Quercus

Length: at least 2 pages, double-spaced


Each student will submit a research outline that highlights their group’s proposed project.
Note this is an individual, NOT a group assignment.


Your Research Outline should include

Introduction and Topic Identification
Here, you will clearly explain the topic your group selected.

Site(s) of Research
You should also identify which social media site your group will be focusing on and why.

Background information and justification
This should be the longest section.
Explain the topic in detail.
You should also cite from a news article discussing your topic.
The news article can be from an online NEWSPAPER site, a video from a credible NEWS outlet, or a social
media video that discusses your topic.
Tell us what the article said and how it is relevant to your project.


Point of View - POV
Explain your PERSONAL opinion about the topic.
For example, you can discuss the importance of the topic, you can share about the role social media plays in
keeping youth informed, etc.
You should also provide a hypothesis about what you think your fellow university students will think about
your topic/ what you would find if you were to conduct an interview of university students about your topic.




Please see the rubric for this assignment attached below.


Unsatisfactory - Poor Developing Accomplished Total
0 - 24 points 25- 34 points 35- 40 points /40
Did the student include an
introduction
The student failed to include an introduction
or did not clearly explain the topic chosen by
their group
The student included an introduction but the
intro lacked a clear explanation of the topic.
The student carefully introduced their topic
and provided a clear explanation of the topic.
0 - 9 points 10-14 points 15- 20 points /20
Did the student identify their sites
of research
The student failed to identify the sites of
research or explain why they were chosen
The student identified the sites but only
vaguely explain their relevance to the topic
The student successfully identified their site
or sites of research and clearly articulated
why these sites were chosen.
0- 24 points 25 - 34 points 35 - 40 points /40
Did the student explain the topic in
detail
The student failed to explain the
background information about the topic.
The student provide a vague explanation of
the topic
The student successfully provided a detail
explanation of the topic.
0 -14 points 15 - 24 points 25 - 30 points /30
Did the student identify a news
article and cited from it
The student failed to identify a news article
or cite from it
The student identified an article but did not
relate to the topic or was not accurately
used
The student clearly identified an article that
is relevant to their topic and accurately
cited from it.
0- 24 points 25 - 34 points 35 - 40 points /40
Did the student explain their point
of view?
The student failed to explain their point of
view on the topic, or their explanation was
too short and underdeveloped.
The student only vaguely explained their
point of view and it lack clear relevance to
the topic.
The students POV is clearly articulated and
the relevance to the theme of the project is
clearly identifiable.
0 -14 points 15 - 24 points 25 - 30 points /30
Did the student provide a
hypothesis?
The student failed to provide a hypothesis
about what they would discover if they
conduct the research
The student's hypothesis was vague, under
explained or not relevant
The student clearly articulated a hypothesis
that is relevant and likely.
/200
Individual Research Outline
Grading Rubric

学霸联盟