Black Media Studies
MDSC23H3
Fall 2025

Final Paper

Due Date: Nov 30th 11:59 pm

Submission: Upload to Quercus

File type: Word Document
3 pages DOUBLE space or 1.5 single spaced
12-point Times New Roman


Assignment overview

Each student will write a 3-page double spaced final paper reflecting on the TOPIC of the
documentary project they completed by their group.

1. Remember this paper is NOT a group assignment
2. This is not a report on what your group members did or how the project was divided
3. This paper is about the topic of your documentary, allowing you to present and
explain your own personal, informed point of view.


Formatting paper
1. Do NOT include numbering, bullet points or subheadings in your paper.
2. You should NOT have sections in your paper labelled introduction or conclusion, etc
3. Your paper should be formatted into paragraphs.
4. No additional spaces between paragraphs
5. A paragraph should be approximately 6 sentences.
6. Do not exceed the page limit.
7. Check your paper for grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
8. You MUST include in text citations for all quotations.
9. You MUST use a citation format: you can use APA, MLA or Chicago school



Do NOT INCLUDE SUBHEADINGS.
In other words, do NOT include the words Introduction, Body of paper, etc.



















Write your paper in paragraph form. See below


























Paper Structure

Title Page
The Title page is NOT included in the page count.

• Your Title page should include your name,
• The course name.
• The professor’s name.
• The date, and
• An interesting original and engaging title for your paper.


An Introduction
• A clear explanation of the topic of your paper.

• Provide the detailed background information about the topic and introduce the key
arguments YOU will develop throughout the paper

• Do NOT describe what group members did or issues with group work.

• End your introduction with an outline/roadmap or foreshadowing of what is to
come in the paper. For example... “in this paper I will argue/explain/present/”



Body of your paper – The most critical part of this paper.

In the body of your paper, you must provide a detailed arguments about your topic by
presenting YOUR INFORMED point of view on the topic. To accomplish this ensure you…


• State and explain YOUR point of view on the topic.

• Summarizing AND analyzing the key findings from the interviews that YOU found
to be most important. Use these findings to justify and support your
arguments/point of view.

• Connect your arguments to at least FOUR class theories that are RELEVANT to
your arguments. This means you should cite at least FOUR TIMES from any
course readings that relate to your topic.

• Introduce AND explain at least ONE media example (NOT USED in your group’s
documentary or in class lectures) to illustrate and support arguments you are
making.





Conclusion
• Reinstate your clearly presented and informed Point of view

• The conclusion should be a well-developed paragraph of at least 6 more
sentences. Do NOT submit a short, underdeveloped two or three sentences
conclusion.

• Your conclusion should reiterate key arguments or make strong arguments about
your topic.



Reference Page (is NOT included in the page count.)

• List all readings, interviews, and media examples you cited.

• Use APA, MLA, or any other academic citation format. If you do not know how to
format an academic paper, please visit the writing center for support.

• If you wish to include images, website links please place them in the reference
section.



Final Checklist
Before submitting, make sure your paper:
¨ Is written in your own voice (not a group reflection).
¨ Focuses on the topic, not group roles or processes.
¨ Is 3 pages double-spaced (or 1.5 pages single-spaced), not counting the title
and reference pages.
¨ Has no bullet points, numbering, or subheadings in the paper itself.
¨ Includes at least 4 class theories/ at least 4 course citations.
¨ Introduces 1 new media example not used in the documentary or lectures.
¨ Uses in-text citations and includes a properly formatted reference page.
¨ Has a title page with all required details.
¨ Is carefully proofread for grammar and spelling.


Please see the rubric for this assignment attached below

Unsatisfactory - Poor Developing Accomplished Total
0 points 5 points /5
Title page The student had no title page Student had a completed title page
0 - 10 points 11 -24 points 25-30 points /30
Introduction and outline
The student failed to include an
introduction to their topic OR the
introduction and outline is too short
and does not adequately prepare the
reader for what will be discussed. No
outline given.
The student included an introduction
to their topic, but the intro was rough
or vague and missed major areas
discussed in the paper. The outline
was poorly executed
The student offered an interesting and
captivating introduction that
stimulated the reader's interest in the
paper. The student offered a clear
outline of the entire paper
0 - 12 points 12-24 points 25- 30 points /30
Summarized interviews
The student offered no summary of
the interviews or it was too short
and underdeveloped
The interview summary on vaguely
explained the findings
The student carefully and skillfully
discussed and summarized the
findings from the interviews as they
relate to the topic of the project
0 - 24 points 25 -34 points 35-40 points /40
Analyzed the interviews The student did not analyze the interviews or connect it to the topic.
The student only vaguely analyzed the
interviews or connected the
interviews to their point of view.
The student successfully analyzed the
interviews and explained how the
interviews findings influenced their
point of view on the topic
0 - 24 points 25- 39 points 40 - 45 points /45
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.
The student clearly explained their
point of view on the topic.
0 - 24 points 25 -34 points 35 - 40 points /40
Use of 4 quotes ( 4 course theories or
arguments made by authors)
The student failed to include quotes
from the course reading/ no course
theory included and or the quotes
were not related to the topic
The student used quotes or theories
but did not relate it to their paper.
Not enough were used nor not clearly
explained
The student successfully used 4
quotes from the readings that
included 4 course theories that
related to the topic and were clearly
explained.
0 - 9 points 10- 14 points 15- 20 points /20
Did the student include a media
example NOT used in their group
documentary
The student failed to includea media
example, or the example was
unrelated or the example was used in
their documentary or in class
The student included a poorly related
media example.
The media example used was
accurately explained and It was not
used in their documentary.
0 - 10 points 11- 19 points 20- 25 points /25
Did the student include a conclusion?
The student failed to include a
conclusion to their paper. OR the
conclusion was too short and does
not adequately summarize the key
areas of the paper.
The student included a conclusion, but
the conclusion was rough or vague
and missed major areas discussed in
the paper.
The conclusion was skillfully done, the
student successfully tied their point of
view to the reader's and reminded the
reader of the main points raised in the
paper.
0 -points 1 - 4 -points 5 points /5
Did the student Include a reference
list? The student had no reference list.
The student has an incomplete
reference list The student included a reference list.
0 - 4 points 5- 7 points 8- 10 points /10
Formatting, Paper length, In text
citation
The student failed to format their
paper correctly, Paper length was too
short or too long. No in text citations
were included.
The student poorly formatted the
paper or slightly missed the page limit
or included only some in text citations
The student accurately formatted
their paper, met the page limit
requirement and included in text
citations when needed
/250
Black Media Studies Final Paper
Grading Rubric

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