Investigating Communication and Media with Limited AI Use

Purpose

This assignment challenges students to investigate and analyze the effectiveness of communication and media during government elections while reflecting on their own investigative process and biases.

This assignment emphasizes critical thinking, reflection, and ethical reasoning—distinctive human skills that enhance the depth and integrity of research.

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the purpose and characteristics of communication and media in various contexts.
• Analyze the effectiveness and impact of media on different communities and contexts.
• Reflect on personal biases and investigative challenges.

Instructions

Investigation and Multimedia Report

1. Choose a topic related to government elections and rural communities, using the Brainstorming DB for inspiration.
2. Investigate forms of communication and media used during elections, their effectiveness, and their impact on diverse audiences.
3. Create a multimedia presentation including:
   • Video, audio, and text elements.
   • Description of purpose, context, features of communication/media, findings, and implications.
   • Reflection piece with insights into your investigation process.

Reflection Piece

Address the following in your reflection:

• Initial perceptions and how they evolved.
• Biases or preconceived ideas influencing your research.
• Challenges and opportunities encountered.
• How the multimedia format contributed to understanding the topic.
• Insights from the assignment and their professional implications.

Restrictions on AI Use

• AI tools may be used for initial brainstorming only as stipulated in course guidelines.
• All content creation must be original. If AI tools are used, include screenshots and a note about their scope of use.

Grading Criteria

• Accuracy and depth of the investigation (50%)
• Quality and creativity of multimedia presentation (30%)
• Reflection quality and critical analysis (20%)

Resources

• Brainstorming DB for topic selection.
• Writing Center for initial topic ideas.
• Credible online sources for research (e.g., news outlets, government sites).
• Interview Consent Form for recording permissions.