Assessment item 3

Academic paper

Value: 40%

Length: 3,000 words

Task

During your course you have undertaken a range of public relations subjects that include those dedicated to crisis management and internal communication.

This section of the subject requires you to critically examine a contemporary communication or PR issue and produce a report that is both scholastic in its style and rigour, and pertinent to practitioners in public relations/organisational communication. Before you start it is recommended you look at the PRism website (http:www.prismjournal.org/) for how to construct an article to a professional standard.

It is called ‘desk’ research because you should be able to conduct it from your desk through library and other searches. You are not expected to conduct primary field research such as surveys or interviews.

You should choose one research topic from the following list:

3. “Public relations is dead.” Consider this statement and research a paper that argues for or against the concept.

Your paper should be thoroughly researched. Your paper should always be backed by evidence with references to academic and/or industry literature.

It is essential that the standard of written expression in your industry paper is very high. Reports that contain grammatical or typographical errors will rate very poorly.

Rationale

This assignment has been designed to assess your ability to:

◦   Research, synthesise and analyse a range of academic and other information sources in scholastic style

◦    Examine a contemporary communication issue

◦    Demonstrate integration and comparative skills of sourced information

◦    Critically analyse and communicate contemporary theory and practice

◦    Demonstrate expanded and creative thinking around future communication practices

Marking criteria

Written presentation and style-5

◦   Professionalism of presentation including layout -2

◦   Quality of writing including clarity, succinctness, style and communication of argument-3
 

References-10

◦   Breadth, depth and selection of academic and other reading-5

◦   Citation accuracy and style-2

◦   Critical evaluation of sources-3
 

Content, structure and development-25

◦   Definition of key terms and clear statement of intent-5

◦   Development of a structure for the paper-5

◦   Review and analysis of literature and important concepts-5

◦   Review and analysis of practice-5

◦   Logical progression and development of argument/recommendation-5.

Presentation

The assignment needs to be written as an academic essay. It should be written in prose with bullets used to highlight salient points. Use subheadings to structure your paper and aid communication.

Paper: A4 (single side printing)
Font: 12 point
Spacing: 1.5

   
Refer to the following websites for examples of how to present your paper:

PRism Online Journal:  http://www.prismjournal.org/

Public Relations Review:  (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620188/description#description)

Australian Journal of Communication (http://emsah.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=20187&pid=5220)

Asia Pacific Public Relations Journal ( http://www.deakin.edu.au/arts-ed/apprj/vol5no2.php#7).