This assessment asks students to develop and deepen their understanding of some of the key aspects of
the first part of the unit. Submission via Turnitin.

Essay Topics (answer one only)

1. Hilmes (2006) argues that despite the ability of electromagnetic waves to cross
boundaries, broadcasting history is deeply bound up in the identities of nations. Compare
and contrast the origins and development of television in two nations of your choice.

Or:

2. What is Public Service Broadcasting? Is Public Service Broadcasting relevant today?
Use examples to illustrate and substantiate your argument.

*Clearly indicate the question you have chosen on the title page or submission form.
For sources you may cite the textbook and unit readings, enhancing and expanding your argument
through independent outside research. Do not cite or repeat material from the unit notes. Your tutor will
provide more details about this assessment item on the website closer to the due date.
Criteria & Marking:
The main purpose of this essay is to allow students to explore the issues, ideas and concepts surveyed
in the unit to date. The minor essay provides students with an opportunity to engage with historical and
critical debates relevant to the unit and to demonstrate their understanding of materials covered in the
unit to date. The essay will be assessed on the basis of the effectiveness of writing, the thoroughness of
research, and the insightfulness with which it formulates its argument and reaches its conclusions.
Content
The student must:
 address one of the essay topic questions directly,
 demonstrate a clear understanding of key content, terms and concepts, and apply them
logically and appropriately
 identify and justify any underlying assumptions and biases,
 remain open to other perspectives or, when challenging these perspectives, use relevant and
reliable evidence to support the essay’s claims.
Introduction to the essay:
The student must:
 define the scope of the topic and include a clear statement or argument
Body of essay:
The student must:
 demonstrate familiarity with issues related to television as discussed in the course,
 ensure that each paragraph has one central idea,
 ensure paragraphs support the essay’s main idea or relate to it in some other way,
 use appropriate, fully cited evidence, illustrations and arguments to support each
paragraph’s main ideas,
 make links between preceding and following paragraphs, and from the paragraphs to the
essay’s main idea,
Conclusion to the essay:
The student must:
 summarise the main evidence in the essay,
 link ideas and evidence back to the main ideas,
 provide ‘closure’, or evaluative comments, or point to implications or possible further
developments,
 avoid introducing unrelated material.
Referencing
 Remember to cite all sources, to reference your work and to place a list of references at the
end of your essay. Use the AGPS Harvard referencing style (refer to the Griffith
University library referencing tool). For sources you may cite from the textbook and
required readings or L@gu site, enhancing and expanding your argument through
independent outside research. Do not cite from the unit notes. It is expected that most
students will use 6-10 sources.
 The software ‘Turnitin’ is used in this course. Turnitin is an application that helps support
your skills in preparing written assignments.
Essay Presentation
• Your essay should be word-processed using Times New Roman, double-spaced 12
point black type. Please don’t use other typefaces, colours or include large image files
as this will cause difficulties with uploading and downloading files.
• Your essay should be thoroughly proof-read for errors and spell-checked.
• It should use a standard method for notes and referencing (consult the referencing guide
at the learning@griffith site).
General assessment criteria:
Your essay will be marked on
• the clarity with which you have addressed question
• the quality of your research: the appropriateness of your sources and how well you use
them—how carefully you read them, and how appropriately you draw quotations and
concepts from them, etc.
• the quality of your insights and analysis, and how well you (critically) engage with
visual texts, dossier readings and other secondary sources
• the coherence and clarity with which you present your findings (e.g., how well your
essay is structured) as well as the quality of your written expression, including word
choice, grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Ensure you refer to the unit resources, and study the areas covered in unit notes and
reinforced on the unit website.
• Consult the Referencing Guide (available on the unit website) and ensure you
demonstrate appropriate and thorough in-text referencing for all your research. You
must cite appropriate articles relevant to each key area or framework – your ability to
show the integration of this work is one of the key areas being assessed. In each
paragraph you should cite on average two scholars who relate to the argument you are
making. You should demonstrate your engagement with all material to the highest
degree possible.

CITATION