Bronx Community College
Department of Communication Arts and Sciences
CMS 11 Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
Fall 2013
Prof. Oshin-Martin
Reasoning and Analysis Paper Assignment
What is this paper about?
In chapter 3 of your textbook we explore the concept of the self and communication and impression management. This is the idea that we use a variety of communication strategies to influence others’ impressions of us. In Chapters 1 and 2, we discussed computer-mediated communication, including social media, which collectively describes all of the channels that make remote personal communication possible. For this paper, you must read two articles and watch one film. Then, you will now write a paper in which you use the articles, film, and either an example from pop culture or your personal experience, to discuss how identities are managed online for the specific purpose of building relationships or achieving relational goals.
Specific Steps:
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 In addition to reading the following article:
o Suler, John R. “Identity Management in Cyberspace.” Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies. 4.4 (2002). p. 455-459. Web. 07 February 2013. <http://users.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/identitymanage.html>
Choose one more article from the following list of two articles:
o Amanda Todd: bullied Teen made disturbing video
o How Social Media Hurts Your Job Search
 Watch ONE of the following four films:
o Frontline: Growing Up Online (2008). Dir. Rachel Dretzin. PBS, 2008. DVD. This documentary investigates teens and their behavior on cyberspace -- available on Netflix in both disc and Watch it Now and free on pbs.org (broken down into seven chapters on PBS)
o You’ve Got Mail. Dir. Nora Ephron. Performed by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Warner Brothers, 1998. DVD.
o Easy A (2010) -- a mistaken rumor convinces the school that Olive is “easy”; rather than dispute it, she decides to embrace her new identity as the school tramp, even wearing a Scarlet “A”; however, things spiral out of control; in the end, she uses a web cam to tell the whole and true story to the school
o Catfish – a 2010 American documentary film directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman,This documentary explores the promises and perils of online relationships.
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 Write a 3-page paper (approximately 750-1000 words) in which you: Use examples from the articles to support a thesis (opinion, idea) about how people manage their identities in social media to establish relationships. You will also use examples from the film to demonstrate main points in the articles and support your thesis. Additionally, you will use an example from pop culture (movies, TV, music, books, the latest fad, etc.) or from your own experience to also support your thesis.
If you are struggling to find a thesis, you might try focusing on one of the following question prompts to guide your paper:
 Online identity management is not always about “being yourself.” Often, it is more like a theatrical performance—one that requires different styles of self-presentation for multiple audiences. Do you agree or disagree? Take a position and develop your argument using the assigned films and/or articles.
 Reputation management has become a defining feature of online life for many internet users, especially the young. While some online users are careful to project themselves online in a way that suits specific audiences, other users embrace an open approach to sharing information about themselves and do not take steps to restrict what they share. Take a position on this topic and develop your argument using the assigned films and/or articles.
 Does gender play a significant role in how people manage their identities in social media networks? Are the stakes of losing control of one’s reputation different for women than for men? Take a position and develop your argument using the assigned films and/or articles.
 “A picture is worth a thousand words.” What factors do social media users view as most important when choosing photos to accompany their online profiles? Take a position and develop your argument using the assigned films and/or articles.
 Do you think that today’s politicians should use social media to manage their identities, or is this type of performance too risky? Take a position and develop your argument using the assigned films and/or articles.
A good paper will accomplish all of the following (although not necessarily in the order listed):
- Provide a thesis statement
- Define at least two key concepts such as identity management and social media
- Use examples from the articles to support your thesis (opinion, idea)
- Use examples from the film to support your thesis (opinion, idea)
- Use a detailed and substantial personal experience or popular culture (movies, TV, music, books, the latest fad, etc.) example to support your thesis (opinion, idea)
- Follow MLA guidelines for format and reference citation. Use appropriate language (grammar, spelling, punctuation). You must include a Works Cited page at the end of
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The paper must be turned in using SafeAssign. SafeAssign will automatically check your paper for plagiarism. You must also hand in a hard copy to the instructor. Your paper will be marked using the Departmental Scoring Rubric (see on Blackboard).
Some Tips and Reminders regarding formatting your paper:
 Double-spaced
 750-1000 words (the Works Cited does not count towards the 750 words)
 Your name, the course number and section, the name of the assignment and the due date of the assignment should be at the top of the first page on the left hand side.
 Number your pages at the top right. Include your last name before the page number.
 Font must be 12 point
 Margins must be 1” all around (right, left, top, and bottom)
 Proofread your paper for citation, spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
 You must include a Works Cited page
 Give your paper a title – center it at the top of the page
Contents/What your paper should contain
“Say what you’re going to say. Say it. Say what you said”
o In order for your paper to be understood, you need to be clear and organized in it.
o A well-thought out paper begins with an introductory paragraph that lets your reader know what you are going to talk about. It includes a thesis statement which simply tells the reader what you are going to talk about in the paper. For example, “Thesis statements strengthen authors’ messages and make it easier for readers to know the author’s perspective.”
o It is also helpful, in the introduction, to give a preview of the paper. For example, “I will demonstrate the importance of thesis statements by defining what they are, explaining their use, and showing how a lack of a thesis statement fails to prove one’s point.” This is also true for giving speeches.
o Following the introductory paragraph, the next several paragraphs of your paper will be proving your thesis statement. A good rule of thumb is one paragraph per argument or discussion point you are making.
o Your final paragraph is your closing statement. In it, you should summarize what you talked about in the paper. For example, “By defining thesis statements, explaining their use, and showing how a lack of their use creates confusion for the reader, I have demonstrated the importance of thesis statements in persuasive essays.”
o Creating an outline before you start writing your paper can help you focus both your research and your writing.
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o The title of your paper (which goes above the introductory paragraph and below where you’ve written your name, the course number, the assignment, and date) should sum up what your paper is about. It can be catchy or straight to the point, whichever you prefer.
References and Citation
While Wikipedia is very handy and easy to access, it is not a credible resource, and must not be cited as a reference in your bibliography. It may, however, point you in the direction of credible resources. You will want to seek out those credible resources and cite them in your paper. Your paper will not appear credible with Wikipedia references in your bibliography.
o When you use another person’s words, ideas, or work in your paper, you must cite them.
o If you directly quote their work, you use quotation marks to signify this and give the page number, as well.
o In the following example, the MLA format is used: According to Dalton, “Thesis statements are the best way to make your point when writing a persuasive essay paper” (26).
o If you are simply paraphrasing or borrowing from one (or more) person’s work, you do not need quotation marks. For example: Many researchers argue that thesis statements are the foundation of a well-written paper (Miller 32, Johnson 51, and Smith 456).
o If you are referring to information that is commonly known such as that George Washington is the first president of the U.S., you do not have to cite a reference for that piece of information.
At the end of your paper, you will have a “Works Cited” page in which you list all of the references you cited in your paper.
o If you go to the OWL at Purdue (OWLpurdue.com) and look up MLA formatting, you will find citation formatting information that will guide you in creating a correct Works Cited page.
Your paper is due in Blackboard NO LATER than December 12.
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