Communications Question

Description

Your final paper is a research essay that examines a major moral panic from any time period.

You are expected to analyze it and its long-term impact in relation to other moral panics (from
the same or different time period) and their long-term impacts.
Before you submit your paper at the end of the course, you will need to submit a one-page paper
proposal and an annotated bibliography (Check the course homepage for the deadlines)
The moral panic you choose to analyze must be different than the ones we have discussed during
the semester.
In your research and writing, try to find answers to the following questions:
• Why is this a moral panic?
• How did it start? Who were the instigators? Do you see any familiar figures/groups,
media sources behind this panic (and the ones you are comparing it to)?
• Who were the primary and secondary definers?
• What was the media’s role (including the social media) in the development of the panic?
• How did the authorities, and policy makers respond?
• What was the public reaction? How do you know?
• Was there a signification spiral?
• How did it end? What was the outcome?
• How was it similar to or different from other moral panics?
• And very importantly: what kind of general social anxieties did it grow out of or merged
into?
In your research, try to find out if there are academic articles/research about this and the other
moral panics you are discussing.
Paper proposal and Annotated Bibliography
Your arguments – based on empirical evidence – should be grounded in academic literature.
When you do research, be aware that the literature may not necessarily focus on the moral panic
aspect of the controversies which means that you will need to make the connection.
Paper proposal
Your paper proposal will be based on the research you have already done. Please take the paper
proposal seriously. You cannot write a paper proposal without having done some research and
have read external academic sources.
The proposal should include:
• An abstract or brief description of the paper. Also, be sure to include the paper title even
if it is a tentative one.