Final Paper Assignment

Point Value: 90 points

THE ASSIGNMENT: Write a 6- to 8-page paper in which you explore a current issue in communication law and propose a means of resolving the issue. word count at least 2000

Please note: This is a communication law class. There are many interesting and important legal issues that are outside the boundaries of this class. Your paper topic must address a question related to the study of communication law. At the same time, there are many communication law issues that we do not cover in class. You are not limited to the topics or issues addressed in class materials.

1. Develop a topic concerning a current issue in mass media law. There are a vast number of possible topics. If you don’t have a topic in mind, spend some time reading news magazines, trade publications, newspapers and other general interest publication. You are encouraged to talk to us about possible topics and to explore ways to narrow and sharpen the focus of your research.
2. Frame your topic in the form of question or a conclusion. For example:

• Should the federal government have the power to require pre-publication review as a condition of employment?
• The Oregon Supreme Court’s privacy decisions seriously threaten the individual right to privacy.
• Net Neutrality is a serious threat to the future of the Internet.

1. Do enough library research to provide adequate understanding of the topic. There is no magic number of sources, but experience suggests that a solid research effort will enhance your paper. Your research may include extensive use of legal resources (e.g., case law and law review articles), but you are not required to make extensive use of legal materials. I will note that the vast amount of legal material online is a great advantage for you. Note: In order to receive more than 15 points for the research component of the grade, you must demonstrate the effective use of more than three high quality primary or secondary sources.

You must have a solid grasp of the legal issue you are discussing but beyond that you are free (and encouraged) to develop any research strategy that will enable you to make a persuasive case. In past terms, students have written outstanding papers primarily based on materials from Government Documents, personal interviews, trade organizations and other “non-legal” sources with minimal use of case law, law review articles or other legal materials.

Write a paper containing the following sections:

1. Introduction: State the topic of the paper, explain the importance of the topic and summarize your conclusion.
2. The Issue: Provide an overview of the various positions taken on the topic. For example, the tobacco industry takes one position on tobacco advertising and proponents of regulation take an opposite position. In this section you should briefly explain both positions.
3. Discussion: The most important part of the paper. You must sort out the various claims made and decide which claims are important and valid. Or, you may decide that the existing debate is missing the real issue. After you have sorted out the issue reach a conclusion as to how the issue should be resolved: Should a law be passed? Should the law be changed? Propose a legal (i.e., judicial, legislative or regulatory) solution to the problem.
4. Conclusion: Summarize your discussion and state your conclusion.

Final Paper -Style Requirements

1. The paper must include footnotes or endnotes for all quoted or relied on case law, books, articles, interviews or other research materials. Use any accepted note style as long as the use is consistent and understandable.
2. If complete cites are contained in the notes, a bibliography is not required. If notes are not complete, then include a bibliography.
3. While this is not a formal research paper, please avoid the use of highly informal language, style or sentence construction. Strive to write in a clear, concise and precise style.

GRADING CRITERIA

Total Point Value = 100 points

• Paper Proposal = 10 points
• Quality of Reasoning = 20 Points
• Quality of Research = 25 Points**
• Understanding and Use of the Law = 15 Points
• Organization = 15 Points

• Grammar, spelling, writing style = 15 Points*

*If there are more than THREE grammar, spelling or sentence construction errors in your paper, you will receive no more than 10 points.

**Note: In order to receive more than 15 points for the research component of the grade, you must demonstrate the effective use of more than THREE!!!! high quality primary or secondary sources.