Final Project
Guidelines and Suggestions for Final Project
For your final project, you will produce an 8- to 10-page research paper with a related multimedia feature on a topic or theme about New York City.
The topic should be something that interests you and that sheds light on why New York is so unique. When deciding on a topic, think back to themes we’ve discussed in class – immigration, architecture, art. Try to focus on an aspect of these larger themes. You also may find inspiration in E.B. White’s This is New York. White articulates many interesting ideas about New York. Remember his classification of New Yorkers as commuters, natives and transplants. White also talks about the energy of the city, the isolation people feel, the ambition of its residents. These are all ideas that can be jumping off points for your research. Some of you might want to look at the new 2010 Census results that were released last week.
You will be expected to conduct serious research for this paper. The sources will depend on the topic, but should include archival documents and original reporting (interviews with people who can shed light on your topic) as well as references from novels and essays. You should have at least five sources with one of them archival.
The final project also should include one multimedia feature that you will post on the blog. This feature can be a photo slideshow, or an audio-slideshow similar to the “One in 8 Million” feature, a video or an interactive map. Once you have your topic, you can discuss your ideas for multimedia with Prof. Haller. For further guidelines on the multimedia:
1. Photo slideshow: Should contain 10 to 12 photos with captions that tell the story of one aspect of your research topic.
2. Audio slideshow: Should run about 3 minutes with an interview and 10 to 12 photos.
3. Video: Should run about 3 minutes and shed light on an aspect of your research project. The video should include at least one interview.
A two-page description of final project is due April 13. The paper should include a bibliography for research on the subject. In-class presentations of the final projects will take place the week of May 16.