Literature Review
(This includes proposal rewrite with feedback and full
literature review section.)
Due Mar 27, 2024
Noon (12 CST)
To Do List ? 3-5 pages (The literary review by itself)
? Revise proposal with feedback from professor
? Create 3-4 themes
? Reblend the pre-lit review into new themes and full
literature review
? Add 5 new sources to blend into themes created
? Can use the same sources from pre literature review but
must equal to 10 all together
Research Project: Research Paper Literature Review
Due by 11:59pm, February 22, uploaded to Blackboard
10% of Course Grade
COMM 301, Prof. Bui
Spring 2024
Objective
The literature review section of a research paper describes what other researchers have written about on
your topic, both broadly and on the specific topic. This assignment is the next section of your Research
Paper on monster studies. With the literature review section, you should submit a revised version of your
proposal minus the goals and timeline. Details on the literature review and library searches were
discussed in the second week of classes.
Instructions
There are two parts to this assignment: (1) revised proposal sections and (2) the full literature review
section.
Revised Proposal Sections (2-4 pages)
This proposal sections should be revised with the feedback from the graded version and included
(with suggested length) in this assignment. Remove the crossed-out sections from the proposal
since this new assignment will no longer be a proposal but becomes the next draft in your
research paper.
¨ Introduction to and justification of monster studies research topic (1-2 paragraphs)
¨ Research problem statement/question (1-2 clear sentences)
¨ [Note: rewrite and move the preliminary literature review into the full literature review
section]
¨ Scholarly goals of your research (1 paragraph)
¨ Proposed research method (see Tips on Method and Theories on Blackboard) (1
paragraph for this proposal assignment. Will add to it later.)
¨ Timeline for completion of project that outlines specifically your own deadlines for
various sections or drafts on your paper prior to the final paper due date (half a page)
¨ Bibliography (Works Cited) of sources used in the proposal (length is as long as
needed)
Full Literature Review Section (4-6 pages)
This section takes the preliminary literature review, adds in more scholarly* sources for a
minimum total of ten sources, and reorganizes for logical flow, transitions, and synthesis. This
section should be 3-5 pages added to the revised proposal sections and include:
¨ Rewritten Preliminary Literature Review (minimum five scholarly sources from
proposal)
¨ Additional scholarly sources that relate to your project to meet the minimum of ten
sources.
¨ A theory or theoretical concept to frame your analysis (should have been chosen in
proposal assignment). Include at least one source for your theory/concept.
¨ Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs in the lit review section.
¨ Organization of sources by subtopic, themes, or chronology of scholarship on topic.
*
Scholarly is defined as peer-reviewed and published by academic journals or academic publishers. See lectures or
readings on peer-review definition.
Need help? Here are some options:
See Professor Bui or Gabrielle by appointment or in our office hours.
Bring your draft and assignment instructions to the Writing Center on campus.
View the example full papers and their literature review sections on Blackboard.
Review the lectures on writing a research paper (Week 2).
Formatting guides
¨ Your completed assignment should now have the following sections:
o Introduction (includes intro, justification, research problem/question)
o Literature Review (includes minimum 10 scholarly sources and theoretical
framework)
o Method
o Works Cited
¨ Check your work with Grading Rubric.
¨ Follow the Format for Written Assignments in syllabus (pp. 8-9).
Format for Written Assignments
All written assignments must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font (Times, Helvetica, Calibri, or Cambria), with
1 margins, unless otherwise noted in assignment instructions. Upload BB assignments in MS Word (.doc or .docx).
Google Docs may be converted to Word. Identifying information (name, date, assignment) must be at the top of the
first page. Include page numbers if more than one page.
All papers should be in the APA formatting style, including references, in-text citations, and footnotes or appendices.
Any document submissions that are corrupt will be considered late (check your document by downloading your file).
It is highly recommended that you take screenshots of your successful uploads or completion of assignments. Be
sure to wait for the confirmation of submission screen once you upload your assignment. The Review Submission
History page appears with information about your submitted assignment and a success message with a confirmation
number. Copy and save this number as proof of your submission.
UIC Writing Center
I encourage you to take advantage of the Writing Center on campus for any stage of your writing draft.
You can come in with no writing at all to take the first steps or with a full draft for finalizing. Meeting with a
Writing Center tutor can help with writers block, help save time by working through how to revise or plan
the paper, and receive constructive feedback. Visit https://writingcenter.uic.edu/ for online appointments
or to view walk-in hours.
Topic Changes
Final Paper Project topics cannot be changed past the Literature Review due date. Any major topic
changes between the submitted Proposal and Literature Review due dates must have instructor
permission and a revised and resubmitted Research Paper Proposal.
Literature Review Grading Rubric
COMM 301 Prof. Bui
Name ____________________________________
Your Literature Review Assignment (6-10 pages total) should include:
o 2-4 pages of revised parts of proposal
Revised Intro, Justification, Research Statement/Question, Proposed Method(s),
Theoretical Framework (Do NOT include goals and timeline). These sections will be the
start of your full paper draft.
o 4-6 pages of literature review section (already started with 2-3 pages from proposal,
add 3-5 pages more, and reorganize)
Scholarly (peer-reviewed) research examination of your research topic
Demonstration of linkage between researched material and your topic
Minimum ten scholarly sources (incorporate the five sources from your proposal as part
of the ten sources)
o Works Cited Page(s)
_______
Format (15%):
Proper citation (in-text and works cited page) using APA formatting style
Proper format of literature review of a research paper
Follows Format for Written Assignments (see syllabus)
_______
Structure (15%):
uses effective and smooth transitions
has well-constructed paragraphs with topic sentences
Introduction and concluding/summary paragraphs for Lit Review section
______
Logic and argumentation (50%):
all ideas in the paper flow logically
the argument is identifiable, reasonable, and sound
written in appropriate college-level, academic tone
intro, research question/statement, and justification articulate a monster studies
research project
proposes a theory or theoretical concept(s) to frame analysis with at least one citation
on it
Logical flow of sources organized by subtopics, themes, or chronological scholarship.
Sources should not just be listed paragraph by paragraph without any connection to
each other or thesis/research question.
literature review has strong connection and integration with research question/problem
paper articulates relevancy of literature to research topic
lit review sources are grouped in a way that is cohesive
minimum 10 scholarly and peer-reviewed sources
_______
Mechanics (5%):
clarity of sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and minimal typos and spelling
errors
_______
Revised sections (15%):
added rewrite of research proposal parts using feedback from TA and instructor
_______
TOTAL
NOTES: Deviation from the proposal research topic/question without proposal rewrite and permission will
not be accepted for credit. Missing and late policy applies to missing and late work.
1
Research Paper Proposal Jurassic Park Analysis
Ethan Pickett
Department of Communication, University Illinois Chicago
COMM 301: Communication Research
Professor Bui
March 19, 2024
2
Introduction and Justification
The research paper examines the correlation between Cohen’s Thesis 6 and the popular
film franchise “Jurassic Park.” Cohen’s Thesis 6, which says that people are attracted to the fear
of monsters, is a great way to look at how dinosaurs are presented in “Jurassic Park.” The
research looks at how the movie series reflects and feeds modern fears, such as evil scientists,
environmental damage, and what happens when you try to be God. The goal is to find the deeper
social messages that are buried in the movies. This will help us understand how entertainment,
mental health, and public opinion all work together.
The topic builds on Cohen’s ideas to investigate how the dinosaurs in the “Jurassic Park”
movie series are used to make scary monsters into powerful symbols of society’s fear. It
examines the correlation between these visuals and Cohen’s concept of the paradoxical longing
for the horrific. The goal is to show how monster visuals, social fears, and audience interest all
work together in the series.
Research Problem statement
This research investigates the complicated connection between monsters, social fears, and
how people react to the “Jurassic Park” movie series. It shows how dinosaurs are powerful
symbols of our shared fears. Cohen’s theory of contradictory desires for the monstrous shapes
this study, which tries to figure out how people interact with and understand scary movie
images.
Scholarly Goals
This study examines how Cohen’s concept of monsters’ conflicting desires affects human
participation in monster entertainment, notably in “Jurassic Park” It examines monster
symbolism and rhetoric in films to understand how cultural symbols affect terror. Textual
3
analysis is used to explore the human connection with the horrific and comprehend how popular
culture influences and reflects society’s anxieties and beliefs.
Literature Review
Looking at how Cohen’s Thesis 6 is linked to the popular movie series “Jurassic Park,”
the study question asks. What Cohen Thesis 6 says about how people are drawn to monster fears
is a great way to look at how dinosaurs are shown in “Jurassic Park.” This literature review will
provide research and evidence to connect the two topics and further explain the relationship
between them. Information has been pulled from articles and informational readings. The first is
Cohens Monster Culture (Seven Theses) (1996). Cohen’s Thesis 6 is strongly connected to the
draw of the genetically modified dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park,” which is explained in “Monster
Theory: Reading Culture.” People fear these creatures because they are unreliable and could be a
threat to humans, but they also represent a deep interest in and desire for the unknown and the
strange. Cohen says that monsters often represent the forbidden and strange parts of life and are
the culmination of our deepest wishes. In the same way, the dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park” capture
viewers with their awe-inspiring presence, appealing to people’s natural interest in the worlds of
long ago. Finding this connection between how the movie shows dinosaurs and Cohen’s thesis
shows how fear and desire are deeply rooted in monster stories, The monster also attracts”
(Cohen, 1996). A lot of different things are stirred up by people’s wishes for monsters and the
scary things they can do. Baird’s (1998) research shows that the cognitive structures
implemented in blockbuster films and demonstrated in Jurassic Park by creating ongoing
threats and animalized dinosaurs, are used for global appeal. These schemata or structures,
which are formed by human thought and provide the brain’s foundation for the viewing
experience, are very important in shaping how we see and react to the story elements in films
4
(Baird, 1998). Threat scenes in either horror or thriller genres are the crucial scenes that intensify
the viewer’s imagination by making them react emotionally to threats, in turn, exploiting the
natural ability of the human being to bind with and monitor what threatens their environment
(Baird, 1998). Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” uses off-screen space in interesting ways and
builds up stress and fear of danger in a way that keeps the audience’s attention. This makes the
audience feel scared and worried, which makes the whole experience more complete (Baird,
1998).
This theory also includes more ways of socializing between physical and cultural
differences, since the way people think about and react to movie scenes is connected. By looking
at how people think and feel while watching movies from the point of view of the mental
processes in the systemic ways that are neurologically hard-wired to negatively affect systems
(Baird, 1998). This belief’s main idea fits with modern theories of cognition that say different
kinds of intelligence can live together and that structures are important for remembering things.
(Baird, 1998). Moving through film structures involves more than just seeing things. It also
includes the physical and social parts of the mind, which makes the whole process of thinking
very complicated. (Baird, 1998).
Cohen (1996) claims that monsters symbolize cultural worries as well as tension in a
society which may be expressed through some socially relevant events or periods of change.
People worry that modern technology will change their lives, and stories about nuclear weapons,
like how Russia used red mercury to make a nuclear bomb that could go through buildings
without hitting people, are a big part of this fear (Cohen, 1996). Besides, the blockbuster film
Jurassic Park by Steven Spielberg is in line with the worries that genetics raises about the
traditional family. Also, that mythical beings such as the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot still
5
exist is indicative of a society that has a continuing fascination with what we don’t know or
understand (Cohen, 1996). Through an analysis of these cultural manifestations of monstrosity,
Cohen points out how monsters make themselves apparent as symbolic representations of
cultural problems, concerns, and tensions that lay deep in the mind of society.
One of the main ideas in the Jurassic Park movies is that nature can consume people. This
idea comes up repeatedly in the movies and reminds us of how unfair the battle is between
humans and nature. As explained by Pugh (2023) eco-horror scenes presented in these motion
pictures do not merely show Mother Nature’s retaliation but the reassertion of nature as the
strongest player within ecosystems. The return of dinosaurs to the wild in Jurassic World:
Dominion shows a dark truth: if people mess with nature’s plans, it will be hard to get it back to
how it was. A big change I’ve seen is going from being humanistic to seeing yourself as part of
the natural world.
The conflict between Marvel and the fear runs through the whole Jurassic Park film
cycle, as the appearance of the living dinosaurs stirs up the emotions in the issue as well as the
fear. According to Humphries (2002), Bringing monsters back into the natural world might help
with the problem of them being seen as missing parts of our connection with the woods, giving
nature a new beginning in life. If the dinosaurs in the series are like the return of myths, then
they are both interesting and dangerous to the human characters. Even though the characters are
going through hard times, they are still interested in the birds, which shows how fascinating
nature can be even in a tough situation.
There are Gothic elements in the Jurassic Park movies, especially in Fallen Kingdom.
These elements bring out the themes of nature, monsters, and people messing with nature. More
and more people are scared and worried about bringing dead animals back to life because of the
6
Gothic elements, such as the empty houses and the Indoraptor, a hybrid monster. (Creed, 1986).
By not being clear about whether it’s an animal or a monster, the movie rejects the idea that
humans are better than nature. Instead, it wants people and nature to get along better.
Research Methods
Textual analysis will be used to make the connection between Cohen’s Thesis 6 about the
desire for monsters and how monsters are portrayed in “Jurassic Park.” The study will use this
way to carefully look at how the genetically modified dinosaurs are portrayed in the movies,
including how they are talked about, portrayed, and shown visually. Using Cohen’s theory about
how monsters can be appealing, the study will look for times when the dinosaurs in “Jurassic
Park” make characters and viewers both scared and interested. The study will also look at how
these monsters are used as cultural symbols to show society’s fears, wants, and values about
scientific progress, environmental damage, and people’s relationship with nature. The study aims
to show how “Jurassic Park” helps us understand modern society and its interests by looking at
them through the lens of monsters by putting the conversation in Cohen’s framework of monster
studies.
7
Timeline
Research Assignment
Due Date
Submit as a MS Word Doc to
Research Paper Proposal
March 21
Professor Bui
Noon (12 Central)
[email protected]
Start Draft Work on
March 22
Literature Review
Literature Review (Include
March 27
TA Gabrielle
proposal)
Noon (12 Central)
[email protected]
Start Draft Work
March 28
Method Section
April 1
TA Gabrielle
Noon (12 Central)
[email protected]
8
References
Baird, R. (1998). Animalizing Jurassic Parks Dinosaurs: Blockbuster Schemata and CrossCultural Cognition in the Threat Scene. Cinema Journal, 37(4), 82.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1225728
Cohen, J. J. (1996). Monster Culture (Seven Theses). In J. J. Cohen (Ed.), Monster Theory:
Reading Culture (NED-New edition, pp. 325). University of Minnesota Press.
https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctttsq4d.4
Creed, B. (1986). Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection. Screen, 27(1),
4471. https://doi.org/10.1093/screen/27.1.44
Humphries, R. (2002). The American Horror Film: An Introduction. Edinburgh University Press.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctvxcrd3n
Pugh, C. (2023). Swallow You Whole: The Jurassic Park Franchise, Eco-Horror and the
Devouring Gothic. CinergieIl Cinema e le altre Arti, (24), 87-99.
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
Recent Comments