This assessment asks students to develop and deepen their understanding of some of the key aspects of the first part of the course.
Essay Topics (answer one only)
1. Hilmes (2006) argues that despite the ability of electromagnetic waves to cross boundaries, broadcasting history is deeply bound up in the identities of nations. Compare and contrast the origins and development of television in two nations of your choice.
Or:
Indicate the question you have chosen on your title page. Criteria & Marking:
The main purpose of this essay is to allow students to explore the issues, ideas and concepts surveyed in the course to date. The minor essay provides students with an opportunity to engage with historical and critical debates relevant to the course and to demonstrate their understanding of materials covered in the course to date. The essay will be assessed on the basis of the effectiveness of writing, the thoroughness of research, and the insightfulness with which it formulates its argument and reaches its conclusions.
Content
The student must:
• address one of the essay topic questions directly,
• demonstrate a clear understanding of key content, terms and concepts, and apply them logically and appropriately,
2. What is Public Service Broadcasting? Is Public Service Broadcasting relevant today? Use examples to illustrate and substantiate your argument.

• identify and justify any underlying assumptions and biases,
• remain open to other perspectives or, when challenging these perspectives, use relevant and reliable evidence to support the essay’s claims.
Introduction to the essay:
The student must:
• define the scope of the topic and include a clear statement or argument Body of essay:
The student must:
• demonstrate familiarity with issues related to television as discussed in the course,
• ensure that each paragraph has one central idea,
• ensure paragraphs support the essay’s main idea or relate to it in some
other way,
• use appropriate, fully cited evidence, illustrations and arguments to support each paragraph’s main ideas,
• make links between preceding and following paragraphs, and from the paragraphs to the essay’s main idea,