IT 398/599 Topics in Global IT -- CDM Japan 2013
Assignment #2
(Due: 10/4 (Fri), 10/18 (Fri), 11/8 (Fri))

Overview:

This assignment consists of two parts:

  1. Research paper -- background research on a topic of your interest on Japanese videogames, anime/animation or other content/media (e.g. art, manga); written from objective point of view.  3 pages minimum.
  2. Self-reflection  -- your motivation for choosing the topic; written from subjective point of view.  1 page minimum.

Research paper is an individual paper, in a sense that everyone writes on the topic of his/her interest.  But if several students expressed interest in similar topics, those topics may be combined into a larger topic, and the students will be instructed to write a group paper (but each person must satisfy the requirement (3 pages minimum)).  See below for suggested topics.

Self-reflection should describe your comments/reactions on what you found during research.  You can also describe your personal experiences on the topic issue, starting from how you got interested in the issue, to how the findings by this research affected (or may affect) your views on the issue.

Specifics:

You will write the paper in four steps, with staggered due dates.  You must keep the due date for each step.  Late submissions will be penalized.

  Step 1: Topic proposal -- due 10/4 (Fri)

Choose 3 -5 topics which you are interested in (and submit them by the due date).  Then you will discuss with the faculty to decide on _the_ one to write (until the faculty approves).

  Step 2: First draft -- due 10/18 (Fri)

A rough draft of the paper.  It should minimally have the overall structure of the paper (i.e, sections) in place, and each section is filled with notes (on what to write; these could be in the form of a bullet list).

  Step 3: Paper presentation -- 11/1 (Fri)

You make a presentation of your paper during the 11/1 (Fri) meeting.  The paper itself does not have to be finalized by this date.  You present to the class the topic you are writing and the finding you have made so far.

  Step 4: Final paper and Self-reflection -- due 11/8 (Fri)

Submit the final research paper and the self-reflection paper.

Paper specifications: 

Research Paper:

Research paper must be objective, in particular,

Introductory Reading Materials:

Here are links to some online articles which provide good introduction to Japanese games and anime.  Although some of them are a bit dated (e.g. from 2007) and/or 'stereotyping' in opinions, the content still seems to hold true today.
Everyone, regardless of the major (Gaming/Animation), MUST read ALL these articles to get the basic understanding of the Japanese games and anime.

Following articles and videos are materials STRONGLY RECOMMENDED for students in the respective major (Game or Animation).

And some more (moderately suggested).

Suggested Topics:

Submission:

Submit Step 2-4 (First draft, Presentation, Final paper) on COL.  Each step has a separate bin, so submit in a respectable one.