Synopsis and Exam Guidelines for Game Culture

The final exam will take place on June 11-13 (complete schedule and room TBA) and will be an oral format with an external examiner. Projects can be completed by groups (no more than 3 persons) but please remember that exams must be taken individually per the new exam regulations..

A 4-5 page synopsis (3 copies) is due Wednesday, May 21@ 15:00 to the Exam Office.

You should consider the synposis as both an initial written demonstration of your knowledge of the topic you select as well as a jumping off point for the oral exam. The general content of the exam will be around the theme of the course - computer game culture. Exam subjects should tackle a specific issue or question based around the general weekly topics which were:

You (or your group) should pick a subtopic within one of the above general areas to explore in more detail. So, for example, you might do a close analysis of a EULA and intellectual property within a particular game and its player community, you might examine what kinds of social networks and practices emerge in/around a game, you might do an analysis of the ways a particular game structure (mechanics, UI, etc.) can support or limit various forms of communication or player-produced culture, or you might do an analysis of gender (as encoded, as performed, etc.) within one game world.

Drawing on the game world you have been focusing on, I encourage you to think about using a case study to illuminate a broader argument you want to make -- that is, focus on one game, one slice of the game world, etc. to explore a broader point. Note that comparative work increases the scope of the project significantly and should be done with careful consideration. Be sure to move beyond the descriptive to the analytical. It is important that you demonstrate (initially in the synopsis but more significantly in the exam) not simply a recitation of findings ("here is what I saw/found") but show some critical interpretation. Think about what is at stake in what you have observed/researched. What is interesting about it? Why does knowing "x" matter? How do your findings and argument connect to previous research on the subject, including things we have read and discussed?

The synopsis must include the following components:

1) Title and examinee info which includes name(s)/email(s)/CPR.

2) Any special requests related to exam scheduling. If you do not list your request on the synopsis they will not be taken into account when the schedule is made. While I will do my best to accommodate requests I cannnot gaurentee anything before the final schedule is made and thus you should be prepared to have your exam on any of the exam days (i.e. do not plan on leaving for summer holiday before June 14!).

3) If you are working in a group, please include a note that discusses which areas particular members especially focused on. While all group members are responsible for the total project, we would also like to know if there are particular angles/contributions from certain members.

4) Problem statement:: Articulation of the topic/question/problem to be addressed that is clearly linked to the subject of this course.

5) Literature review:: Brief overview (for the purposes of the future exam discussion) of the relevant literature. You should aim for somewhere between 5-7 references total which will provide context, evidence, and theoretical perspectives on your subject. Note that I expect you to draw on high quality scholarly work (vs things like newspaper or magazine articles, random web publications, etc.). You must draw at least two of your pieces of literature from the compendium. Your lit review is an important and required part of this synopsis.

6) Methodology:: A description of the method you are using to answer your question or explore your topic. Are you doing a survey? A close analysis of the software or game content? Participant observation? etc. You should also include here any discussion of ethical considerations if you are using human subjects.

7) Findings/Analysis:: Preliminary statement of findings/analysis/approach. While I assume you will have additional data/analysis between when you turn in the synopsis and the exam, you should be able to make some initial remarks based on your work during the entire semester.

8) Bibliography:: A good bibliography should fully notes the citations discussed in section #5 (and anywhere else in the document). I expect you to pick a citation format (you can Google APA, Chicago, ASA, etc for formats) and follow it through consistently.

You are very welcome (and encouraged!) to come speak to me before the hand-in deadline to discuss exam subjects. If you have any doubt about whether or not your topic "fits" with this course exam you should check beforehand. While I will not pre-read a synopsis, I am more than happy to talk in depth about the topic and organization, as well as provide ideas for literature searches.