Planning and Structuring an Essay

"What is the role of print media in the digital age?"

THESIS

I need to make sure that my thesis isn't too broad so that my essay has a concise and engaging argument.

I aim to focus on the role of print, specifically publication and magazines because I have found a range of sources and statistics that are relevant to this, I also find the subject interesting so I can build an argument as to what prints role is and into the future.

Which Academic Sources will you reference?

Started looking at the history of print, mainly how it impacted society and information became available for the masses.

Used the library sources and my own personal collection of books to find trustworthy and in depth research. This was based on Study Task 2 as I found it really useful.

Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, 1936

Martin Lindstrom, Brand Sense: Sensory Secrets Behind the Stuff We Buy, 2010

Looked at the opinions and practitioners of print today in the digital age:

Ruth Jamieson, Print is Dead. Long Live Print: The World's Best Independent Magazines, Prestel, April 2015

Print Isn’t Dead, Element 003, Freya Faulkner 

I have found a sufficient amount of publications that will give me a broad range of knowledge so that I can create an argument/point to my essay. The sources are leading me towards how old and new can work together due to my modern and historic sources.

Artwork:

QR code - They can be printed and then scanned using digital media, this shows how both print and digital media can work together.

William Homan Hunt’s ‘The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple’, 1860:

Facilitated the reproduction of priceless art - Available for the masses

MAIN POINTS OF MY ARGUMENT

How is digital media effecting the role of print media specifically in magazines

• Print is a sensory experience - People don't digest information from a screen as well as if it was printed on paper because print media is a multisensory experience. 
• Digital media has its limitations 
• Print media and digital media should work together
• How publishers and editors are having to adapt to the digital world - QR, 'unprintables'
• Print brings people together

Structure/Plan

• Introduce my essay by saying a brief explanation of what it explores
• Print media
• How has the digital age effected it
• Businesses response
• Why print? Vinyl
• Private Eye (marketing)
• QR code
• Facilitate 

Feedback from peers

Overall the response was positive as people believed that I could build a strong argument towards how the digital age has effected print media, as well as working together in the future. The sources that I have gathered provide enough scope. 

People were concerned due to the fact that some of my sources are from before the digital age and are therefor not relevant for my essay. I aim not to focus too much on the history of print media because that isn't the essay question, however I aim to use the subject to back up and evaluate my argument. This feedback will focus my attention on print in the digital age.