Game Research paper

Objective:
Your research project is to identify, analyze, and contextualize a particular game that was invented and played prior to 1945. (I chose tennis) You must write a Final Paper containing your Game’s Identity, History, Rules, Analysis, Personal Reactions and Summary.

The Final Paper should be ABOUT 10 pages double-spaced, NOT including Bibliography, which is additional. The body of a typical 10 pages double-spaced paper averages 3000 words.

You should select a particular historical era in which there is evidence of the game’s play and popularity. (I chose the open era)

Your research should center on the following questions:
1) How was the game played? By whom? Where? In what circumstances?
2) Have clear layout of the rules. (You may use sources here)
3) Why was the game fun, interesting, compelling, challenging, or otherwise
engaging for its players?
4) Why was the game culturally significant? What does the game and its
popularity reveal about the society that produced and played it?

In order to answer these questions, you will need to:

Do Research: Locate and analyze primary and secondary sources that provide information about the game, its rules and materials, its players, its historical context, and its evolution. For the final paper, you must use in a meaningful way a minimum of three primary sources (if possible), one of which must be the game itself. Photographs, accounts of the time …

Play the Game: You will need to play the game on some regular basis and teach at least one other person how to play. Your friends or family, roommates …

Game Analysis
The game itself is an indispensable historical source. By playing and teaching the
game, you will be in a position to try to understand its structure and appeal. What
aspects of its rules and play may be thought of as culturally and historically
significant? What characteristics might have made this game compelling to a particular group of people at a particular time?

This paper will describe the findings of your research and your experience in playing the game. You will be attempting to understand what the game’s appeal
and significance were in the particular context of your investigation.

Please do not hesitate to ask questions any time.

Please give enough time in case of revisions. Do not wait til the last day. The sooner you finish the better.