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What is a media analysis? Definitions: “The examination, interpretation and critique of both the material content of the channels of media of communication and the structure, composition and operations of corporations that either own or control those media. Media, in this sense, refers to what used to be called the mass media, the means of communication of information to large numbers of people – television, radio and newspapers. It now encompasses multimedia, the electronic networks of communication made available by the Internet.” Why is it important to analyze media? The reason that students should critically analyze media is because it enables them to think about others in relation to themselves. So having students analyze media sources is helping them to think about the world around them, and how they can participate, contribute, and understand their society. What media landscapes can be analyzed? Media analysis focuses on one specific area: the media landscape. This landscape consists of editorial media – online aggregation sites, news articles, investigative features, opinion columns, letters to the editor, radio broadcasts, etc. – as well as social media, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Of course it can extend far beyond this as well such as print media (books, magazines, newspapers), television, movies, video games, music, internet, etc. Objectives: Through this exercise students should Develop practice at analyzing a mediated or rhetorical text using basic terms introduced in class, especially (but not limited to) a critical framework. Demonstrate abilities at developing a limited focus at a text (that is, developing a cohesive essay that looks at related concepts in substantial depth for a roughly 4-5 pp. double-spaced paper). Demonstrate the ability to create tentative conclusions and possible directions for research from analysis of a mediated/rhetorical text. Details: Summary: In this assignment, you will provide a critical analysis of the cultural, interpersonal and/or ideological assumptions behind a popular TV series, film, YouTube channel, newspapers, etc. For example, this might be about the construction of American masculinity in Fight Club, about the representation of gender in “Co-Ed Naked” t-shirts, or about the images of racial and ethnic identity in Tommy Hilfiger clothing ads (or some other text of your choice). You can also choose a rhetorical text, such as a speech by a politician. Since this is an interpersonal communication class you do *not* need to be limited to “cultural representation” texts. For example, you could do an analysis of an insurance pamphlet or commercial or a postmodern analysis of definitions of the “ideal” relationship in a romance movie. In addition, a media and film studies analysis might explain the evolution of a same-sex friendship by examining a cinematic text. For example, you could trace the development of the main friendship in the movie Thelma and Louise to discover how certain events or gender stereotypes affect the relationship between the two female characters. You can feel free to incorporate tools learned in other classes to do your analysis, or you can follow the model of our class. The goal is to analyze how the media represents people from different ethnic backgrounds on primetime television shows or movies of today. Choose an element of interpersonal communication (or up to three elements), and analyze the communication of the people in the media item you’ve chosen. How does the communication affect them, and how does it reflect (or not) our society today? You’ll need to research the cultural implications of the media. What have other researchers said about the media you’ve chosen? Are there stereotypes present? Here is a basic format designed for a media analysis (which is a qualitative research method): Introduction: you will want to begin with a catchy intro that briefly introduces the topic and provides a rationale for the analysis of the text (follow the outline template I gave you). Methods/Approach and Materials: summarize the approach you will take, identifying any key terms that you will use (look at example provided). If you choose to introduce the approach briefly but define key terms as you go, that is also acceptable (method summary might then appear in the overview paragraph). Results/Analysis/Findings: Much of the paper should be devoted to a clearly organized, thoughtful analysis. You can take any lens you want, though we mostly introduced interpersonal and cultural studies, you may use other critical lenses as well. This is where you report the findings of your study based upon the information gathered as a result of the methodology [or methodologies] you applied. Discussion/ Conclusion: After you interpret and explain your results, you need to answer your research question (thesis), justify your approach, and critically evaluate your study.

A note from my professor: Each response will require with a minimum of at least one textual reference footnoted properly according to MLA or Chicago style. There is no limit to how long you answer can be, but at a minimum, I would suggest that none of them can be answered in less than two solid paragraphs. Remember, there are two primary themes in this class that I want to see reflected in your work. They are: What does this work (novel and/or film) tell us about this moment in US history? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the two mediums, literature and film and how do they manifest themselves in the works we have read and the films we have watched? 1. Describe the significance of the plot changes in the film and novel, Mildred Pierce. Why do you think they were made for the film, and whether they help or obscure the author, James M. Cain’s original intentions? 2. Is the Depression a character in the novel of Mildred Pierce? How does it affect the main characters’ behavior? 3. How do the characters in the book and film of Motherless Brooklyn manifest their “motherlessness?” In what way is Brooklyn itself”motherless.” 4. Is Motherless Brooklyn a “noir” novel? Is the film more or less so? Be specific, both about your definition as a well as the novel and film itself 5. People who survive extreme life experiences such as the Holocaust walk away with a very different rubric on how to live life. In Enemies: a Love Story, how do Herman, Masa, Yadwiga and Tamara illustrate the different forms of coping? 6. How does the depiction of Harlem in “If Beale Street Could Talk Beale Street” differ from another book that we have read, “Cotton Comes to Harlem” and its own version of Harlem? Is it the same? What are some similarities and differences between the two? 7. How do locations in the story like Harlem impact characters in the novel and the film of Beale Street? 8. Describe the role of the 1960s in the minds of the characters in the novel and film of Chilly Scenes of Winter 9. Do you think the end of the novel, Chilly Scenes of Winter, is “truer” to the story than the end of the film, or vice-versa? Explain why.

You will write a research paper that includes quoted material from four (4) research sources AND the text itself. ONLY database material may be used. Please use Bloom’s Literary database. Any research obtained from online sources will not count towards this required element. Your paper can focus on any topic related to the story that you wish. Some suggestions include: •the characters •their methods of conversing •their problem and how it influences their view of things around them • symbolic objects •Realism in the story •communication between the sexes Once you’ve decided on a topic, you should then REREAD the story and annotate it. Highlight those areas that you want to use as evidence to support your thesis. Remember that you must also quote from the story itself, as well as from the other four research sources.

Define the problem and determine its causes. Establish criteria to evaluate alternatives. Generate policy alternatives. Evaluate and select policy. Evaluate adopted policyAfter addressing these five steps, answer discussion question number 8 on page 202, which states: Did the five-step model help you understand the problem, and help you organize and structure your research and a potential response in a way that made the task more manageable, and your analysis more thorough? Or did this wicked problem reveal possible with or, limitations of the five-step approach?

Select one of the components of the criminal justice system (law enforcement, courts, or corrections).Write a 1,000- to 1,550-word paper in which you evaluate past, present, and future trends of the criminal justice component you select. Discuss the budgetary and managerial impact that future trends will likely have not only on the component you select, but also on the other components of the criminal justice system.

Discuss Marital/Couple Counseling with the Father/Husband has Diagnosable PTSD.

Directions: Select only one of the following essay prompts and, based on a selection of this semester’s course texts, draft a well-planned, well-written, multi-paragraph essay supported with two pieces of cited textual evidence per body paragraph that fully addresses the prompt and answers the question – This ideal essay will be 5-7 paragraphs. As the culminating writing assignment of your junior year, it will be scored as a “take-home essay,” so plan accordingly. Literature often tells the stories of characters caught in a conflict between two different “cultures” – The Great Gatsby was about social class, A Raisin in the Sun was about socioeconomic status, and the Asian American short stories were about national identity. These conflicts make characters, usually the protagonist, question their identity and go on a search for who they are. Choose one character from The Great Gatsby, one from A Raisin in the Sun, and one from one of the Asian American short stories who all share a similar conflict. Draft an essay in which you identify and analyze how each character responds to the conflict as well as a universal theme related to the conflict and present in all three works. Avoid plot summary.

Write a Revision Essay on The American Dream.

The critical response assignment is an exercise designed to get you to engage in a substantive and specific way with the reading in the course. Strong papers will employ powerful and ethical rhetorical means to argue specifically to or with a point or points raised by a reading or readings. “Arguing with” does not mean only “disagreeing.” You certainly can simply disagree with a reading—but you can also agree, challenge, inquire, problematize, or extend a point. Here are some specific examples of how these might look: *Pick an issue discussed in the reading(s) and talk about it in relation to incidents in your own life, aspects of your writing, etc. *Challenge a writer on a particular point. Where does he or she go wrong? What’s missing? *Raise problems with a writer’s rhetoric. Is he or she arguing fairly? Are there lapses in logic or inappropriate appeals to emotion (pathos) or character (ethos)? The CR must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words (approx 3-4 pages). Papers not meeting the length requirement will receive a deduction in points. The format should be as follows: To begin, select a particular quotation (or idea) that exemplifies an important idea from the readings (or discussions) and place it at the top of your paper. In your written response, first explain in a paragraph or two what the quotation means and its context. Then, in the rest of the paper, respond in depth to the idea. Analyze it, relate it through your own experience, praise it, problematize it, refute it, get mad at it, question it, believe it, doubt it—whatever response feels appropriate for you, as long as you provide reasonable explanation for your response.

Richard Holloway In a well thought out and well-written essay of approximately double-spaced, type-written pages: *Richard Holloway says that time reveals who we really are. The task is to accept ourselves. Where does that mandate come from? Does it have anything to do with religion?