Assignment Objectives:
· Analyze the rhetorical context of a given text, including visual texts such as films or TV shows (genre, purpose, intended audience)
· Differentiate between summary and analysis
· Choose and analyze a position (or judgement)
· Identify and evaluate specific criteria (parts of the text)
· Provide examples and analysis of those examples in support of that position
· Use information from outside sources to further support this analysis
· Use MLA or APA to cite information from sources (in-text and Works Cited or References); and
· Engage in writing as a process, and use grammatical, stylistic, and mechanical formats and conventions appropriate for different audiences and writing situations.
Assignment Description:
· Choose a recent film, TV show, or book that you know well AND IS NO OLDER THAN FIVE YEARS. The first body paragraph should provide a summary of the major plot points of the text. Limit the summary to only one body paragraph.
· You will first make either a positive or negative judgment about that text. For example: Is the text entertaining? Informative? Does it successfully convey the author’s intended message? How successfully does the text reach the intended audience(s)? Etc. If your judgement is split (some aspects of the text are effective, but others are not), this should be made clear in your thesis.
· Next, you will identify at least three criteria (subtopics or aspects of the text that you will use to support your judgment). While appropriate subtopics may vary slightly depending on the type of text you select (as films and TV shows add another dimension that is not present in a book), possible criteria that could be selected included: characterization, the quality of the acting, directing, writing, costume design, set design (or setting for a book), special effects, the effectiveness of the music, the pacing of the story, and a variety of themes that are expressed throughout the story. Each student should select at least one theme to use a criterion for this assignment.
· Once your criteria have been selected, identify examples from the text that show how these criteria are effective (if your judgment is positive) or are not effective (if your judgment is negative). Use information from outside sources to further support this analysis. It can be helpful to examine profession film/TV/book reviews from professional critics to help support the points that you are making. Also, searching for interviews with the actors, director, composers, etc. can provide helpful primary source information that can help you to support your analysis. Including specific textual analysis for each criterion, however, is essential.
· Keep in mind that this is different from summarizing, and textual evidence should be taken directly from the film/TV show/book you are critiquing. Directly quoting from the text is encouraged. Avoid summarizing large plot points in the latter body paragraphs; you will have already provided this information in the first body paragraph.
· Students can, if they wish, provide some background information in the introduction (release date, box office figures/number of copies sold, etc. as long as this information does not overwhelm the introduction. The thesis sentence should clearly state the judgment and criteria that will be discussed in the essay.
Essay Requirements:
· Word Count: A minimum of 1000 words (This will be roughly three to four pages.)
· Include the Word Count on page one below the date.
· In-text citations and Works Cited (MLA) or Reference (APA) citations are included in this word count.
· Use MLA (Modern Language Associate) or APA (American Psychological Association) format.
· Use a minimum of four sources (This includes the source you are analyzing).
· You may not use Wikipedia or other similar sources (such as Encyclopedias) for this assignment.
· You may use first- or third-person point of view.
· Only original work will be graded. Students should not submit an essay or assignment that was previously submitted for another course or instructor. Do not use AI to generate your response. Doing so will result in a score of zero for the assignment.
