Media & Identity

Assignments

Course Participation (10%, 100 pts.)

• Preparation for class, in addition to the quantity and quality of your contribution to class discussions.
• Miscellaneous in-class assignments or quizzes.

2 Short Papers (60% total, 300 pts. each)

• Topic Paper #1 (Due 10/4): In this paper, you are required to address how traditional notions/formulations of gender are presented within a contemporary media object. To accomplish this, you should:
  • Locate a media object created after 2000 (such as an advertisement, film, television episode, video game, webisode, or website).
  • Provide 1000-1200 words (4-5 pgs) of analysis about how the media object represents traditional formulations of gender (e.g. within a feminine/masculine binary).
  • Your analysis should include references to course readings, should paraphrase information from sources (rather than quoting at length), and should include in-text citations after paraphrased material. Resources pertaining to proper in-text citation format can be found in the “Writing Resources” section on the course website. A bibliography is not necessary unless you include additional sources outside of our course reading list.
  • Be sure to review formatting guidelines before you submit your paper on Blackboard.

 

• Topic Paper #2 (Due 11/15): In this paper, you are required to address how a contemporary media object presents identity outside or beyond binary structures. To accomplish this, you should:
  • Select a type of identity you will write about (race, sexuality, gender/sexual orientation, or queerness).
  • Choose a type of media you did not write about in the first topic paper.
  • Locate a media object created after 2010 (such as an advertisement, film, television episode, video game, webisode, or website).
  • Provide 1000-1200 words (4-5 pgs) of analysis about the media object you selected.
    • Address how identity is deconstructed by this media object, including specific connections to what is described in course readings.
    • Your analysis should include references to course readings, should paraphrase information from sources (rather than quoting at length), and should include in-text citations after paraphrased material. Resources pertaining to proper in-text citation format can be found in the “Writing Resources” section on the course website. A bibliography is not necessary unless you include additional sources outside of our course reading list.
  • Be sure to review formatting guidelines before you submit your paper on Blackboard.

 

Visualizing Identity Assignment (30%, 300 pts.) DUE on 12/8 (by 10:00pm)

• This assignment will require you to create a visual representation for identity. Several options will be discussed based upon examples provided throughout the semester (e.g. infographics, comic strips, etc.).
• Students will contribute to the guidelines for this assignment, which will be used to establish a rubric for how this assignment will be graded.
• Assignment Guidelines / Resources

 

Grading Breakdown

Grading Criteria

“A” indicates truly exceptional work, which demonstrates command of concepts and theories, presenting them in a well-argued and logically structured manner. “A” work significantly surpasses the expectations of the assignment, is free of spelling and grammatical errors, and does not merely address the questions through a repetition of course material or lectures. It provides fresh, creative, and original perspectives with a unique voice, offering connections between the topic and broader issues and contexts. Superior research skills are demonstrated with relevant citations and quotations advancing the argument.

 

“B” indicates above-average work that clearly achieves the goals of the assignment, providing smart and solid analyses with thoughtful and organized arguments I expect any diligent student to be able to produce. “B” work offers some originality, contains few (if any) typos, spelling errors, or grammatical mistakes, and addresses most questions directly by citing specific materials from the texts and lectures to illustrate points being made.

 

“C” indicates meets the course requirements in an adequate fashion by addressing the questions without sufficient engagement with materials from texts or lectures. “C” work tends to recycle examples from discussion without providing connections to the analysis, contains unfocused, uncritical, or insufficiently supported arguments, and typically contains acceptable but awkward prose with various typos, spelling errors or poorly structured sentences that result in vague arguments.

 

“D” indicates work that is off-topic, poorly written, disorganized and, instead of the course materials, utilizes “personal experience” or inapplicable research materials or support (such as readings obviously applicable in other subjects or classes). In other words, the assignment shows little to no evidence that a student was paying attention in class, does not incorporate materials used in course readings or class discussion, and sounds like a summary or review of materials rather than critically engaged analyses. This type of work may also fall short or far exceed the page limits or time constraints for the assignment and typically contain many spelling and grammatical errors and/or show no signs of being proofread.

 

“F” indicates work that dramatically fails to meet the goals and expectations of the course. “F” work is incoherent, plagiarized, and/or never submitted.