Objectives:
In completing this paper, you will
Identify four roles the media performs in our society.
Analyze media influences on social, political, economic, and cultural behaviors.
Explain how different technological transitions have shaped media messages.
Skills:
This paper will give you a chance to
Practice self-awareness by critically analyzing the role of mass media in your life.
Describe what you have learned about the importance of mass media in today’s society.
Background:
As you have learned in this course, mass media fulfills several societal roles. One obvious role is entertainment. Media can act as a springboard for our imaginations, a source of fantasy, and an outlet for escapism. Media can also provide information and education. Information can come in many forms, and it may sometimes be difficult to separate from entertainment. Another useful aspect of mass media is its ability to act as a public forum to discuss important issues. Similarly, media can be used to monitor government, business, and other institutions.
Activity:
Before you begin this assignment, review all the course materials again, especially Chapters 1 and 2 of Saylor’s Understanding Media and Culture.
A. Ponder what you have learned about these four basic roles that media fulfill in society:
Entertaining,
Educating and informing
Serving as a public forum
Acting as a watchdog
B. Choose a radio show, television broadcast, video, internet site, newspaper, podcast, or other form of mass media that you would like to write about for this paper.
C. Briefly summarize a specific episode, article, etc., from the radio show, television broadcast, video, internet site, newspaper, podcast, or other form of mass media that you chose.
D. Answer the following questions. Each response should be a minimum of one paragraph.
To which of the four roles that media plays in society does your selection correspond? Explain.
Why did the creators of this specific message present it in this particular way and this particular medium? Explain. Did this message appeal to you? How and why?
What events have shaped the public’s adoption of your chosen medium?
How have technological transitions shaped the industries involved in the medium you have selected?
How has your selection personally shaped you?
Requirements:
Do not simply answer the prompts. Write a thoughtful, thorough 3-4 page (up to 1,000 words), double-spaced paper (excluding the APA-style title page and reference page[s]) in 12-point, Times Roman or similar serif font, with all the basic components for a beginning, middle, and end.
The introductory paragraph(s) should contain a thesis that summarizes your main idea or position on the question posed to you in the assignment prompt. What is the point you intend to make in your answer?
The middle paragraphs should provide information, examples, and details to support your main idea or position. This is where you should show use because statements and detail what you know or think about the topic.
The concluding paragraph(s) should summarize the major points that you raised about your main idea or position on the topic.
Support your comments with relevant quoted, paraphrased, and summarized information from your research.
Use APA-style in-text citations to cite the sources of the information that you used in assembling ideas for your argument.
Create a matching APA reference list at the end of the document.
(make sure Turnitin Score is 20% or below for all assignments; otherwise, revisions will have to be made before grading).
Reference:
