This is the 8-10 page assignment we discussed at the beginning of the semester (see your syllabus). You will analyze a text related to hate or a specific topic we discussed this semester. Your text might be a Web Page, a film, a documentary, etc. Generally, the analysis should be composed of the following headings:1. Purpose of the persuasive analysis. This is what you want to accomplish in your analysis.2. A general description of your persuasive text. This description should provide the reader with an understanding of the text and the social significance of your topic. Some of you may have a more specific and concrete text than others but everyone should have a text that centers your analysis.3. Your description of the theoretical lens that you use to understand and critique your Web Page/film. You should define the theoretical concepts you use to understand your Web Page/film. For example, if you are examining a website maintained by a hate group in terms of its narrative features, then you will want to describe the “narrative” concept so that a reader will know what you “considered” as a narrative.4. Analysis: This would include your critique of your Web Page/film. For example, if you are analyzing an advertisement’s use of persuasive heuristics, then this portion of your paper would provide concrete and specific descriptions of author’s attempts to encourage the heuristic processing of persuasive information. 5. Conclusions: This should include a discussion of what you have learned from your analysis. This might also include a brief discussion of the practical use of your findings.If you have an idea that does not fit within this framework, talk to me. I want to help you with a project that matter to you and that you value.This might be a good opportunity for many of you to submit this work to an undergraduate honors conference. That would mean traveling to the conference to present your paper. If you are interested in doing this, please see me and I will provide you with useful information about potential conferences. I will also recommend a few things that you might work on in your paper that will help you write a paper that is likely to be accepted to a conference. Or, for some of you, this might be an assignment that could be expanded to a Senior Honors Thesis.Your paper will be evaluated in terms of the following criteria:Comprehensiveness and Thoroughness—Does the paper include all five sections? Is each section thoroughly developed?Heuristic Value—Is the paper and the analysis theoretically interesting? Does the analysis offer an interesting interpretation of the text? Does the analysis “make sense” given the nature of the artifact? Would people who make their living thinking and working in relevant areas (e.g., hate, prejudice, discrimination) want to read this paper?Quality of Expression—Is the paper well-written? Is the paper a coherent whole with clear transitions that permit the reader to experience the paper as a seamless whole? Well-written papers possess the following characteristics: (a) The author’s writing does not contain attributes that distract the reader from the argument being developed in the paper (e.g., missing words, incorrect use of grammar, incorrect punctuation, awkward or convoluted expression). (b) Ideas are expressed with parsimony. Parsimony is achieved when the writer has taken the time review and edit their writing to achieve the most clear and simple form possible. Remember, good writing is good editing. Good editing involves careful self-criticism. So, good editing means going beyond the spelling/grammar function of a word-processing system. (c) Quality writing is effective argumentation. Good writing is only possible to the extent that the writer develops effective arguments. Do claims derive from the purpose statement? Is evidence provided to support claims? Is the evidence used in a way that makes its relationship to the claim clear? Are quotations, for example, interpreted by the writer?Criteria for the Assignment of a GradeAn “A” paper should, generally speaking, possess the following characteristics.The written quality of an “A” is exceptional, creative, and parsimonious. It is clear that the writer has crafted the argument(s) through careful editing of earlier drafts of the paper.An “A” paper evidences superior argumentation. Superior argumentation is apparent through: (a) the use of evidence to support the writer’s claims, (b) the consistent interpretation of quotes (and other forms of evidence), (c) the application of theoretical material that is well-suited to understanding the persuasive artifact, (d) the application of theoretical material in a way that creates a new and unique way of looking at the persuasive artifact.An “A” paper possesses all of the sections and headings discussed in the description of the persuasive analysis. In addition, all of the sections are thoroughly developed and readers of the paper have a very clear sense of how all sections contribute to a complete and coherent paper. Moreover, the writer has explicitly integrated the various sections of the paper through good writing strategies (e.g., transitions between sections and internal summaries) and analysis (e.g., explicit analytic connections between purpose, method, and results; explicit analytic connections between results and conclusions).A “B” paper should, generally speaking, possess the following characteristics.The written quality of a “B” paper is exceptional, often creative, and often exhibits the attribute of parsimony. A “B” paper may evidence minor grammatical errors and awkward expressions that do not distract the reader from the argument being advanced by the writer.A “B” paper evidences excellent argumentation. Excellent argumentation is apparent through: (a) the use of evidence to support the writer’s claims, (b) the interpretation of quotes (and other forms of evidence), (c) the application of theoretical material that is consistently, but not always, well-suited to understanding the persuasive artifact, (d) the application of theoretical material in a way that helps readers to better understand the persuasive artifact.A “B” paper possesses all of the sections and headings discussed in the description of the persuasive analysis. In addition, all of the sections are thoroughly developed and readers of the paper have a very clear sense of how all sections contribute to a complete and coherent paper.A “C” paper should, generally speaking, possess the following characteristics.The written quality of a “C” paper is adequate to the task, is sometimes creative, and sometimes parsimonious. A “C” paper will evidence minor grammatical errors and awkward expression but may occasionally possess attributes that distract the reader from the argument advanced in the paper and the reader will be aware that the writer needed to spend more time editing the paper.A “C” paper evidences the need for effective argumentation. Effective argumentation is apparent through: (a) the use of evidence to support the writer’s claims, (b) the somewhat inconsistent interpretation of quotes (and other forms of evidence), (c) the application of theoretical material that provides a reasonable interpretation of the persuasive artifact, (d) the application of theoretical material in a way that helps readers to better understand the persuasive artifact.A “C” paper possesses all of the sections and headings discussed in the description of the persuasive analysis.A “D” paper should, generally speaking, possess the following characteristics.The written quality of a “D” paper is poor and the writing is an ongoing distraction to the reader.A “D” paper fails to evidence the need for effective argumentation. Ineffective argumentation is apparent through: (a) consistent lack of clearly articulated claims (b) a consistent incoherence between claims and evidence intended to support the writer’s claims, (c) a consistent failure to interpret quotes (and other forms of evidence), (d) the application of theoretical material that does not provide an reasonable interpretation of the persuasive artifact, (d) the application of theoretical material in a way that does not help readers to better understand the persuasive artifact. A “D” paper possesses all of the sections and headings discussed in the description of the persuasive analysis. However, one or more of the sections is seriously underdeveloped in a way that diminishes the quality of the overall paper.An “F” paper should, generally speaking, possess the following characteristics.The written quality of an “F” paper is poor and the writing is such a distraction that the reader would stop grading were it not for the necessity to assign the paper a grade.An “F” paper completely lacks one or more of the attributes that makes for effective argumentation.An “F” paper completely lacks one or more of the overall headings. OR, one or more of the sections is so seriously underdeveloped that readers do not learn from the persuasive analysis.
Requirements: 8 pages
