Media Effects

EGL 1100 - NBishop

Social Constructs Project

For this assignment, you will identify a social construct of interest to you. You will then investigate how the media builds, perpetuates, or challenges this social construct. You want to select a specific medium, or get as specific as possible to limit the scope of the project. For example, you might look at how a certain genre of music constructs masculinity, or how Twitter challenges society's notion of blackness.

Steps to Writing the Argument

1. Become familiar with social constructs to select one of interest. Narrow the scope of your project as much as possible.

2. Use Ch. 18 – 22 (Source / Research chapters) to review ways of finding, evaluating, integrating, and synthesizing evidence to develop thesis statements and supporting argument claims. You will use primary sources as your main evidence and secondary sources as additional support for the analytical argument you make.

3. Write a thesis, outline, then essay draft.

Parts of the Brand Identity Project

I. Introduction: Start generally (establish exigence) and develop an introduction that leads to an argumentative thesis statement.

· To make your thesis argumentative, use an analytical, argumentative verb from one of these categories: creates, maintains/perpetuates, or redefines. (You can choose a synonym or more specific verb, but it should come from one of those categories.)

· Example: In mainstream media, pitbulls are most often portrayed as dangerous. The Instagram hashtag #dontbullymybreed redefines pitbulls as friendly, goofy, and gentle.

II. Body Paragraphs: 3+ body paragraphs containing topic sentences that support your thesis. Paragraphs include evidence and analysis to support each individual topic sentence.

III. Conclusion: Discuss implications of your argument.

Formal Requirements

· 3 FULL to 4 pages in length (not including Works Cited)

· Works Cited page of 5+ sources:

· 3+ primary sources (examples)

· 2+ secondary sources (support/analysis) Secondary sources must be credible, but do not have to be “academic”

· MLA formatted in-text citations

· Formatting: Times New Roman font, size 12; 1” margins all around; header and heading with last name & page number

Essay Due Date

Due by 11:59pm on _________________________________