research paper

Choose a word that is commonly used in popular culture and analyze its usage in three different popular sources (social media, music, television shows, newspapers, magazines, films, etc). The word that you choose must be a broad term (think abstract noun: freedom, democracy, beauty, socialism, etc.) and not a narrow technical term that is not commonly used. Your essay should include the following: 

1) General definition and understanding of the word. This should not be your own definition or understanding of the world, but the formal, “official” uses of the word. 

2) Examples and analysis of three popular uses of the term. In your analysis, you should give the specific context in which the term was used and the apparent meaning given to it. You should point out the ways in which this use of this term is similar/different from both your general definition and the uses in your other popular sources.

3)Conclude your essay with an analysis of the state of the word within popular usage today. Based on your sources, how is the word used today? Is it used differently depending on the type of popular source? If so, why? If not, why not?