Writing Homework Help

Analysis is an essential skill needed for success in college and in life.  An analysis involves first breaking down the information presented in a work into individual pieces and then examining the pieces to better understand the whole.

Almost anything can be analyzed. This assignment asks you to analyze a cultural product, which must be approved by your teacher.  A cultural product may include images, videos, advertisements, written and oral texts, and much more.

Cultural product(s) include:

Literature— a short story, novel, poem or play

Music— a song, album, video or performer 

• Cinema or Television— a character in a movie or TV series
• Advertising— a specific ad or an ad campaign—print, internet, or television.
• Social media— a blog, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter site
• Print media— a specific magazine
• Fashion— a specific article of clothing or fashion within a specific era
• Toys— a specific toy or a category of toys (Barbie, Rag Dolls, G.I. Figures, Appliances, etc.)
• Visual Art: photography, painting, sculpture. 
• Technology—a specific gadget or company
• As you analyze, consider the following questions: 
• How does this cultural product contain or promote specific values?

How is it representative of wider social assumptions that are reproduced and circulated and/or published, including the scope and method of circulation?

How is the product experienced or interpreted?   

• How does it contribute to and actively shape cultural ideals and expectations?
• How does it support or revise conventional ideas, practices, or expectations?
• How does it utilize symbolism to create meaning?
• How does it participate in influencing the formation of personal or group identity?
• What is its role in society?
• What essential elements of its form (visual or textual composition, style, presentation) contribute to its meaning?
• How does it adhere to conventions of a larger genre or category? (the “genre” may be action movies, men’s magazines, etc.
• In the process of considering these questions, you should do some research to become better informed about possible topics.
• After considering these guiding questions, determine which question or questions lead you to develop an insightful and informed interpretation of the significance of a cultural product.  
• In generating your idea for this essay, identify the elements of the cultural product that best support your central interpretation and craft a coherent essay presenting and defending that interpretation.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Audience:                

Your audience is your instructor and other members of the class, representative of an adult, educated, academic audience.

Sources:  

Utilize a search strategy and library databases to locate appropriate academic sources.

When utilizing sources in your paper, remember to integrate sources smoothly, supplying source introductions and clarifying comments as needed.  Remember, too, to quote judiciously, employing paraphrase and summary when appropriate. 

Document sources in parenthetical citations and on a Works Cited page or Bibliography as appropriate to the style format in use.

• ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS: 

You must insert an object related to the cultural product into the body of your paper.  This could be a video or sound file or an image.

The paper should be 4-6 pages of text, not including the inserted object, typed in Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced with 1″ margins.  The Works Cited/Bibliography page is not included in the assigned page length.