Analyzing Cultural Changes through the Eye of Television

Analyzing Cultural Changes through the Eye of Television: A Sociological Study

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

For this assignment, you will watch one show from all the Generations listed below and write an essay to analyze how the specific criteria listed below changes over time.

 

ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS

· 1000-1200 Words Minimum

 

· MLA 8 Format (see MLA folder in Canvas for formatting information)

 

· Minimum Standards, provided in Syllabus, apply

 

· Three work cited entries for the Television Shows must appear on a Work Cited page (see MLA folder in Canvas for details)

 

This Assignment will be submitted directly into Canvas via an upload of a Word document or PDF file – no other submission types (including email or paper copies) will be accepted.

 

STEP 1 = Watch one full episodes of one TV show from THREE (3) different generations:

· Generation 1 = (50’s, 60’s)

 

· Generation 2 = (70’s, 80’s, 90’s)

 

· Generation 3 = (2000 - Present)

 

STEP 2 = Take notes while watching the shows. Report on the following:

 

1. Parent/child roles and/or gender/sex roles portrayed in the shows

 

2. Language: Cursing, tone, ‘innocent’ or ‘adult’ conversations, and innuendos

 

3. Sexual content: Nudity, partial nudity, general sexual content, shows of affection.

 

4. Violence: How graphic?

 

5. Miscellaneous: Include anything else that in pertinent

 

Helpful Hint: Taking detailed notes will lead to a more complete, well written paper.

 

INGREDIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL PAPER:

PARAGRAPH 1: INTRODUCTION:

This is where you should introduce which Television shows you are using (remember TV show titles should be in italics) and provide a thesis statement that will give topic, opinion and direction for the rest of the paper. The body of your paper should support your thesis statement.

PARAGRAPHES 2 - ?: BODY PARAGRAPHES

 

There is no maximum to the number of body paragraphs that you provide; however, please change paragraph when you change your focus or topic. The BODY PARAGRAPHES are where you report on your thoughts on the criteria listed above in Step 2, using specific examples from the three Generations of Television shows you have watched. For each criteria examined (Step 2), you must provide an example or detail from each Generation.

 

LAST PARAGRAPH: CONCLUSION

 

This concluding PARAGRAPH should summarize your paper and BACK UP your thesis statement from the introduction. There should be no new topics or any new details discussed here.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This has been designated as the Gordon Rule Assignment for this class. As this is a Gordon Rule class, ALL students MUST be able to demonstrate competent college level writing. If a student passes all aspects of the course content, but does NOT satisfy the Gordon Rule writing skills component, they will not pass the course.

 

GRADING RUBRIC: 50 Total Points

 

· 30 Points = Content

 

· 10 Points = Format and Organization: Word count; MLA formatting

 

· 10 points = Grammar, Mechanics and Diction