This assignment asks a student to choose a television artifact—a show, an episode of a show, a commercial, a marketing campaign, a recurring practice in television, a collection of shows—for critical analysis. Once you have decided on an artifact the student should choose a clearly identifiable critical method, as discussed in class and in the text,

This paper is to be researched using traditional sources (Infotrac, various arts and humanities indices, newspapers, magazines, and books) as well as contemporary resources (Lexis-Nexis, web-based resources, etc.). I expect you to use an accepted style sheet (MLA, APA, Turabian, University of Chicago) and follow it closely.

For undergraduates, a paper in the range of 7-8 pages seems like an acceptable minimum; graduate students should shoot for approximately twice that range. The very best papers will, with the author’s permission, be placed on the web for others to read.

The very best guide for actually writing your paper is found in the Vande Berg et. al. handout you will be given in class. You could do far worse than follow her recommendations.

Unlike other papers you may have written, this assignment includes a required revision. Your grade will be based on a combination of the first version that you turn in and the revision which will be completed after you receive comments from Burnett. See the syllabus for the due dates.

Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the assignment.