Assignment: Sensationalism and Media

In this assignment we are going to look at the the influence of the media, sensationalism, and our own ability to think critically about the world around us. In the Supplemental Web Links for this week you will find a link to a segment of the Daily Show that makes a satirical jab at the media's approach to the war in Iraq.

Directions

For this assignment, you are asked to watch the segment from the Daily Show. Think about the point that this episode is trying to get across and then write an essay in which you respond to this segment, connecting it to the ideas from this weeks materials. Some of the things you may want to consider in this assignment include: What is the idea this segment is trying to communicate? Does it surprise you? Does it match your own experience of how the media works? You may want to watch some serious news shows of your own, and see if you see the type of approach this segment criticizes at work.

Make sure to support your answer with specific references both to the class materials as well as to the episode, using appropriate APA citation.

PLEASE NOTE: This assignment is not asking neither for a summary of the articles NOR your perspective on affirmative action. Instead, in this assignment and many others, you will be doing an analysis of a particular article using the ideas and criteria specified by the assignment.

Criteria for Success

These assignments are designed to give you an opportunity to practice as well as demonstrate the fundamental skills a critical thinker needs. It is not enough to simply meet the minimum word requirement. In order to excel in this assignment, you should

1, Knowledgeably employ the terms and ideas in the class materials and apply them to your given topic.
2. Skillfully and specifically analyze your given object of investigation.
3. Connect to your own experience and the world around you

Assignment Expectations

For this assignment, you should not need to consult or utilize any outside sources. If you feel compelled to make reference to outside sources or other people's words or ideas, you need to cite them using APA citation, or you may be committing plagiarism. (Please see APA information provided by your library, or contact either me or the librarian if you need clarification on APA citation).