COM 488 - Popular Culture Portrayal

For the majority of our Friday class meetings, you will submit written analyses about popular culture portrayals (PCP) of relevant dark side topics (topics that correspond to the readings for the designated week). Papers must be completed, printed, and ready for submission at the beginning of class. These PCP analyses will serve as the discussion for the particular class period. For each class, we will get to as many as possible. Students will provide a context/background for their submission and lead a brief discussion.

As you read the designated material for any given week, reflect and brainstorm how the material from the reading has been illustrated in various portrayals of popular culture. For example, as you're reading: you may be reminded of how something from the chapter was illustrated in a movie, TV show, song, or website. You should have a variety of PCP mediums i.e., do not use just one outlet (e.g., TV shows) to illustrate the concept. You will then write a one-page analysis of how the popular culture artifact illustrates a specific dark side topic that was discussed in the assigned reading and/or from the material discussed on Monday and Wednesday of the particular week. Your writing should be clear, concise, detailed, useful, and accurate. In you're writing, you're essentially making an argument for why your pop culture artifact appropriately exemplifies the dark side topic. Some class periods may allow for you to reference your artifact as you're sharing your example e.g., pull up the movie clip on the projector, play the song for us, etc.

Writing Specifics:
Written summary must not exceed 1 page
o Need to use Times New Roman 12 pt font with 1" margins all around.
o Write your name and date in the Header.
o Needs to be double-spaced.
o Use black ink with good ink quality.
The writing style needs to be formal i.e., avoid informal language/expressions.
o You can still write in the first person where appropriate.
o Be sure to conduct a thorough proofreading.
? It is best to (at least once) print out a draft of the paper when proofreading.
? Check for spelling errors.
? Grammar check e.g., subject-pronoun agreement
? Clarity e.g., incomplete/run-on sentences, revising/condensing ideas
You should bring 2 copies of your PCP analysis: the one you turn in to me for a grade and the one you'll have with you during class - although you will not share your PCP analysis every time, there will be several class meetings where you will.
o Your own copy can be in any format, page length, etc. - it's your copy - I won't see it.
o Consider the group project as you're working on the PCP analyses.

Grading:
Grading is done holistically i.e., your grade is a function of the degree to which you conformed to the assignment expectations correctly, competently, and concisely (i.e., brief but comprehensive).