COM 204: CRITICAL CLAIM MAJOR PAPER
This assignment addresses two of the course’s learning outcomes: that (1) “you will be able to write a clear thesis statement that condenses an argument into one sentence,” and (2) “you will be able to generate and support an argument about a communication text.” To pursue these objectives, you will turn in a typed, double-spaced critical essay at the beginning of lecture on Wednesday, February 19.
Select a recent (December 2019, January or February 2020) text that you believe is significant for some reason. I want you to stretch your concept of a “text,” so you may not choose the most conventional kinds of texts—speeches, essays, editorials, letters to the editor, or print or online articles. The text you choose might be a movie or television episode, some sort of public demonstration or protest event, the most recent national parks quarter, a popular song released in the last couple of months, a new or revised web site, a new or proposed building on campus, or any number of other texts as you may define them. This means that you may critique a campaign event, for example, but not a speech given at the event. Remember: The text cannot be a speech, essay, editorial, or article.
Clearly identify the text you are using in your essay, and explain how you are interpreting it as a “text”—how can you “read” this text? This brief section should begin, “I will read this text by looking at….” A couple of sentences or a short paragraph on your first page should be enough to do this, but it is a requirement.
Based on this text, write a 1000-word (approx. 3-4 pages) critical analysis that demonstrates critical thinking about the text and its significance. Your thesis should make a critical claim about the text, and the rest of the essay should advance an argument (complete with supporting examples from the text) supporting your central claim. This paper should demonstrate critical thinking as you make arguments about your text and support those arguments clearly. You need not cite any communication theories, and no outside sources are required. This essay will demonstrate your ability to locate and define an unconventional text, make a critical claim, and advance an argument supporting that claim with evidence from the text.
A sample thesis (for an old text, too old to actually use for this assignment) might look like this: “The billboards warning about the emerald ash borer suggest that Americans place high cultural value on trees and public landscaping.”
On Friday, February 7, you need to be prepared to share your text and a draft thesis statement for your paper in recitation (this will count as a daily assignment!). You’ll receive feedback (and hear everyone else’s ideas) in class.
Paper requirements:
*A clearly defined text that is not a speech, essay, editorial, or published or online article
*A text from December 2019, January 2020, or February 2020
*A clear explanation of how the unconventional text will be “read” (what are you going to count as part of the text? What parts will serve as your support? In most cases, this will be a paragraph somewhere on the first page. You might introduce it like this: “I will read this text by looking at…”)
*Engaging at least 2 different parts of the text (so ONLY using the lyrics of a song for evidence, for instance, would not be acceptable to get at least a 3; you would also need to use rhythm, tune, genre, artist/performer, or something else)
*A thesis statement that makes a clear critical claim about the text
*Evidence that fully develops the argument presented in the thesis
*Specific references to the text for support
*Approximately 1000 words
*Overall, a critique of the text, not the topic (using the emerald ash borer billboard example above, then, you would need to argue about the BILLBOARD, not the problem of invasive species)
*You really don’t need outside sources and shouldn’t use them (they tend to contribute to critiquing a TOPIC, not a TEXT). But if you DO if you do use outside sources, you must document them using APA style.
If you are missing any of these requirements, the highest grade you can earn on the paper is a 2.
Your TAs and I are happy to read drafts or outlines, or just talk about topics, in person. You may send specific questions by e-mail. We will not read drafts or outlines submitted via email.
People often ask about word count. I don’t count words carefully, but I do expect you to follow the spirit of the assignment above. That means that if you turn in only 2 pages or so, or you write much more than 4, you will be far outside the length requirement (by hundreds of words).
(thanks to Bo Feng for the initial concept upon which this assignment is based)
