Step 1: Review the Topic and Other Requirements for the Essay
Step 1: Review the Topic and Other Requirements for the Essay
Here is the topic and other information about the essay:
For the previous essays, we have been discussing how different visuals such as commercials and websites appeal to their audience. For this short research paper, you will write about the topic below and use credible sources to support your points. Your paper should answer the question below about the visual(s) that you have chosen. You can use more than one visual from the list below, and/or feel free to use visuals that you have used for previous essays.
Topic: Which technique(s) does the creator of the visual(s) you have chosen use to accomplish its purpose? Some techniques include but are not limited to, music, color, editing, and celebrity endorsements. Feel free to use some information from your previous essay(s), but make sure that you adapt it to this essay.
Audience: Your intended audience/reader is an academic audience who has already seen the visual(s).
Length: 1,000 – 1,200 words and 5 or 6 paragraphs (i.e., introduction, 3 or 4 body paragraphs, and a conclusion).
Sources: You should have 2 – 4 sources. You must cite those works both within the paper and on a works cited page at the end of the paper. You also need to provide quotes and details from the visual(s) in every body paragraph, and you need to have 1 – 2 quotes from the journal article in each body paragraph.
If you use more than 1 visual, you do not have to use it in every body paragraph. For instance, you may discuss the UAB Student Life Website in two body paragraphs, and then the Super Mario Bros. Website in one or two other body paragraphs. You may also want to focus on one visual such as the Brotherly Love Coca-Cola Commercial, and discuss music in two paragraphs and family relationships in other paragraphs.
Here are the sources that you should use:
- 1 – 4 of the visual(s) from the list below. You should include quotes and details from the visual(s) in every body paragraph.
- 1 – 4 of the sources from the list in the next step, or if those do not work for you, you can find a journal article on your own by using the library databases or Google Scholar. If you use your own source, then you must get it approved by emailing the link to it to me before this Friday at 11:59 pm. You should include 1 – 2 quotes from the journal article(s) in every body paragraph.
Grading/Rubric: This essay is worth 100 points or 20% of your overall grade. As always, you will be graded for content, organization, MLA format, spelling, sentence structure, etc.
Step 2: Choose a Journal Article
Below are your choices for the journal articles. As previously stated, you need to use at least 1 and no more than 4 of them as sources. remember to use 1 – 2 quotes from the journal article(s) in every body paragraph.
Before choosing an article, it is a good idea to read the abstract or summary of each article to see if it will be useful for your paper and help support your points. I have you all using a journal article as a source because journal articles are considered highly credible sources for academic research. Furthermore, familiarity with using journal articles as sources is crucial, as they may be required in future courses. Given that journal articles can be challenging to comprehend, the next step includes a video offering valuable tips on effectively reading and understanding them. This resource aims to enhance your proficiency in utilizing journal articles as references for academic research.
Visiual choices: Music
- Bossa Nova Jazz Paris Ambience Video: https://youtu.be/UZjz2tOB7B8
- Weird Al Yankovic’s Word Crimes Music Video: https://youtu.be/8Gv0H-vPoDc
Now that you have a clear understanding of the essay’s topic, it is advisable to craft your thesis statement before proceeding with the rest of the paper. Place this pivotal sentence at the end of your introduction.
To assist you in formulating your thesis, I’ve provided a template and a sample thesis statement below:
Template: [Creator/Work] uses [specific techniques] to achieve the purpose of [state purpose].
Example: The McDonald’s New Dad Commercial employs compelling dialogue and strategic emotional appeals to fulfill its objective of portraying the company as deeply attuned to the needs of its customers.
Topic Sentence
|
Begin with a clear topic sentence that is based on ONE of the points from your thesis. Do NOT put a quote here or write a question. Also, do NOT write about more than one point.
|
Follow-up Sentence (Optional)
|
You can put a follow-up sentence that elaborates on the topic sentence here if you want to, but it is not necessary. Also, do not put more than one follow-up sentence.
|
Quote from the journal article
|
You can put the quote from the journal article anywhere in the paragraph, but this may be a good place to mention it. Don’t forget to introduce your quote and the quote should not be more than 3 lines long when typed in the essay. Here’s an example:
Marco Furini and Roberta De Michele, the authors of “On Improving the Engagement between Viewers and TV Commercials through Gamification,” say, “To understand if there has been an engagement between users and a brand, the marketing industry uses two main approaches: invasive and non-invasive” (109).
|
Evidence from the visual
|
Include your first example or form of specific evidence from the visual right here. You can begin with a transition such as For example or For instance.
|
Commentary/Analysis
|
Your evidence should be followed by your commentary/analysis of it. Think about how your evidence relates to your thesis. What specifically does that previously-mentioned evidence show or demonstrate about the purpose of the visual?
|
More Evidence from the visual
|
Include your second example or form of evidence from the visual here.
|
More Commentary/Analysis
|
Explain or analyze the previous evidence.
|