Introduction, which should include:
-> Thesis statement/RQ linking the empirical material to a theoretical concept which needs to be defined based on existing academic literature.
-> Key points of argument and overview of how you will present them, i.e. a “road map”
Para 2:
-> Provide any background info necessary about the clip and its relationship to the key concept/theory/theme
Paras 3-4:
-> Argument 1 (in support of thesis statement)
-> supporting evidence
Paras 4-5:
-> Argument 2 (in support of thesis statement, should build on argument 1)
-> supporting evidence
Paras 5-6: (if necessary)
-> Argument 3 (in support of thesis statement, should build on argument 2)
-> supporting evidence
Conclusion
-> Sum everything up and restate argument compellingly now that all evidence has been presented
-> Remind the reader why this matters
- Do not use definitions from a dictionary
- Use academic literature
- Organize your analysis according to your argument, not as a list of everything you observed
- Most of the essay should be your argument supported by analysis
Introduction:
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A hook that provides a relevant, compelling & concrete introduction to the topic at hand
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Not: “Netflix shows are very important to society today so…”
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Try and tell a full story from just the first sentence of every paragraph
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Your RQ can be stated distinctly as a question or it can be weaved into the intro as a statement form e.g. My RQ was: ‘What role does light and colour play in communicating ideas about patriotism in Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari?’ OR In my analysis of Lee Isaac Chungs’ Minari, I investigated the role that light and colour play in communicating ideas about patriotism through the film OR Using my textual analysis, I argue that the player’s inability to not turn their workers into slaves in the game A dark room is in fact a procedural rhetorical argument about life within capitalist societies.
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A brief description of the methodology (textual analysis) and your empirical focus
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What is your sample?
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Name the specific scene/clip from which it originates
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Why did you choose this particular scene
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What exactly are you studying within the clip and why
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A roadmap for your reader: a brief overview of how the proceeding analysis will support your argument
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What are the 3-4 claims you will make to support your argument
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How will you organize them in the most logical order
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Introduce the theoretical concepts you are using e.g male gaze
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Provide citations
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These should be woven into your RQ
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Make it clear why you are examining this concept in the chosen text and why it is relevant
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Don’t wait until the conclusion to tell your readers the argument
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Use strong verbs i.e. I argue, my analysis demonstrates…
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Does your essay read like a list of observations or like a critical argument about a media text?
Focus on the analysis itself:
- Based on a good understanding of how the formal elements you are analyzing (the construction) function within a text so as to produce meaning
- You don’t need to go into too much depth in your use of theory or literature
Should include the following:
- What’s your RQ?
- What theoretical concepts are you using? (Pick one concept from one of the weeks)
- What is your methodological focus (what aspects of the construction of the representation are you focusing on)?
- What argument do you think you will make that will answer the RQ?
- What evidence do you have to support this argument?