One TV show. One season. One week.
Then, you will write a 3-5 page paper that uses your observations, along with supporting evidence and theories from at least 3 class readings, to develop your own arguments related to one or more of the topics we’ve explored this term. In short, this final paper will be your opportunity to tell me “how to watch TV.” You may choose to focus your analysis and arguments on the specific show you watched or you may use your viewing experience as a case study through which to make a more general argument about the nature of television or television viewing. The goal of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you’ve learned over the term and put this newfound knowledge into conversation with your own unique interests, arguments, and insights about television.
- Choose a television series to binge-watch. Seinfeld season 1 you much watch an entire season of a television show and you must watch it all. Make sure you take extensive notes during your viewing sessions—you’ll need them to develop an argument and write your paper later.
- Log your viewing times, locations, and key takeaways using the worksheet provided. (attached) Note: you must upload your worksheet to canvas along with your finished paper.
- Review your viewing notes and worksheet to help determine the direction you’d like to take in your paper. Remember, you can choose to develop an in-depth analysis/argument about the show itself or you can use your observations to develop an argument about the nature of television or television viewing in general. Be sure your paper connects to at least one of the following topics: industry, form, representation, technology, and/or audiences. Note: If you’re looking for ways to take your paper to the next level, consider speaking to the connections and intersections between more two or more of these topics.
- Review your notes, readings, and reading responses from the term and look for theories, arguments, and evidence from at least 3 readings that will help to frame and support your arguments. You are welcome to draw upon class lecture/discussion and/or outside research in addition to these 3 sources. But this is not a requirement of the assignment. You must cite ALL of your sources in a Works Cited page. Note: you may use your weekly responses to review the term’s readings and fine tune your insights, you may even use the same readings or quotes you discussed in your responses, but you may not self-plagiarize by cutting and pasting content from your responses directly into your paper.
- Write your 3-5 page paper! Remember: 3 FULL pages is the minimum required page length. If you have more to say, you are free to go over the minimum, as long as you are careful to ensure the paper remains clear, well-organized, and avoids repetition.
Your paper must include:
- A title
- A clear thesis supported with specific evidence from your television show, viewing sessions, and at least 3 class readings
- Professional and polished prose that has been thoughtfully edited and revised
- In-text citations or endnotes for all sources using standard MLA.
- A works cited page
Format
- Your paper must be at least 3 COMPLETE pages in length (not including your worksheet or works cited page).
- Times New Roman, 12-point font
- Double-spaced text
- 1-inch margins
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