Dr. Beth S. Bennett
CRITICAL ANALYSIS #2

Assignment Directions

Submit no later than 8 July 2002, a critical analysis of some particular example of the "New Propaganda." Use Chapter 8 and the conclusion of Combs & Nimmo for direction and assistance. This work will constitute 15% of your final grade.

You are limited to 1500 words -- please do a word count and a spell check of your draft before saving it as an HTML file. Be sure to name the file "index.htm." Upload the document into your individual presentation module in WebCT on or before the due date. Don't wait until the last minute to practice uploading on your computer. There will be no time to ask for help.

Please note the weight given to proper documentation on your evaluation form and remember that you are expected to document ALL material used. Remember that you should be following the MLA style manual. If you are still unfamiliar with academic standards of form or had mistakes in the first paper, ask for help before submitting this one.

Papers submitted on the due date will be considered final drafts and will be evaluated for writing proficiency as well as content. If you have any doubts about your writing proficiency, you are STRONGLY encouraged to submit a rough draft for approval prior to the due date.

  • You must earn a C or better on BOTH papers to complete this course. Anyone who does not will be given an Incomplete until this requirement of the course is satisfied.

Requirements

To satisfy the content aspects of this assignment, the paper needs to include at least the following:

  a thorough account of the criteria for "New Propaganda," as presented by Combs & Nimmo, being used

  a critical analysis of how the selected example of social control rhetoric fits these criteria

  an assessment of how such propaganda could be answered by those who would protest its control in society

Compare these requirements with the content points on the evaluation form (30 points possible). You should note that the three areas are given equal weight; your critical essay should provide a rather balanced account of all three areas, not just one.

To demonstrate writing proficiency for this assignment, the paper needs to be well organized and must meet normal academic standards of form. Consult your previous paper and its corrections for assistance in identifying potential problem areas for you. Make a special effort to avoid making those same mistakes. In addition, make certain that you include a clear purpose statement and a specific preview of your essay in the introduction (5 points possible).

REMEMBER: Normal academic standards include spelling/typing accuracy, grammatical correctness, compositional proficiency, and proper documentation of all sources (15 points possible).

NOTE: Various forms of "spell-check" in computer software can not insure these standards. You must proofread your writing for correctness, clarity, and appropriateness.

Evaluation

Submit a copy of the "Critical Analysis Evaluation Form" by the last class session. The grading scale at the bottom indicates the letter grade equivalent for points earned. If your paper does not receive 35 points or better, you will not be able to complete the course without revising and resubmitting. If these arrangements are not made prior to the submission of final grades, a grade of I (incomplete) will be given, and you will need to finish the work within the first three weeks of Fall 2002.

TO: COURSE INDEX

Beth S. Bennett, bbennett@bama.ua.edu. Created 27 January 1999.