CMAT 334 - Mass Media in Society

Dr. Darrell Newton

 

Paper Two:            Independent Analysis - 100 Points

 

Purpose:                The purpose of this exercise is to determine your ability to think analytically about media effects and related considerations.

 

Knowledge:           You will need to engage with a total of three media effects theories as discussed in lecture, WebCT, PDF files and in chapters 1-5 of the text.

 

Procedure:            Within this assignment, you are to discuss the effect a film, television program or cable show has upon a specific audience.  I will evaluate you on how closely you follow directions and the strength of your argument and analysis. Within the paper, you are required to engage with the following issues:

 

1.       Discuss how Cultivation and two other classic theories relate to the effects of the text upon a specific audience:  

 

Social learning – Bandura

Associative Priming – Berkowitz

Selective Exposure - Cantor

Desensitization – Rabinovitch

Excitation transfer – Liebert and Baron

 

2.       Discuss how your chosen media text relates to three of the four Uses and Gratifications models on pages 128 to 130.  

 

Audience:              Instructor

 

Length/format:    This second paper must be a minimum of five full pages, double-spaced in a 10 point font. Use standard margins and writing style. Use a minimum of six citations from the text using Chicago Style or MLA formatting. All papers must be uploaded into WebCT by Tuesday, November 16th at 9:30am. Please bring a hard copy to class, as well. 

 

Evaluation:            Discussion and analysis of cultivation and two additional theories: 60% of your total grade

                                Discussion and engagement of the four Uses and Gratifications models: 40% of your total grade

 

 

Out of fairness to more punctual students, no late papers will be accepted.