| What is
this paper supposed to be about? |
This paper is supposed to be about reality TV in general and whatever
implications you see as necessary for discussing the term. (For example,
a discussion of "what is reality" might be appropriate). In other
words we're all starting with the same three questions, but we can go many
different directions with it.
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| So
what am I supposed to do? |
Your job is to answer the three basic questions about reality TV:
What is it? -- Define it in terms of what it encompasses
and what it does not. You may want to think in terms of categories,
lists, negations, stipulation, or any combination of those.
What does it mean? -- Is Reality TV a "cultural force"?
Does its popularity indicate anything about our society or ourselves when
we watch it? What impact has it had on other aspects of culture?
What do we do about it? -- Who cares? What's the point?
Your answer here will depend on your treatment of the previous question.
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| Will
you be grading us based on how well we follow the stuff in the book or
on how creative our argument is? |
Both, sort of. I'll expect you to be creative in coming up with
your own arguments. However, you will need the stuff in the book
to make your argument effective and your creativity interesting and compelling.
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| What
are the sources for? Where can I find them? |
Your sources will be where you find any data you need to support your
argument (statistics about who watches what, history) as well as voices
of authority to support your argument (somebody famous or respectible saying
something that backs up what you're saying).
This kind of thing can be found on the web fairly easily, but consider
that some things on the web are more reliable and credible than others.
Choose your sources carefully.
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| Do
I have to have a title page? |
No. Same details/format as previous papers.
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| What
if I can't find any sources that back up what I'm saying? |
Keep looking. If necessary, quote someone from a show.
(There's a certain way to cite this. I'll post a how-to on that later)
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| Can
all of my sources be from the internet? |
Yes. But, again, consider their value. Some sources will
help you make your arguments better than others.
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| I
can't think of anything to write! |
Start with the kinds of things we did in class:
--Make a list of Reality Shows.
--Write down what those shows all have in common.
--Create a working definition that encompasses all of those commonalities
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| My
paper's 3.7 pages long, is that enough? |
Probably not. If your argument is very clear, succinct, and--most
importantly--complete, then you might be okay. But chances are you
can expand one of your points to make it even clearer.
Remember, I'm not just interested in the page count; I'm interested
in the completeness and scope of your argument.
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| What
elements will you be grading for and how will they be weighted? |
I will use the following evaluation system:
Grammar/spelling: 20%
Sources:
20%
Style:
15%
Content:
15%
Details:
15%
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| What
will you count off for under "grammar"? |
All the things I've looked for so far:
--Run-ons
--Fragments
--Comma Splices
Plus two new ones:
--Misplaced/Dangling Modifiers
--Faulty Parallelism
Each flagrant instance of the above will subtact 1 point from your "grammar"
score.
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| What
will you count off for under "style"? |
The same things as before will be 1 point off each:
--2nd person
--Contractions
In general I will look for a formal style of writing that is
clear and concise. This means that I will also be marking instances
where Passive Voice is misused (but I won't be counting off for it yet.)
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| What
will you count off for under "content"? |
Content in this case means both your argument and your presentation
of the argument. In other words, your creativity and your abiliy
to use the tools we've worked on already.
An argument will be deemed effective if it adequately addresses the
three questions and it's final claims are consistent with the initial definitions.
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| Will
you grade more harshly if you disagree with our argument? |
Not at all. In fact, I hope that you will make arguments which
have not occurred to me. An argument can still be very effected and
presented as such even if it is not the same argument I would make.
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