Media Analysis On Cheerio Interracial Commercial

one way or another, we are all influenced by the different forms of media that constantly
surround us. In this essay you will analyze one of these media “texts” (a TV show, advertisement,
comic book, video game, or perhaps a different kind of text that you’ve cleared with me ahead of
time) with the purpose of exploring and explaining one of the underlying arguments the text makes.
To uncover the argument, you’ll need to consider the cultural values, beliefs, stereotypes, and/or
myths the text offers up or perpetuates and perhaps the claims the text makes about the various
consumer groups it targets and/or portrays.
This essay can be approached in a number of ways, but you’ll want to begin by thinking about and
exploring three questions:
What stands out to you in the text? It’s often a good idea to start any analysis by concentrating
on the moments in the text that catch your attention, surprise, or confuse you. You will likely need
to summarize briefly your text to familiarize your audience with it, but focus your analysis on those
important moments that you find. Use them to build towards your own main claim about the text,
which is the answer to the next question…
What argument is the text making? Think about what the text is trying to persuade its viewers to
do and how it is doing so. Move beyond simple literal analysis (e.g. “This Bud Light advertisement is
arguing that Bud Light is a good beer” or “The TV show The Walking Dead argues that life is difficult
following a zombie apocalypse”). Aim for critical analysis that deals with one particular underlying,
complex argument. Think carefully about the cultural values and beliefs the text capitalizes on.
What are the characters in the text like, and what do they do? What do they wear? What seems to be
important to them? How is the text subtly (or not) convincing its audience to behave in certain ways
or believe certain things? These questions are a good start, but craft your own additional questions
about the text as you analyze it.
How does this text fit into a larger cultural picture? Is your text responding to other texts or
arguments? Which ones and how? Try to make connections between the argument your text is
making and other arguments, beliefs, and values that its audience would be familiar with. For
example, how does the latest popular comic book film relate and/or respond to other comic book
films? Do other films (comic book or otherwise) deal with the same argument your film makes? In
what ways? Again, craft your own questions about the larger cultural picture surrounding your Carefully exploring all of these questions should lead you to the formulation of one clear main
claim about your text, which you will argue throughout the essay, using strong reasons and
evidence as support. Your goal here is to produce an analysis of your chosen text that gives your
readers new insight into how the text works and the arguments it makes. You might envision as your
audience people who are interested in media texts and the way they influence consumers of their
product.
Tips:
- Make sure to back up the claims you make with evidence from the text at hand, and use MLA style
when you quote, paraphrase, or summarize your text.
- Make sure your essay is a unified whole; craft transitions between paragraphs. Your final draft
shouldn’t read like a series of unconnected and unrelated paragraphs.
- Be sure to consider what others might say about your media text and its argument. Remember that
your essay is a part of a larger conversation about the media and cultural values and beliefs.
Grading Procedures
The following four categories will always be taken into consideration when assigning essay grades:
1.) Logical Consistency
2.) Grammatical correctness
3.) Soundness of Rhetorical decisions
4.) Adherence to the Prompt
*You can also find a more detailed rubric on our Canvas site as part of the Essay 1: Media Analysis
assignment. You can also find there an MLA template for how to format your papers for 1302 (as
described below).
Essays must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced and stapled. Include your
name, course and section numbers (ENGL 1302-WS3), date due, my name, and a title (but no title
page). All papers (unless otherwise noted) must follow MLA format. On the day papers are due,