Purpose: This assignment trains your skills of close reading and guides you in telling your stories.

Purpose: This assignment trains your skills of close reading and guides you in telling your stories. Through analyzing one of the Week 2 study materials, you start to consider how a particular story in your life builds up your identity and changes your perspectives. Moreover, this story enpowers you to explore the interconnections between language, gender, social norms.

Prompt:

Before you write: Complete the map you created in Thursday’s class and take a photo of this map

In the first paragraph, apply the skills of close reading (consult Course Guide to Close Reading) to read your map. Write a well-developed paragraph to elaborate on what you presented in the map. For example, analyze how color, objects, lines, and words tell your story.

In the second paragraph, summarize one Week 2 study material that has connecting dots with your own story and carefully explain how your creative map resonates with this study material.

In the third paragraph, explain one significant point in your story to show why and how it leads you to reflect on the danger of stereotypes and the value of personal stories. Why is it crucial to challenge problematic bias and to welcome diverse voices? How do you reconsider your positionality when you reflect on this important moment? How does this reflection help you understand yourself, your identities, and your cultural roots more? Write a well-argued paragraph to respond to these questions (one or few, depending on your organization) and use different pictorial and textual representations to support your argument if necessary.

Format: Submit your map AND Write an essay (Approx. 500 words, Word Docx or PDF only) by following the above prompt. Apply the formatting guidelines in the syllabus to this analysis writing. Please don’t use page fillers, say a big font and/or unnecessary spacing, to meet the page requirement.

Grading: Assignments that have a map image AND three well-developed paragraphs (approx. 500 words) responding to each of the guidelines above will earn a “complete” on the assignment. Assignments that are missing any of the components above will earn an “incomplete,” and the student will have 48 hours to revise and re-submit for a “Late Work” credit. “Late,” “Incomplete,” and “Ignored” work will be graded as the labor-based grading states.

Rubric

Week 2 Homework Rubric (1)

Week 2 Homework Rubric (1)

Criteria Ratings

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWeek 2 Homework RubricIn the first paragraph, apply the skills of close reading (consult Course Guide to Close Reading) to read the chosen image. Write a well-developed paragraph to elaborate on what you have observed from this advertisement. Moreover, analyze how color, posture, smile, gender, and clothing construct consumers’ understanding to promote this product.

In the second paragraph, summarize what you’ve found from your research and carefully explain if the chosen advertisement uses the tactics you’ve discovered from your study to market the product.

In the third paragraph, compare the image analysis and the research you’ve done to expose the erased and invisible histories and voices behind this advertisement. Why does the chosen image exaggeratedly focus on a smiling face and bright colors? What kinds of ignored issues and voices consumers cannot find and hear because we are amazed by this romantic rhetoric? Why does this chosen image use a particular model, like a female, a kid, or an old man, to attract consumers? Are these marketing strategies effective? Write a well-argued paragraph to respond to these questions (one or few, depending on your organization) and use different pictorial and textual representations to support your argument if necessary.

Assignments that have three well-developed paragraphs that respond to each of the guidelines above will earn a “complete” on the assignment. Assignments that are missing any of the components above will earn an “incomplete” and the student will have 48 hours to revise and re-submit for a “Late Work” credit. “Late,” “Incomplete,” and “Ignored” work will be graded as the labor-based grading states.