I) Write a thesis-based essay in which you analyze the newspaper USA Today using
the framework and ideas that Neil Postman sets forth in his chapter “The Pcek-a-
the framework and ideas that Neil Postman sets forth in his chapter “The Pcek-a-
Boo World.“
2) Choose a specific two hour block of time (for example. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) on
a single channel. and watch the television comgials during that block for at least two
days. (Hint: It would be a good idea to record these hours so that you can review and
study them.)
a single channel. and watch the television comgials during that block for at least two
days. (Hint: It would be a good idea to record these hours so that you can review and
study them.)
Write a thesis-based essay in which you identify and analyze the audience these
commercials are aimed at and how these commercials seek to connect with and persuade
this audience to buy specific products.
commercials are aimed at and how these commercials seek to connect with and persuade
this audience to buy specific products.
As you look at these commercials. try to come to some specific conclusions.
What age group is a commercial aimed at? Which gender does it seek to appeal to? Are
there particular characIerist.ics-levels of education, races, cultures. or socio-economic
statuses to name a few-that a commercial or group of commercials is concerned with?
What age group is a commercial aimed at? Which gender does it seek to appeal to? Are
there particular characIerist.ics-levels of education, races, cultures. or socio-economic
statuses to name a few-that a commercial or group of commercials is concerned with?
Other things you might want to consider: What specific imagery does a
commercial rely on? What kinds of text or graphics does it use? What dialogue or voice-
over does it utilize? Does it use particular music or sound effects? How does it use any
and all of the above?
commercial rely on? What kinds of text or graphics does it use? What dialogue or voice-
over does it utilize? Does it use particular music or sound effects? How does it use any
and all of the above?
3) Neil Postman suggests that the invention of the telegraph altered the very nature
of social and personal discourse in American culture.
of social and personal discourse in American culture.
Write a thesis-based essay in which you use l’ostman’s terms and ideas to
examine two or three specific sites on the Internet. Do the discourses of web sites and the
lntemet show the same fractured. sensationalistic qualities of telegraph, radio. and video
discourse? Does the language of the web make discourse even more broken.
disconnected, and sensationalized?
examine two or three specific sites on the Internet. Do the discourses of web sites and the
lntemet show the same fractured. sensationalistic qualities of telegraph, radio. and video
discourse? Does the language of the web make discourse even more broken.
disconnected, and sensationalized?
Or perhaps we should not even try to draw a comparison between Postman‘s
“telegraph discourse†and the discourse of the web. Maybe the web and the Internet are
not comparable to the telegraph, radio. and video. Instead. should we argue that the web
and the Internet are producing their own difl’en:nt and identifiable discourse? And if we
argue that, what are some of the identifying characteristics and qualities of this new
discourse?
“telegraph discourse†and the discourse of the web. Maybe the web and the Internet are
not comparable to the telegraph, radio. and video. Instead. should we argue that the web
and the Internet are producing their own difl’en:nt and identifiable discourse? And if we
argue that, what are some of the identifying characteristics and qualities of this new
discourse?
Some Observations and Rgguiremcngsz
I) Your essay needs to be at least seven paragraphs long.
2) Your essay should have a strong, clearly developed thesis statement. (A good
thesis statement sets forth a specific. defensible point of view.)
thesis statement sets forth a specific. defensible point of view.)
3) Use evidence throughout your essay. You cannot prove a point without having
some type of evidence to support your position. Your essay should have
quotations from articles in USA Today. Or it should quote the dialogue. slogans,
or narrative from the tv commercial. Or it strongly describe the design and quote
the language that the web site uses. No matter which topic you use, the strength
of your argument will be supported by the level of detail that you use to prove
your point. (And there is no way of getting such detail without engaging in some
out of class research!)
some type of evidence to support your position. Your essay should have
quotations from articles in USA Today. Or it should quote the dialogue. slogans,
or narrative from the tv commercial. Or it strongly describe the design and quote
the language that the web site uses. No matter which topic you use, the strength
of your argument will be supported by the level of detail that you use to prove
your point. (And there is no way of getting such detail without engaging in some
out of class research!)
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