Researching America Presentation
Imagine that you had to explain our nation’s values to someone from a foreign country, and you only had one
example to do it. This challenge is the heart of our assignment, as we ask you to consider: What is the American
Identity? What do Americans value?
The Learning Targets
 I can select credible and appropriate sources.
 I can create properly formatted Works Cited entries (Use Noodlebib to help you form these).
 I can use evidence to analyze the message a text conveys explicitly.
 I can use evidence to analyze the implicit message of a text and/or where there is room for
interpretation.
 I can integrate multiple sources to support my opinion of American values.
The Work
 Find three cultural artifacts that represent three different stereotypical American values. You can
showcase these values through the following options, making sure that your selections are ALWAYS
school appropriate: music videos, commercials, movie clips, television show clips, websites, pictures of
magazine ads, political campaign ads, artwork, and more. YouTube is a great source for most of these
artifacts. You may choose how many of each source type you would like to include (meaning it is okay
to have multiple commercials or pieces of art; as long as you have three sources, you are good!)
 Read the cultural artifact as a text. Many artifacts merely imply what they value, so your job is to
clearly articulate the cultural value that the artifact conveys. Consider looking for artifacts that represent
contradictory or competing values since our nation’s values are complicated.
o Note: Your selected artifacts should do more than merely entertain (i.e. Old Spice commercials).
They should represent a deeper value of our country that can be described using one of these
cultural values discussed in class: personal control, change/mobility/future, time and its
importance, equality, individualism, self-reliance, competition/free enterprise, future
orientation/optimism, action/work orientation, informality, directness/openness/honesty,
practicality, or materialism.
The Presentation
 Choose the best of the three artifacts to share with the class. Therefore, you will only share one of the
three that you researched!
 If using a video clip, please make sure that you play a 30 second clip or less.
The Examples:
 Cadillac ELR Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzXze5Yza8

Ram Trucks Super bowl Commercial “God Made a Farmer”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpZ0TGjbWE

Cover Girl Drew Barrymore’s First Commercial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w83e5s2Cn4&feature=em-share_video_user
Researching America Presentation Example:
Cultural Artifact #1:
Source Name and Source Type: Cadillac ELR Commercial (2014)
MLA Citation:
Cadillac ELR Coupe 2014 Commerical. YouTube. N.p., 8 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 July 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNzXze5Yza8>.
Explicit message: Americans are hardworking and deserve luxury items: such as fast cars, expensive vacations, etc. Pride in hard work and the idea
that hard work directly yields materialism.
Implicit message: Capitalism, that shapes America’s work ethic, makes us superior to other countries because it puts us in a position where those
who work hard are able to afford everything they want, even if that means not taking a break. We should live to work; there is no time for nonsense.
American Value Represented: Hard Work (Action and work orientation)/Materialism Acquisitiveness
Analysis: Americans do not slow down. They are hardworking, even more so than other countries. This work ethic allows them to be uniquely
American. While other countries stop for coffee and take months off, Americans never stop. And that is something admirable. Material acquisition is
the direct result of hard work and God’s favor.
Cultural Artifact #2:
Source Name and Source Type: Ram Trucks Super bowl Commercial “God Made a Farmer”
MLA Citation:
Official Ram Trucks Super Bowl Commercial "Farmer." Youtube. N.p., 3 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 July 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMpZ0TGjbWE>.
Explicit message: Farmers are admirable because of all of the hours they put into the job. They are considered tough, selfless, and determined
because of their countless hours working to help their animals and families.
Implicit message: We are all a little bit like farmers, as we are dedicated to our jobs, whatever the job may be.
American Value Represented: Action and work orientation/Hard work
Analysis: It is an American value to work hard because there is no time for nonsense. It is more aligned with morals to be working all the time, than
to be idle and get nothing accomplished. Therefore, the “farmer” in all of us, the moral compass that tells us to work with the utmost dedication, is
what we should celebrate.
Cultural Artifact #3:
Source Name and Source Type: Cover Girl Drew Barrymore’s First Commerical
MLA Citation:
Covergirl Drew Barrymore's First Makeup Commercial. Youtube. N.p., 31 Jan. 2010. Web. 21 July 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mPLW71cH1E>.
Explicit message: Makeup will help you be more perfectly you.
Implicit message: It is important to be yourself. You do not have to turn into anybody else to be beautiful. All you need is to be your own
individual.
American Value Represented: Individualism/Independence
Analysis: Makeup should not camouflage someone; it should be used for self-expression. It is important for Americans to avoid conformity and
embrace their own special, unique qualities.
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Period: _______________
Researching America Analysis Sheet
DIRECTIONS: please hand-write the following information. After finding three sources, you will then narrow it
down to one source that will be used in your presentation.
Cultural Artifact #1
Source Name and Source Type: ________________________________________________________________
URL (Link to music videos, commercials, movie clips, television show clips, websites, pictures of magazine ads, political
campaign ads, artwork, etc): ___________________________________________________
MLA Citation *Use NoodleBib to create and Write Below:
Explicit Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact literally says):
Implied Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact implies without coming out and saying it):
Cultural Value Represented: (Write a 1-2 word summary of the value represented)
Analysis (Briefly explain, in 2-4 sentences how you came to the conclusion that the artifact represent/promotes the cultural
value):
Cultural Artifact #2
Source Name and Source Type: ________________________________________________________________
URL (Link to music videos, commercials, movie clips, television show clips, websites, pictures of magazine ads, political
campaign ads, artwork, etc): ___________________________________________________
MLA Citation *Use NoodleBib to create and Write Below:
Explicit Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact literally says):
Implied Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact implies without coming out and saying it):
Cultural Value Represented: (Write a 1-2 word summary of the value represented)
Analysis (Briefly explain, in 2-4 sentences how you came to the conclusion that the artifact represent/promotes the cultural
value):
Cultural Artifact #3
Source Name and Source Type: ________________________________________________________________
URL (Link to music videos, commercials, movie clips, television show clips, websites, pictures of magazine ads, political
campaign ads, artwork, etc): ___________________________________________________
MLA Citation *Use NoodleBib to create and Write Below:
Explicit Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact literally says):
Implied Message (Describe in a few sentences what the artifact implies without coming out and saying it):
Cultural Value Represented: (Write a 1-2 word summary of the value represented)
Analysis (Briefly explain, in 2-4 sentences how you came to the conclusion that the artifact represent/promotes the cultural
value):
The Presentation
Step 1: Circle your favorite artifact. You will share this artifact and your analysis of this artifact with the class.
Step 2: If it is a video, pick a 30 second clip. Write the time for the video clip here: ____________________________________
Step 3: Be prepared to pull up the URL for your source on the day of your presentation.