ENG 102 Essay Assignment 3
What is it?
You will write a 3-5 page paper in which you criticize, pro or con, a work of media or performance. You
may not use “I,” “Me,” “You” in this paper – 3rd person only!
When is it due?
Mandatory peer review conducted DUE DATES PENDING
What is expected?
Failing
Paper is under-length, plagiarized, not written to topic, unintelligible, inappropriate, late, or incomplete.
Minimum (C-D level)
A paper in proper APA or MLA format that meets length requirements and is free from grammatical and
spelling errors. This paper cites at least TWO sources (in text and in a references or works cited list), has a
definite introduction and conclusion, topic-focused paragraphs, and has a clearly identifiable thesis. At least
one source should be demonstrably scholarly / reliable / trustworthy / deep / sophisticated / etc.
At Best (A-B level)
As a C-D level paper, but also shows evidence of thorough and involved research (multiple reliable
sources), shows extensive and careful revision, and is intelligent, pleasant, and interesting to read. Avoids
first person indulgence and second person address completely – this is a sophisticated on-topic paper.
All Papers
Include final draft and peer review copy in a folder, and an electronic version submitted via Blackboard.
To whom are you writing (audience):
You are writing to other scholarly adults who are themselves interested in the same artist, performance, show, game,
book, etc as you – they may share your position, or they may not.
Can you be more specific?
Agree or disagree, you’re going to defend or criticize a movie, TV show, book, play, album, song, singer, band,
director, author, etcetera. You will write in a scholarly tone, and you will write a convincing, reasonable argument
that relies on something more than your own enthusiasm.
This is not simply a lyric or theme analysis – you are trying to figure out how your media or media-maker fits into
the culture at large, not simply tell me what some song “means” after studying the lyrics. Pointing something out is
not the same as analyzing it: I can tell you, for example, that the Coen brother’s movie “The Big Lebowski” is a
modern re-imagining of The Iliad, but that’s not useful – it’s up to me to argue for the significance and importance
of this reinterpretation.
Can you demonstrate similarities between your favorite singer and some influential classical musicians? Can you
prove that your favorite TV show addresses real, meaningful human issues that matter? Can you discuss similarities
between your favorite movie and a seminal work by a literary master? Alternately, what’s so bad about mindless
pop music? Could violent or offensive lyrics really be harmful to listeners? What kind of study might support this
view?
If you have any other questions, feel free to discuss them with me: vmalesh@schoolcraft.edu