Question description
Popular Media Analysis Assignment Instructions
The assignment is designed to assess your understanding of issues that are critical to the academic study of policing. The paper must engage with some of the conceptual and critical ideas discussed in the course in relation to the film you select from the approved list. You are expected to rely extensively on the materials from the course, using appropriate reference materials from the course readings, textbook and lecture slides. All citation from the lectures and readings should include in-text citation and a full reference on a works cited page. You are to use APA citation style in this paper. I will provide instruction on APA style in class. As well, you can find a comprehensive guide to APA style here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01….
The assignment (worth 25% of your final grade) is a 7-10 page paper (not including your title page and references). The paper is to be typed on 8 1/2 by 11-inch paper, 12- point font, with one-inch margins. The title page should include the title of the paper, course name and number, name of the instructor, your name and student number. Please ensure you keep a copy for yourself. Normal university standards of correct spelling, grammar and organization are expected. The paper is due by 11:59pm on Nov 17, 2017. It must be submitted electronically through the portal provided on Blackboard. Late papers will be penalized at a rate of 5% a day inclusive of weekends.
What films may I choose from?
- Training Day
- Dirty Harry
- The Departed
These films were uniquely selected for this semester and depict concepts we will be engaging with in the course this term. Ava and Kajuan will be grading these assignments and you should feel free to direct questions to them.
What should the structure of my paper be?
Your assignment should consist of five major sections: a title page, an introduction, a body section, a conclusion, and an APA formatted reference list. A clear thesis statement – this is what you aim to do in the essay – must be given in the introduction (no later than the first page) and the conclusion should summarize what you have covered. The purpose of this assignment is for you to critically consider how concepts from the course are represented (or not represented in the same way) in the film you select. This will involve thinking about the film in its entirety as well as particular excerpts from the film that serve to illustrate your statements. Your paper should include a brief summary of the film you selected, but the body section of your paper should primarily focus on analyzing how concepts discussed in class are relevant to policing as depicted in the film. In doing this, you will want to dedicate space to describing the course concept as well as discussing how it is represented in the film. Because you would be shocked by how few people actually read instructions: send me an email before the paper is due with the title of one of your favorite television shows for a one point bonus on your paper.
Strong papers will have a clear and logical structure, will engage with several concepts from the course, and will strive to link the popular media representation to a broader understanding of policing. You must use a minimum of 4 sources from the course not including my lecture slides (though you can reference the slides as supplementary sources). Each chapter from the text counts as a separate source but also must be referenced separately in your reference list. There is considerable opportunity for freedom in this assignment; focus on what interests you!
How do I analyze the film?
Using themes and theories from the course you are to analyze the film and explore what the film says about key topics such as: the policing mandate, the nature of police work, police culture, police misconduct and accountability, police use of force and coercion, officer health and wellbeing, or policing strategies (e.g., community policing, zero-tolerance policing). These are just suggestions. You can draw on any information that you feel is relevant from the course.
Note that some themes and theories of the course will apply to your film better than others – choose the theories and themes that make sense for your movie.
You can focus on certain characters, or particular scenes, or both in your analysis.
This is NOT a film review – but a critical analysis of the film to demonstrate that you learned something in the class and can apply it to a film using course resources to substantiate your key points. Presume that the reader has seen the film in question – do not summarize the entire movie, except very briefly. Your paper should be an analysis of the film.
What does the grade breakdown look like?
FACTOR |
What am I looking for? |
Spelling, Grammar &Mechanics
5 POINTS |
General writing competency. Clear unambiguous writing. Competent expression. Separate Paragraphs. Simple clear sentence structure. Punctuation. Correct grammar. Word usage/vocabulary (not complicated and used in the appropriate way). Correct spelling (spell check is not enough). No run on sentences (three sentences squashed into one). Clearly structured, clear development and flow of ideas with excellent transition of ideas or logical progression of ideas. Well organized and coherent. Focused and purposeful writing. |
Critical Analysis
7.5 POINTS |
Depth of understanding and analysis of issues and ideas. Evidence of original thought and logical reasoning. Writing demonstrates unusual insight or superior understanding. Presents fresh thesis in an original manner while displaying unusual insight. Demonstrates more than a commonplace understanding of the topic at hand. There is a breadth of understanding. Opinions are based on fact and/or logic. The arguments are logical and consistent. Original and interesting ideas about topic. |
Use of course materials,supporting evidence
5 POINTS |
Arguments supported by evidence, examples, sources and quotations. Shows clear understanding of materials. Makes appropriate use of sources. The relevance of the material to the point being made is clear. Evidence of excellent amount of reading. Provides close textural analysis. Persuasive and well-chosen use of sources. Used a minimum of four sources. |
| APA adherence
2.5 POINTS |
Proper in-text citation used, not directly quoted without page numbers, not paraphrased without citation, not plagiarized. Adherence to spacing, sizing and general APA formatting requirements. Title page and reference page on separate pages from essay. Reference page properly formatted according to APA style. |
Assignment success
5 POINTS |
Did the assignment present an insightful analysis of the selected film and follow instructions properly?
Has the film been clearly described with strong examples selected to illustrate connections to the course concepts? |
| GENERAL COMMENT |
