Assignment: 307 Critical Analysis Outline and Essay
Purpose
Evaluating and applying critical/cultural studies research, understanding production and consumption of a specific artifact/text, practicing and refining textual analysis.
Description
For this assignment you will outline, and then write and revise an essay-length interpretation and critique of a cultural text/artifact using one critical theory/lens from class. You must choose ONE of the following critical theories/lenses:
o Marxism
o Structuralism
o Poststructuralism/deconstruction
o Feminist/gender criticism
o Queer theory
o Critical Race Theory (i.e., Black media studies, whiteness studies, Asian and Asian-American studies, Latinx media studies, or Indigenous studies, etc,)
o Postcolonial criticism
Overview
1. Outline – You will start by creating an outline for your paper that you will turn in for formal graded feedback. The outline includes the following (see below for more info about each section). The outline should be no more than 3 pages (before works cited).
a. Introduction information about the text and a drafted thesis statement
b. Theoretical framework – key ideas/concepts from course materials and clear, substantive inclusion of at least three additional sources.
c. Analysis—provide at least three drafted claims about your artifact/text guided by the critical theory/lens.
d. Conclusion—offer an initial draft of implications and answer to the so-what question.
e. Works cited (should include the text itself, the course materials you use, and the three additional sources) in APA format.

2. Essay – The essay itself includes the following in this order:
 Introduction – in this section you should introduce your artifact/text/discourse, explain justification for relevancy and analysis, overview production and consumption, and state your thesis (your argument, see below).
 Theoretical framework – in 3-4 paragraphs, explicate the theoretical framework (Marxism, feminist/gender, structuralism, poststructuralism, queer theory, critical race theory, or postcolonial theory) with a concise overview, a presentation of key thinkers, and a description of key concepts, as pertinent to your analysis. For this section, use the course materials (Tyson and case study) and an additional minimum of three published, peer-reviewed academic sources (journal articles) to inform your discussion.
 Analysis – using the theoretical framework, interpret and evaluate your artifact/discourse/text and make an argument, through a series of claims, supported by evidence from your text. This is the longest section of the essay.
 Conclusion – in this section you should summarize your key points, answer the “so what” question, and point to directions for future research.
 Word count – listed after the conclusion.
 Works cited – include all sources referenced in the essay; APA format required
Formatting
 Typed, double-spaced, one-inch margins, name on first page, page numbers, and word count listed after the conclusion.
 The essay should amount 3000-3500 words, not including works cited.
Tips
Choosing a text/artifact/discourse:
• A thorough analysis of a more tangible text is preferable to a thin analysis of a broader text (i.e., an advertisement or tv episode versus an entire television series).

Analysis: Analysis of texts isn’t easy. Here are some important reminders:
• There are key concepts and focal points with each framework (i.e., Marxism- economic and material conditions or Feminist- gender and power).
• Be sure to attend to the important elements of the text that your framework will help to understand. This will force you to take a position.
• Remember, you are NOT trying to “find” Marxism or queer theory in your text. Instead, you should be using the theory/lens to interpret the text itself (i.e., its creation of class stratification, how it portrays LGBTQ or straight sexuality, etc.)
• You won’t be able to tell us everything about the text in the limited time. Make sure you are saying something, asserting a critical argument in your analysis. Again, one good assertion with support will be stronger than a general read with weak support.
• Work to engage with the text in deep and creative ways. Criticism is a creative endeavor. Make sure your “read” of the text offers us something new, insightful, and useful, through the application of your framework. Go beyond the obvious.