g ., missing words B u s i n e s s F i n a n c e
For this project you are expected to identify and analyze a specific persuasive artifact, The Village Film, pursues a persuasive goal (e.g., the use of God terms and Devil terms to create identification and disidentification, the use of persuasive heuristics, specific forms of argumentation, identity-management strategies, or propaganda). Your completed paper should be approximately 10 pages in length (double-spaced with 12-point font and one-inch margins). Your persuasive artifact will count as one source on your reference page. Other than your textbook (Persuasion in Society, 3rd edition, Jean G. Jones and Herbert W. Simons. Routledge Publishers.), you should consult and cite two other sources (books, book chapters, journal articles). These sources may inform your understanding of your “theoretical lens” or a broader issue or social problem implicated in your research. I am limiting the sources required to emphasize that the bulk of your work, thinking, and writing should be devoted analysis of your persuasive artifact.
Your persuasive analysis should be organized with the following headings and address the following issues:
1. Purpose of the persuasive analysis (one short paragraph)
2. A general description of your persuasive artifact. This description should provide an understanding of the social significance of your text (one page to 1.5 pages) .
3. Your description of the theoretical lens that you use to understand and critique your artifact. You should define the theoretical concepts you use to understand your artifact. For example, if you are examining the film’s use of persuasive narratives, then you will want to discuss the nature of narratives and their persuasive values so that a reader will know what you mean by narrative and why it is important. Note that you need not limit yourself to one theoretical lens. You may want to apply two or three theoretical concepts to the film (1.5 to 2.5 pages)
4. Analysis: This would include your critique of The Village. For example, if you are analyzing The Village’s use of persuasive heuristics, then this portion of your paper would provide concrete and specific descriptions of operation of attempts to encourage the heuristic processing of persuasive information. (five to six pages)
5. Conclusions: This should include a discussion of what you have learned from your analysis. This should also include a brief discussion of the practical use of your findings (approximately one page)
6. Reference page including the sources described above.
Your paper will be evaluated in terms of the following criteria:
Comprehensiveness: Does the paper include all five sections of the persuasive analysis? Is each section thoroughly developed? Each section should be labelled as a heading.
Heuristic Value: Is the paper and the analysis theoretically interesting? Does the analysis take the reader beyond a “common-sense” explanation and understanding of the film? Does the paper address a significant social or communicative issue? Does the paper have the potential to influence how we think about the issues addressed by the writer? Does your critique of the film offer insights into the ways we encounter persuasion in our daily lives.
Quality of Expression: Is the paper well-written? Is the paper a coherent whole with clear transitions that permit the reader to experience the paper as a seamless whole? Well-written papers possess the following characteristics: (a) The author’s writing does not contain attributes that distract the reader from the argument being developed in the paper (e.g., missing words, incorrect use of grammar, incorrect punctuation, awkward or convoluted expression). (b) Ideas are expressed with parsimony. Parsimony is achieved when the writer has taken the time review and edit their writing to achieve the most clear and simple form possible. (c) Quality writing is effective argumentation. Good writing is only possible to the extent that the writer develops effective arguments. Do claims derive from the purpose statement? Is evidence provided to support claims? Is the evidence used in a way that makes its relationship to the claim clear? Are quotations, for example, interpreted by the writer?