Required Template for Blog Analyses
Produce a full and in-depth evaluation and analysis of a selected popular culture object (I.E.: song, podcast, album, TV show, episode, series, movie, sports, games, fashion, etc.) using an additional source article (several sources are recommended in the syllabus) and the course textbook.
Paragraph 1: Introduce Your Selected Source Article
In 1 sentence, introduce the source article you will use in your analysis by using its author, source outlet, and the month/year it was published. Add an edited hyperlink to your source article with the full article title, like this Harry Styles Sinks into Summer Vibes on ‘Harry’s House’.
In 1-2 sentences (and in your own words!) explain the popular culture object your source article is generally about (don’t use any specific examples yet).
In another 3-4 sentences (and in your own words!), explain generally how this source article or this popular culture object is topically relevant to a text chapter assigned to date.
Paragraph 2: Introduce the Two (2) Theories/ Concepts/Key Terms from the Text that you will use in your Analysis
In 2-4 sentences (and in your own words!) explicitly state which two concepts/ theories/ key terms from any assigned text chapter/s to date that you will use to analyze your source article or your popular culture object.
In 3-6 sentences (and in your own words!) define both concepts/ theories/ key terms you will use in your analysis. Include a simple in-text citation with the text authors, year, and the correct page number from the text where they can each be found (i.e.; Brandt and Clare. 2020: pg# and pg#).
Paragraph 3: Begin Your Analysis with One Source Article Example & One Concept/ Theory/ Key Term from the Text.
In 1-2 sentences (and in your own words!) introduce a specific example or excerpt from your source article regarding your popular culture object that you will analyze using one of your selected concepts/ theories/ key terms from the text. Include a simple in-text citation that includes the author, source outlet, and published month/year (I.E.; Thompson et. al. on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, May 2022).
In 1-2 sentences (and in your own words!) state the specific theory/concept/key term from the assigned text chapter to date that you are using to analyze the example/excerpt of your source article regarding your popular culture object. Include a simple in-text citation with the text’s author, year, and correct page number in the text where it can be found (I.E.; Brandt and Clare. 2020: pg#).
In 3-5 sentences, explicitly and thoroughly explain to the reader (in your own words!) how and why the specific example or excerpt from your source article regarding your popular culture object can be understood or analyzed sociologically using your selected concept/ theory/ key term.
Paragraph 4: Continue Your Analysis: 2nd Source Example & 2nd Concept/Theory/Key Term.
In 1-2 sentences (and in your own words!) introduce the second specific example or excerpt from your source article regarding your popular culture object that you will analyze using one of your second concept/ theory/ key term from the text. Include a simple in-text citation that includes the author, source outlet, and published month/year (I.E.; Thompson et. al. on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, May 2022).
In 1-2 sentences (and in your own words!) state the second specific theory/concept/key term from the assigned text chapter to date that you are using to analyze the example/excerpt of your source article regarding your popular culture object. Include a simple in-text citation with the text’s author, year, and correct page number in the text where it can be found (I.E.; Brandt and Clare. 2020: pg#).
In 3-5 sentences, explicitly and thoroughly explain to the reader (in your own words!) how and why the specific example or excerpt from your source article regarding your popular culture object can be understood or analyzed sociologically using your selected concept/ theory/ key term.
Paragraph 5:
In 1-2 sentences, briefly restate how and why your two selected theories/concepts/key terms are analytically relevant (correct and appropriate) to sociologically analyze your source article regarding your popular culture object.
Choose ONE of the following prompts. Explicitly and thoroughly answer ALL parts of the prompt you select.
Key to understanding popular culture is recognizing it as one of the sites where the struggle for and against the culture of the powerful is engaged, and how popular culture is a potential tool for individual agency. Explain specifically and explicitly TWO ways in which your selected source article or popular culture object attempts to engage in the struggle for or against the culture of the powerful OR how either can be a tool for individual agency.
OR
Popular culture not only shapes but is shaped by society. Explain specifically and explicitly TWO ways in which your selected source article or popular culture object works to construct OR is constructed by social, political, cultural, and/or economic institutions within society.
OR
Popular culture is a process through which people make symbolic meaning out of the world. Explain specifically and explicitly TWO ways in which your selected source article or popular culture object attempt to make cultural meaning of our shared world and society?
