assistance in analyzing sociology
PART 1: ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT BENCHMARK ASSIGNMENT
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS BEFORE BEGINNING
Analysis and Critical Self-Assessment Assignments offer students the opportunity to earn completion points by meeting the minimum benchmark requirements through successful demonstration of student learning outcomes A, B, C, D, E, and F, (
knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis).
NOTE: This is a completion point assignment. It is pedagogically designed to ensure students accomplish the learning objectives and minimum benchmarks through its full and proper completion.
NOTE: By
FULLY
and
PROPERLY
completing
ALL
prompts and requirements for
BOTH
parts of this assignment, students will have accomplished the learning objectives and met the minimum benchmarks in order to earn its points.
OVERVIEW
Analyses require students to find three different articles from assigned areas within the Media Bias Chart, read them, analyze and evaluate each article against the text (and the other two articles) for scientific accuracy, factual reporting, and partisan bias.
PART 1: Students will write TWO (2) 3-5 page Analyses
in essay format
by implementing all requirements, instructions, and prompts/questions below. Each Analysis must examine a
different
recent / current event topically relevant to one of the allowed text chapters.
PART 2: Students will then produce a critical evaluation and assessment of their Analysis by implementing all requirements, instructions, and answering all prompts/questions using a provided rubric.
NOTE:
Analyses must be written for those who may not be familiar with the topic, the science, or the quality of their news/media sources. Use clear explanations and paraphrasing for all source excerpts, examples, concepts, theories, and key terms. Write for a non-academic audience in 3rd person (still a formal essay).
NOTE:
NO DIRECT QUOTES FROM ANY SOURCE ARE ALLOWED
. ALL source excerpts / examples / concepts / theories / key terms / trends MUST be clearly explained and paraphrased in the students’ own words and include an in-text citation.
Analysis 1:
The topically relevant recent/current event for Analysis 1 must be topically relevant to a topic within text chapters
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6.
Analysis 2
: The topically relevant recent/current event for Analysis 1 must be topically relevant to a topic within text chapters
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and/or 12.
NOTE: Students must “read ahead” for their choice of allowed topics and chapters to complete Analysis 2 (
see above).
PART 1: THE ANALYSIS
Each Analysis requires students to use
FIVE
(5) sources. These are:
i. The
allowed
chapters from the course text for that Analysis.
ii. THREE (3) different news sources
from specific assigned areas
within the
Media Bias Chart
(see below), and
iii. The
assigned FAQ answers
from the methodology section of the
Media Bias Chart
website (see below).
Students will use these
5 sources to
*evaluate*, *analyze*, and *determine*
the differences in
scientific accuracy, partisan bias in analysis, and factual reporting
among their three news sources covering their recent/current event.
1. To begin, students should use the Table of Contents in the text (from the assigned Analysis chapters above) for brainstorming/topic ideas on recent/current events to source and analyze.
NOTE
: Once the student has a topic in mind, begin with a simple Google “news” search to find a recent or current event related to their topic.
2. With their recent/current event now selected, students should proceed by exploring and familiarizing themselves with the
Media Bias Chart
and its
Methodology FAQ’s
.
NOTE
: The Media Bias Chart has a
free static version
that students should
download and save
. It also has an
interactive chart
that students may find useful when searching sources from the specific assigned areas. This resource is free to use (though students will need to enter some basic info).
Go to the
Media Bias Chart website’s methodology page
and read the following THREE (3) points from the Methodology FAQ’s (
NOTE:
Students will use and cite these in their Analysis):
How exactly do your analysts rate articles and episodes?
How did you develop this methodology? How did it evolve over time?
What else should I know about the methodology?
Choose and read ONE more point from the
Media Bias Chart’s Methodology FAQ
you find
interesting (
NOTE
: You will use and cite this in your Analysis).
3. With their chosen recent/current event in mind, students must search for three (3) news source articles about their event from three specific assigned areas within the Media Bias Chart:
The first required source must be found within the two middle columns for
Bias
(“
Middle”) and within the top two rows for
News Variability and Reliability
(“Thorough Fact Reporting or Fact-Dense Reporting” or “Mix of Fact Reporting and Analysis or Simple Fact Reporting”) E.G. ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, AP, Reuters, NPR, WSJ.
The second required source must be found within the
Bias
columns (“skews left” or “strong left”) and within the row “Analysis or Wide Variation on Reliability” for
News Variability and Reliability
. E.G. Daily Beast, WaPo, CNN.
The third required source must correspond with the second source in both
Bias
and
News Variability and Reliability.
The third source must be found within the same but oppositely corresponding partisan bias column (“skews right” or “strong right”) and within the same row “Analysis or Wide Variation on Reliability”. E.G. Daily Mail, New York Post, News Nation.
NOTE
: This process will take some time.
That is the point
.
4. Once a student has found their THREE (3) source articles reporting on their event, the student must carefully read each article and thoughtfully consider and choose the best combination of THREE (3 total) analytically appropriate (correct) theories, concepts, key terms, or key trends
from the allowed text
chapters that best represent
actual scientific knowledge
and
factually accurate information
.
5. With their combination of THREE (3) required theories, concepts, key terms and/or key trends, students should net carefully evaluate and notate each news source for
ALL
the following:
A. Whether/how it
factually and accurately explains and represents
current scientific understanding/research on the event/topic in any analysis it offers (compared against the theories, concepts, key terms, and key trends from the text).
B. Evidence of each source’s
scientific accuracy (or inaccuracy)
in reporting or analysis (as compared to the text and one another).
C. Evidence of each source’s
partisan bias
in reporting (compared/contrasted against one another).
D. Evidence of each source’s overall
variability and reliability
(compared/contrasted against one another AND the science within the text).
NOTE:
Students should find evidence for
ALL
items A. – D. above within
EACH
source article. Making notes while reading each source article will be helpful.
6. Students will then begin writing their Analysis by integrating; their article notes from #5. A.-D.; their 3 theories/concepts/key terms/key trends; and the Media Bias Chart’s methodology FAQ’s in order to
*evaluate*, *analyze*, *determine*, and explain
the differences in
scientific accuracy, partisan bias in analysis, and factual reporting
(variability and reliability)
among their three news sources compared to the text covering their recent/current event (see sections iii, iv, and v below).
ANALYSIS ESSAY PROMPT / SECTION REQUIREMENTS
NOTE:
Analyses
MUST
be organized using
ALL
the following sections
AND
in this order.
i.
Catchy Title
with your First and Last Name
ii.
Introduction
to event/topic and a well-thought-out
thesis statement
on the challenges of cognitive dissonance and the role of media literacy & scientific literacy in accurately understanding, communicating, and addressing the challenges and needed solutions for the people affected by this topic to a larger public (this should be written last and use excerpts from your Conclusion).
iii.
Source #1 Evaluation
. Use the pre-work in #4 and #5 to analyze, assess, and evaluate the scientific accuracy, partisan bias in analysis, factual reporting – variability and reliability) of this source compared to other sources and the text using your article notes. Address
ALL
prompts from #5. A. – D. here.
iv.
Source #2 Evaluation
Use the pre-work in #4 and #5 to analyze, assess, and evaluate the scientific accuracy, partisan bias in analysis, factual reporting – variability and reliability) of this source compared to other sources and the text using your article notes. Address
ALL
prompts from #5. A. – D. here.
v.
Source #3 Evaluation
. Use the pre-work in #4 and #5 to analyze, assess, and evaluate the scientific accuracy, partisan bias in analysis, factual reporting – variability and reliability) of this source compared to other sources and the text using your article notes. Address
ALL
prompts from #5. A. – D. here.
vi.
Academic Sociological Conclusion
– Using the information they discovered in the Introduction Discussion, and prompts #2, #3, & #5 – Students should integrate their sociological knowledge, scientific literacy, and media literacy about their topic to discuss: the influence of scientific literacy and media literacy in proliferating (or assuaging) cognitive dissonance as it influences and affects the larger public’s understanding of the political, cultural, and/or social issues surrounding the life chances for the people affected by their topic.
vii. Include a Reference List with working links to
ALL
3 source articles. Include the Media Bias Chart and the text.
NOTE! ENSURE ALL FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS (BELOW) ARE MET
ANALYSIS FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
NOTE
: Students must paraphrase
ALL
examples and excerpts from source articles and the text
in their own words
AND
include a simple in-text citation when doing so.
NO
direct quotes are allowed.
Each Analysis must meet
ALL
of the following formatting criteria:
i. Students must submit their Analysis as a Word document (.doc or .doc) in Canvas
*before*
the submission window closes.
ii. Students must use MLA or ASA format styles for their essay, in-text citations, and reference list.
iii. Essay is 3-5 pages in length – not including front or back matter (title & reference list).
iv. No bullet points. Proofread, spelling, sentence structure, and grammar checked.
v. Formal essay format (3rd person).
vi. Include
ALL
sections above.
vii. Integrate
ALL
fully and properly answered prompts and
ALL
pre-work extensively and as required.
viii. Include in-text citations for
every
source excerpt/example and concept/theory/key term/trend used.
ix. Complete academic reference list (including text & Media Bias Chart) with working links to
ALL
3 source articles.
