Assignment: During the first few weeks of class, you will need to select a print advertisement to read and interpret. The ad itself can come from any number or sources, but I would encourage you to choose either a magazine you read regularly or an advertisement that you have a connection with the product. This will give you a head start in understanding with the argument of the ad is and how it is constructed. You will need to consider what argument the advertisement makes and to what audience. Think of gender, race, class, and age. Also, consider what medium (magazine, newspaper, or web page) the advertisement came from and how this helps you interpret the ad. Think of this essay as a formal extension of your journal entries and review the questions on determining argument that I gave for your journal, or look in your book under visual arguments (page 258-239). However, do not just go through the questions and answer them one after another in your essay. You will need to structure your essay around a central thesis and present evidence, either from your ad or your outside resource, to back up your assertions. Therefore, you will need to find at least one secondary source on your product or the outlet that advertises your product. Attach the advertisement to your paper and avoid simply summarizing the images – your audience will be looking at the ad in conjunction with your essay. Your essay should be 1,000 words and comply with standard MLA format. Finally, remember that your essay will be critiqued by a group of your peers as well as graded by me; therefore, your ad and your essay must be something that you are comfortable sharing with others.

Presentation: Two copies of your final paper plus the advertisement are to be in the left-hand pocket of a folder. In the right hand pocket are all of your rough drafts, especially the ones critiqued by your classmates in peer review, your classmates’ one-page critique, and any outside sources you used in writing your paper.

Please remember the late work policy and plagiarism penalties are in effect. Your paper will be deducted one letter grade for every day that it is late and could result in a failing grade if you plagiarize. If you have any questions, please see me as soon as possible.

Evaluation Criteria:

An "A" paper presents a well-articulated critique of the argument and conveys meaning skillfully.

A typical paper in this category

• clearly identifies important argumentative features of the advertisement and analyzes them insightfully
• develops relevant ideas, organizes them logically, and connects them with clear transitions
• effectively supports the main points of the critique
• demonstrates control of language, including appropriate word choice and sentence variety
• demonstrates facility with the conventions (i.e., grammar, usage, and mechanics) of standard written English but may have minor errors
• reflects creativity and establishes the author’s own voice
• integrates outside sources into paper and documents the required number of sources in correct MLA documentation
• completes the required page/word length

A "C" paper demonstrates some competence in its critique of the argument and in conveying meaning but is obviously flawed.

A typical paper in this category exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:

• does not identify or analyze most of the important argumentative features of the advertisement, although some analysis of the argument is present
• mainly analyzes irrelevant matters, or reasons poorly
• is limited in the logical development and organization of ideas
• offers support of little relevance and value for points of the critique
• lacks clarity in expressing ideas

An "E" paper demonstrates fundamental deficiencies in both analysis AND writing.

A typical paper in this category exhibits more than one of the following characteristics:

• provides little or no evidence of the ability to understand and analyze the argument in the advertisement
• provides little or no evidence of the ability to develop an organized response
• has severe problems in language and sentence structure that persistently interfere with meaning

B’s and D’s will also be rewarded to papers, but the evaluation criteria was meant to give the student an idea of the grading rubric.