The Communication Analysis Paper (CAP) is an opportunity for you to put into writing what you are taking
away from our discussions throughout the semester. It has multiple purposes:
To engage in a critical analysis of a communication artifact or event that has social significance.
To understand communication on a social scale.
To practice effective grammar, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, etc.
To use other sources to support your arguments.
General requirements
The basic requirements of the whole paper are:
The communication artifact or event you choose has some kind of social significance
5-7 pages
Use of correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, organization, sentence structure, and flow of argument.
Smooth transitions between paragraphs.
Correctly cites sources where appropriate (both in the text and in a reference page).
Follows specific guidelines of each section as specified below.
The paper submitted as a Word document via Canvas
Option 1: Media Artifact Analysis
The paper will be in four sections, each of which are outlined below.
Section 1: Introduction & Background
In the Introduction & Background section, you both introduce the paper and provide the specifics of the
media text without going into the analysis. This should also include an introduction to the whole paper.
Introduction:
Write a hook to spark your reader’s interest.
Give a strong thesis statement that serves as the claim you are trying to prove with the rest of the paper.
Provide a sentence that says you’re going to analyze a media text (provide the name) by the
artist/author/director/etc (provide the name).
Give one sentence each of what you’ll do in each section. (E.g., “First, I will provide background details of
the media text, including information about the genre and the social context in which the media text was
written. Next, I will explain why I chose this media text, and what I think it means. Third, I will analyze the
media text for the ways it plays into the stereotype of the sex-crazed man who thinks women are only useful
as objects. Finally, I will provide some closing thoughts.)
The introduction should be one paragraph
Next, you begin to talk about the media text.
Write one paragraph to:
explain a bit about the artist/author/director/etc. (You may have to cite sources if you aren’t using your own
knowledge.)
tell when the media text was recorded/written/produced (give the year).
describe the genre of the media text.
describe the audience for the media text. (You may have to cite sources.)
Write another paragraph to describe the social context of the media text.
What was happening in the world when the media text was released that may be connected to the media
text? (You may have to cite sources.)
Examples:
Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie” was released not long after she was abused by her then boyfriend, Chris
Brown.
Eminem, who is featured in the media text, is known for his offensive lyrics, his promotion of violence
against marginalized groups such as sexual minorities and women.
Domestic abuse statistics when the media text was released
Take another paragraph to explain what is happening in music/literature/film/etc (the media form that your
text fits into) right now. You may have to cite sources.
Rihanna is one of the most popular artists on the charts
Most popular music doesn’t have a similar sort of social message
Section 2: Your relationship to and interpretation of the media text
In this Section, you explain why you chose this media text.
Take one paragraph to:
explain why you chose this media text.
explain what significance this media text has in your life.
Take another paragraph to explain your interpretation of the media text, providing evidence from the text
itself.
E.g., “The woman in the song is facing a dilemma because she loves her partner, even though he’s abusing
her. She’s at once expressing her hurt and her love.”
Take another paragraph to offer what other people have said about the media text.
You will have to do research for this section.
You must cite your sources both in the text and in a reference page.
Section 3: Critical Analysis
In Section 3, you provide and analysis of the media text’s meaning using the concept(s) you chose from our
class.
In the first half in Section 3, introduce and explain the first concept. (E.g., “Hegemony provides a useful way
to understand what is happening in the media text. Hegemony is when people who are in a lower social
position take a section—mostly unwillingly—in keeping themselves in that lower social position.”)
In the second half in Section 3, explain how the media text highlights that concept.(E.g., “Eminem’s
character seems to obviously be hurting (see lines 4-5). However, the only way he knows to express his
hurt is through anger. In our society, males are told that being aggressive—even if it leads to violence—is
what makes you a ‘man.’ Rather than finding better ways to express himself, the character acts out and
beats his girlfriend. This continues the cycle of violence and further perpetuates the stereotype that asking
for help when you’re in pain is a bad thing to do.”)
Section 4: Going Beyond
In this Section, you describe and discuss what you learned by going through the process of so closely
analyzing the media text. In paragraph, prose form, you should touch upon questions such as the following:
What have you learned from doing this critical analysis?
If this has changed your perception of the media text, how so?
How will you change the ways you understand media?
Does this seem to have made a difference for you in any way?
You should also provide a paragraph summarizing what you just did in your paper, similar to (but not a
repeat of) what you did in the first section.
Option 2: Autoethnography
This autoethnography is composed of two main sections.
Section 1: Communication Event
First, describe in careful detail a “scene” from your life – a recent conversation, a fashion choice, or some
other event – that demonstrates manifestation of a culture to which you belong. This section should
constitute roughly one third of your paper.
Section 2: Critical Analysis
This section should constitute roughly one third of your paper. Second, employ appropriate intercultural
communication concepts to explain, analyze, and/or critique the situation. Your analysis in this section
should contain at least two dimensions (such as history, gender, ethnicity, ability/disability, religion, etc.). In
other words, you might analyze the gendered and religious expectations that played a role in a
misunderstanding about a choice of clothing. This section should constitute roughly two-thirds of your
paper. The goal of the autoethnography is not to “fix” the problem you describe, but to understand some of
its underlying causes.
Sample Solution
