COMM2110: Critical Analysis Paper Requirements & Guidelines

Because relationships described in articles in the popular press exert considerable influence on what we come to see as "desirable" and "preferred" in particular types of relationships and serve a socializing function in terms of teaching us what to do and what not to do in our own relationships, the goal of this assignment is to give you the opportunity to use the knowledge gained in class to critically analyze the content of one such article. You are free to agree or disagree with the content of the article, but, either way, you will be required to provide strong reasons in support of your position. The goal of this assignment is two-fold:

To give you the opportunity to critically review, analyze, and report your impressions of an article on interpersonal relationships typically found in popular media, and
To identify discrepancies, if any, between information generally presented in popular media versus the information presented in academic journals and books and reflect on the implications of these differences for relational experiences and outcomes

Assignment Guidelines

As you prepare to complete this assignment, it might help to follow a few simple guidelines:

Read the assigned article at least 2 or 3 times, preferably on different days. Doing this is one way of ensuring that you have given yourself the best possible chance of understanding the main ideas/themes within the article
Make note of the things you agree with the author about as well as those you disagree with. That way, you will begin to have some idea of what your paper will be about
Then, find the relevant chapter(s) in the book that deal with the topic discussed in the article and read it thoroughly (once again, it may help to make notes)
Compare the information in the article with the information you found on the topic in the textbook
Consider the following questions:

Do you agree with the contents of the article? Remember, you don't have to fully agree or disagree; you can agree with some parts and not others, but be prepared to provide justification in either case
Is the information in the article consistent with the information in the text? If yes, in what way? If not, why not?
If people took the information in the article seriously, what effect, if any, would it have on their interpersonal relationships? [Remember to tie it to information in the textbook].
What advice/suggestions/recommendations would you give to the hundreds of thousands of people worldwide who rely on relationship advice from self-proclaimed experts? Be specific.

Assignment Instructions

Due Date: March 04, 2008

Paper Length: 4 pages (including a cover page)

Instructions for formatting cover page:

Page Header: your last name and page # should appear at the top right corner of your paper in the header
Running Head: top of the page, left-aligned, title of the article (ALL in CAPS)
Title of Paper: centered between the top and bottom and left and right margins (in uppercase & lowercase letters)
Author Information: your first and last name should be on the line after the title of the paper
Institutional Affiliation Utah Valley State College should appear on the line after your name

Note: The title of the paper, author name, and institutional affiliation should all be double spaced

Please refer to the Sample Cover Page for an illustration of how your cover page must be formatted

Acceptable Font: Times New Roman, 12-pt font

Acceptable Margins: 1" on the top, bottom, and right; 1.25" on the left

Acceptable Spacing: Double

Pagination: Your last name and page # must be provided in the page header and right-aligned (same as page header)

Citations/Credits: If you are using information that is not your own (including information from the textbook), you MUST give the appropriate citation of the source from which you took the information within the body of the text and on a separate "References" page. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism and will result in a failing grade. Please be warned that ignorance is NOT an acceptable excuse. When in doubt, ASK, do NOT guess!!

Note: I will provide a brief overview of when and how to provide citations within the body of the text as well as how to format the references page in APA style. If you still have any questions or need additional instruction/assistance, please feel free to set up an appointment with me and I'll be glad to help in any way I can. Good luck!

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Revised Course Schedule - Click on this link for information on class meeting dates, topics covered, and assignment due dates
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Course Requirements - Click on this link for information on the assignments and exams that are required for successful completion of the course
Case Study Analysis- Click on this link for instructions and guidelines for completing the Case Study Analysis
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