Getting Started

To help you jumpstart your drafting today, complete the following, brief outline in your blog:

Open up a new page in your blog and title it:  Getting Started

What is your artifact?  (You must be specific, you can't simply say "fashion magazines."  You should choose something instead like, Cosmopolitan).

What do you want to say about it?  (This becomes your "thesis" or your purpose for writing; you should place this statement at the end of your introduction).  

Cosmopolitan magazine perpetuates the myth that all a woman needs is pouty lips, sultry eyeshadow, killer heels, and "six tips for more satisfying sex" in order to be truly fulfilled.

How would you describe the artifact?  (Look really closely at your artifact.  Here is where you write your description. Tell your reader what it looks like, sounds like, feels like, etc.   You might also have to give some background information.  Maybe your reader doesn't know what Cosmopolitan is.  Or they've never seen your TV show, your movie, or listened to the artist you're analyzing.  What should they know?

Who is helping you say what you want to say?  (Place your quotes in your outline.  Don't forget to include a parenthetical citation.  You can also work on creating your Works Cited for these quotes today).  Your Works Cited should also include a reference to a video, song, etc. that demonstrates what your artifact is.

How do I get this thing started? 
I'd recommend opening with your background information.  You could also start by creating a scene or scenario for your reader to follow.

Background:  It wasn't until 1965 that Cosmopolitan became a fashion magazine, exclusively targeting women.  Before that it was a family magazine and even a literary magazine.  Its first cover shows a.....(etc.)  If you use background information, you'll need to include the sources where you found this information.

Scenario: 
A gallon of milk. That's all I really wanted. Not a "dress that makes my hips look sexy" or a "haircut that would make heads turn." I certainly wasn't looking for "6 Tips to the hottest sex you've ever had," but the gauntlet of fashion magazine models staring me down in the checkout lane begged to differ.  Maybe I could spend a little more time at the gym, I thought, glancing at the perfect hips and criminally long legs of the women on each cover. Maybe I'm not that pretty, I thought, as I hastily tried to smooth out my wrinkled dress and ran my hand through  my tangled mess of hair...etc.

After your introduction and your statement, you'll need to organize the main points that you want your reader to see regarding your artifact.  What examples do you have?  Perhaps a set of images or two scenes from the show you're analyzing.  Maybe you write about lyrics from a few songs by the same artist or analyze 2-3 music videos.  What are you working with and what do you need your readers to see in order to prove your point?

Feel free to get started on your own in any way that makes sense to you. Your complete rough draft (at least 3 pages typed, double-spaced AND a Works Cited page) is DUE On MONDAY for Peer Review (25 points).  Please print TWO Copies and bring them to class with you on Monday.