Major Essay 1: Visual Analysis

Context

In this unit, we practiced delaying judgment, summarizing texts, and including more detail in our analyses. Now you will apply these techniques by analyzing an image provided for you.

Assignment

For this essay, you will write a visual analysis of a provided image. (see attached and choose one) Your essay will initially introduce and then summarize the image – resisting any interpretive leaps. It is helpful to assume your reader has never seen this image, so you must describe the work in sufficient detail for a reader to imagine your text as you see it. Next, your essay should thoroughly analyze the visual text using the Five Analytical Moves (see WA 16-36) and answer the question “so what?” Your analysis should expose possible implications and hidden meanings, as well as important metaphors. Your essay will then consider some possible interpretations of the image and conclude by forwarding your own plausible interpretive context. Finally, conclude your essay with your image and include a Works Cited page.

I have also attached a sample of how the paper should look like.

Requirements

Your essay must:

▪be at least 1,000 words and formatted to MLA essay requirements

▪assume a reader not familiar with the text (include sufficient detail to imagine your image)

▪introduce the image, author(s), and context in which it appears

▪include a detailed and objective summary (description) of the image (200 words)

▪use specific, concrete language without over-generalizing

▪transition smoothly from summary to analysis

▪adopt the Five Analytical Moves to thoroughly analyze key points of the text (500 words),

▪identify interesting, significant, or strange elements of the image and rank these

▪focus on one or two details, examine them, and

▪answer the question, “so what?” to expose implications and hidden meanings, as well as key metaphors and organizing contrasts

▪transition smoothly to presenting some possible interpretations of the text

▪conclude by providing your most plausible interpretive context (300 words)

▪embed your image in your essay in a meaningful place and include a caption

▪format your essay according to MLA style requirements and include a Works Cited page

▪cite the text you analyze, and if you choose to draw from any additional texts, you must cite these sources as well

Style Guide (MLA 8)

WA: “MLA Style” (p. 227).This is the guide for MLA 7.Also, see the MLA 8 update notecard included with your WA textbook. MLA 8 is just like MLA 7, with a few tweaks.

Upcoming Milestones (Check the Schedule for Due Dates)

Essay 1: Visual Analysis Rubric

Requirements
Formatted according to MLA essay style and includes a Works Cited page
Is at least 1,000 words in length and includes the image in the essay
Begins by introducing the text (image), author, and context surrounding the piece to an audience who is not familiar with the work
Includes a detailed and objective summary of the text to be analyzed (200 words)
Transitions smoothly from summary to analysis and from analysis to interpretation
Applies Notice & Focus to identify interesting, significant, or strange elements of the image and rank these (500 words)
Focuses on one or two important details and examines the binaries/patterns they are implicated in
Answers the question, “so what?” to exposes possible implications, hidden meanings, and key metaphors
Presents some possible interpretations of the text
Concludes by forwarding a plausible interpretive context and provides support (evidence) for this interpretation (300 words)
Overall Score:

Reflection: should be on a separate document

Please write a 100-200 word response answering the following questions.

1. What was the hardest part about writing the rough draft of the Visual Analysis? Likewise, what did you find easy?

2. What can we gain from learning how to analyze images/visual things? Do images or 3D objects count as "texts"?

3. What was/is your favorite fairytale and why? Have you read it recently as an adult and thought about how the implications may be different?