After studying the assigned readings for week 5, synthesize what you have learned by completing the following in essay format. Search online and find a website for an organization which has a campaign promoting a core issue that interests you (For example: The Red Cross and need for blood donations–You may not use this example).

Start your essay with a short overview of the organization and the issue (just a few lines) and then consider the topics we have covered in this week’s readings and discuss how they are reflected in what you see on this website.

What clear messages do you see?

What audiences is the institution trying to reach?

How has technology affected the way this organization presents itself?

Consider issues of Media Ethics and how they are represented or manifested in the website. Draw on examples offered on that website to support your observations. Specifically consider the content of21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 77: Theories and Effects of Public Relations, under the section “Assumptions and Lay Theories.” Which of these theories does the content of your chosen site most closely align with? Why? Explain your answer.

The essay should be in 12pt type, no more than 2 pages in length, double spaced. Approximately 500-600 words, and must be properly cited throughout the paper in APA format and must contain a Reference sheet or Bibliography. Support your responses with research from the Learning Resources.

Submit your response in the file submission area for this assignment. If you choose to “add a file” by attaching a MSWord or PDF document, please also copy and paste your response into the comments area.

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After studying the assigned reading, Sociology: The Social Construction of Gender, considering the concept of “gender as socially constructed,” answer the following questions and prompts.

A) How does media create meanings about gender?

B) Provide examples of how this is manifested in our everyday lives.

C) Provide a link to a commercial/ad that stereotypes gender. Even though it is natural to find humor in some of these portrayals, in what ways is this problematic.

Also, consider that sex is a system of classification based on biology and physiology, while gender reflects the cultural meaning that is ascribed to a person’s sex, thus resulting in labels of “masculinity and femininity.” Furthermore, our biology is not distinctively male or female and a significant number of people are born “intersex” with variations in chromosomes or sexual organs. Most biological researchers agree on the estimation that intersex people are about as common as encountering someone with green eyes. It is important to understand that masculinity and femininity are not oppositional, although it seems to be portrayed so in media. In Western society (such as in the U.S. and Western Europe) we typically adhere to certain ideas and values that define masculinity and femininity as we perform the roles. What if the list was different? All of us, in honesty, could reveal that we interchange among the qualities. Take a look at the list and answer the following questions:

Provide answers to the following questions or prompts in your assignment submission.

D) How is the list being currently challenged?

E) What traits do you have that are typically considered “on the list” of the other sex?

F) What examples do you see in your daily life of people challenging the historic list?

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Week 6 Assignment–Gender Performance – Due 4/22
Instructions
After studying the assigned reading, Sociology: The Social Construction of Gender, considering the concept of “gender as socially constructed,” answer the following questions and prompts. A) How does media create meanings about gender? B) Provide examples of how this is manifested in our everyday lives. C) Provide a link to a commercial/ad that stereotypes gender. Even though it is natural to find humor in some of these portrayals, in what ways is this problematic. Also, consider that sex is a system of classification based on biology and physiology, while gender reflects the cultural meaning that is ascribed to a person’s sex, thus resulting in labels of “masculinity and femininity.” Furthermore, our biology is not distinctively male or female and a significant number of people are born “intersex” with variations in chromosomes or sexual organs. Most biological researchers agree on the estimation that intersex people are about as common as encountering someone with green eyes. It is important to understand that masculinity and femininity are not oppositional, although it seems to be portrayed so in media. In Western society (such as in the U.S. and Western Europe) we typically adhere to certain ideas and values that define masculinity and femininity as we perform the roles. What if the list was different? All of us, in honesty, could reveal that we interchange among the qualities. Take a look at the list and answer the following questions: Masculinity Femininity strength dominance aggression independence empowerment active rational thought production breadwinner subject outdoors technology weakness submission compliance/vulnerability dependence disempowerment passive emotion consumption nurturer object indoors nature Provide answers to the following questions or prompts in your assignment submission. D) How is the list being currently challenged? E) What traits do you have that are typically considered “on the list” of the other sex? F) What examples do you see in your daily life of people challenging the historic list? G) What about examples in media of characters or people challenging the list? H) Finally, do you agree or disagree that gender is socially constructed? Provide evidence that backs your opinion. Support your responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APA in-text citations where necessary and cite any outside sources. Create an APA Reference List or Bibliography at the end of the document. Submit your responses in the file submission area for this assignment. If you choose to “add a file” by attaching a MSWord or PDF document, please also copy and paste your response into the comments area.

Rubric Name: COMM 202 Assignment Rubric

After studying both of the assigned readings, Chapter 55: Media Portrayals and Representationsand 21^st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 57: Agenda Setting and Framing, answer the following questions and prompts regarding your favorite program or other chosen media content.

1. What device do you most often use for your favorite program watching or other chosen media? Do you agree that you favor the device that gives you access to the information and programming that most meets your needs?

2. How does the program meet your specific needs and goals? Who else do you know that also seeks out this programming (movie, tv, radio show, game) and do they do so for the same reasons as you? Why are their uses of this programming similar or different from your own?

3. What does this program or other media tell you about your place in the world in relationship to how much access you have to things you want in the "real" world? When you are stressed out, do you turn to this programming more or less? Why?

4. What does this programming tell you about people who are different from you in terms of race, age, sexual orientation, political beliefs, socio-economic status, gender, religion or nationality? Are they portrayed in a positive or negative light? What kinds of power do they have?

Support your responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APA in-text citations where necessary and cite any outside sources. Create an APA Reference List or Bibliography at the end of the document.

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Week 8 Assignment–Agenda Setting, Framing, and Uses – Due 5/6
Instructions
After studying both of the assigned readings, Chapter 55: Media Portrayals and Representationsand 21st Century Communication: A Reference Handbook: Chapter 57: Agenda Setting and Framing, answer the following questions and prompts regarding your favorite program or other chosen media content. 1. What device do you most often use for your favorite program watching or other chosen media? Do you agree that you favor the device that gives you access to the information and programming that most meets your needs? 2. How does the program meet your specific needs and goals? Who else do you know that also seeks out this programming (movie, tv, radio show, game) and do they do so for the same reasons as you? Why are their uses of this programming similar or different from your own? 3. What does this program or other media tell you about your place in the world in relationship to how much access you have to things you want in the "real" world? When you are stressed out, do you turn to this programming more or less? Why? 4. What does this programming tell you about people who are different from you in terms of race, age, sexual orientation, political beliefs, socio-economic status, gender, religion or nationality? Are they portrayed in a positive or negative light? What kinds of power do they have? Support your responses with research from the Learning Resources. Use APA in-text citations where necessary and cite any outside sources. Create an APA Reference List or Bibliography at the end of the document. Submit your responses in the file submission area for this assignment. If you choose to “add a file” by attaching a MSWord or PDF document, please also copy and paste your response into the comments area. Development and Content Exceeds Standards 40 points Meets Standards 35.6 points Needs Improvement 27.6 points Does Not Meet Standards 23.6 points Category is worth 40% of overall grade Develops answers with effective supportive examples; provides a balanced presentation of relevant information and shows a thoughtful, in-depth analysis; reader gains insights; specifically meets criteria of defining key points, events, or contributions Develops answers with adequate supportive examples; information displays evidence of a basic analysis; reader gains some insights Does not fully develop answers and may lack detailed supportive examples; analysis is basic or general; reader gains insights Answers are undeveloped or has no supportive examples; analysis is vague or not evident; reader is confused or may be misinformed Purpose Exceeds Standards 30 points Meets Standards 26.7 points Needs Improvement 20.7 points Does Not Meet Standards 17.7 points Category is worth 30% of overall grade Introduces and answers all questions effectively and clearly; central purpose is readily apparent to the reader; makes connections Introduces and answers all questions adequately; purpose is consistently clear throughout the paper Introduces and answers all questions somewhat effectively; writing has a clear purpose but may sometimes digress from it Introduces and answer questions poorly; purpose is generally unclear Documentation and Support Exceeds Standards 20 points Meets Standards 17.8 points Needs Improvement 13.8 points Does Not Meet Standards 11.8 points Category is worth or 20% of overall grade Answers are supported effectively with legitimate sources from the learning resources and/or outside resources that are clearly attributed consistently throughout paper; uses APA format accurately and consistently Answers are supported effectively with legitimate sources from the learning resources and/or outside resources that are clearly attributed but not consistent, yet "generally" supported; uses proper formatting with minor violations Although attribution is present and many sources seem to be legitimate, some statements are unsubstantiated or generalized and the source of some ideas is unclear or some claims are made without support from the learning resources and/or outside resources Attribution is missing, or sources given are poorly chosen; claims are consistently made without support from the learning resources and/or outside resources; reflect incomplete knowledge of formatting. Organization and Writing Mechanics Exceeds Standards 10 points Meets Standards 8.9 points Needs Improvement 6.9 points Does Not Meet Standards 5.9 points Category is worth 10% of overall grade Arranges ideas clearly and logically to support the purpose; ideas flow smoothly and are effectively linked; reader can follow the line of reasoning; Writing demonstrates a sophisticated clarity, conciseness, and correctness with no grammatical/sentence structure errors Arranges ideas adequately to support the purpose; links between ideas are generally clear; reader can follow the line of reasoning for the most part; Writing is accomplished in terms of clarity and conciseness and contains only a few grammatical/sentence Arranges ideas adequately, in general, although ideas sometimes fail to make sense together; reader remains fairly clear about what writer intends; Writing sometimes lacks clarity or conciseness and contains various grammatical/sentence structure errors Arranges ideas illogically; ideas frequently fail to make sense together; reader cannot identify a line of reasoning and becomes frustrated or loses interest; Writing is unfocused, rambling, or contains serious grammatical/sentence structure errors Overall Score Level 4 90 or more Level 3 70 or more Level 2 60 or more Level 1 0 or more 100 – 90 points = 100% – 90% = A+ – A – 89 – 70 points = 89% – 70% = B+ – C- 69 – 60 points = D+ – D- 59-0 points = <59% = F Submit Files