The original research paper with textual analysis must be 9-14 typed pages (10 with the required cover sheet). This paper must be on the same site as your textual analysis paper. Deadlines are firm (please discuss any problems with the professor). The paper should be double-spaced using Times New Roman 12, one-inch borders, and no long or block quotes. Please include your name and paper information on a separate cover sheet.
Kindly list ONE keyword that represents your critical focus on the cover sheet. The thesis of your research paper must also appear on the cover sheet and be clearly stated in the paper. A thesis is the main research paper argument that is stated at the beginning of the paper (Usually in the first paragraph). Students should follow Chicago style-guide for footnotes as outlined in class. A Chicago style sheet is available under “Files.”
Papers should employ at least eight academic sources, including at least six academic sources not in the syllabus. At least one of your academic sources should come from the list included in the assignment and listed below. This article cannot be something that we have read or will read in class. The first instance of each academic source should be highlighted in your notes. Thus, you should have at least eight highlighted academic texts.
Turnitin can help you to establish your own authorial voice and to detect passages that should be in quotation marks. In order to best accomplish original research with properly cited material, please submit your paper and review your Turnitin score and available highlighted review by clicking on the colored tab associated with this assignment under “Grades.” You should also review your AI score The whole text should be readable by Turnitin. If there are short phrases or sentences outside of your quotes or in other parts of your paper that are highlighted and marked as coming from other sources (or from your previous research), these texts should be edited to convey your own voice and original writing or be removed. All students should provide an indication about the highlighted passages, including any material marked as AI generated, in the assignment comment box. Ordinarily your score should be a lower number and below 25%. Please remember that higher numbers can also highlight quoted material, and that your paper should not be dominated by quoted texts and citations.
At least one of your academic sources not in the syllabus should come from the following journals that are available through the Tulane library site and that offer excellent texts on our areas of examination:
Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies
Feminist Media Histories
Feminist Media Studies
Television and New Media
New Media and Society
Information, Communication & Society9-14 typed pages (10+ with the required cover sheet). This paper must be on the same site
as your textual analysis paper. Deadlines are firm (please discuss any problems with the professor). The paper should be double-spaced using Times New Roman 12, one-inch borders, and no long or block quotes. Please include your name and paper information on a separate cover sheet. The thesis of your research paper must also appear on this sheet and be clearly stated in the paper. The cover sheet does not count in your page number requirement. Students should follow Chicago style-guide for footnotes as outlined in class. A Chicago style sheet is available under “Files.” Thesis: A thesis is the main research paper argument that is stated at the beginning of the paper (usually in the first paragraph). Research and critical literature are employed to support your thesis. The purpose of the paper is to focus on your thesis and to support this argument. Thus, material that is not associated with your argument should be avoided. Your thesis should have been demonstrated and supported in multiple ways by the end of the paper. Begin with your previously chosen site and textual analysis paper. You will be developing and improving your textual analysis and incorporating new academic and other texts in order to turn the short paper into a research paper. (Original Textual analysis will be at the bottom) Visually and textually analyze the selected site in relation to the issue that you have chosen. Make sure that you select a particular theme and provide a thesis and detailed analysis rather than briefly discussing many topics. As previously discussed, your analysis might focus on how the “about” and other parts of the site depict a particular kind of individual; the banner and other texts articulate the site’s expected user; repetitive word choices (and potentially associated images) underscore the site’s ethos; a concept (such as empowerment or artistry) is represented as a means of articulating the site’s function; or commenters repeat and support an idea proposed by the site and thereby participate in a brand community. This textual analysis as well as the academic literature should support your argument. Make sure that you have a well-constructed argument and provide a detailed analysis rather than briefly discussing many topics. You should also spend some time looking at your site of analysis again before and while writing. Please remember to leave time to edit your paper so that it is coherent and employs grammar successfully. Papers should employ at least two written texts from the class syllabus and six other academic sources. At least one of these outside sources must be from the journals listed below. You may need more academic sources to support your argument. Please remember that all quotes and ideas that are taken from other authors must be properly cited. Quotes should be brief.
Turnitin can help you to establish your own authorial voice and to detect passages that should be in quotation marks. In order to best accomplish original research with properly cited material, please submit your paper and review your Turnitin score and available highlighted review. The whole text should be readable by Turnitin. If there are short phrases or sentences outside of your quotes or in other parts of your paper that are marked as coming from other sources, these texts should be edited to convey your own voice and writing or be removed. All students should provide an indication about the highlighted passages in the comment box. Ordinarily your score should be a lower number and below 25%. For instructions on Turnitin see the following: https://help.turnitin.com/integrity/student/canvas/the-similarity-report/accessing-the- similarity-report.htm https://help.turnitin.com/feedback-studio/canvas/l... At least one of your academic sources not in the syllabus should come from the following journals that are available through the Tulane library and that offer excellent texts on our areas of examination: Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies Feminist Media Histories Feminist Media Studies Television and New Media New Media and Society Information, Communication & Society Your paper will be assessed on how it meets the learning outcome and assignment (correct number of pages, correct font and other formatting expectations, correct citation practices, correct number of academic citations). Your paper will also be assessed based on the following successful practices: Well-crafted thesis Good use of citations Thoughtful analysis throughout Successful use of textual analysis Effective organization of paragraphs and ideas Academic literature is well organized and incorporated into arguments Referenced authors are used to develop ideas and textual analysis Your paper will also be assessed based on characteristics that can be improved. Reading these criteria while writing your paper may help you to improve it: Confusing or missing thesis Did not address suggestions made on short paper
Questions
- A cover page with the paper title and the same thesis that is stated in the research paper.
- An opening paragraph or two where you describe the site as it relates to your argument and introduce your thesis. A thesis is the focused main research paper argument and should not include disparate elements or a list of ideas.
- Two or three paragraphs where you outline and connect the critical literature on the topic. This “literature review” should include brief mentions of or notations about how it relates to your site of examination and argument. These referenced academic texts can be on the same site as your research study (research on eBay would cite the scholarship on eBay). It can also be literature on the critical concept you are examining (research on community would cite the scholarship on community). There does not have to be scholarship on your exact site or idea. You can critically engage scholarship or use a section of an academic article to develop your idea.
- A series of paragraphs where you develop but do not repeat your arguments. These paragraphs should employ close reading and academic literature as a means of supporting your thesis. They should develop the idea in a connected and organized fashion.
- A paragraph or two where you conclude your paper. This conclusion should advance rather than just restate what you have indicated in the paper. Below is the original textual analysis: Site is Instagram
Instagram's Gender Stereotypes
Thesis: Social networking platforms like Instagram promote gender stereotypes by encoding people with traditional views and values, particularly in the visual representation of beauty standards.
Keyword: Gender stereotypes
Nowadays, with the digital era, social media platforms like Instagram possess a lot of power to dictate what is beautiful, who we are, and how our society is shaped, and that it is the determining factor of what people think and believe. On the basis of a thorough textual analysis, it becomes clear that Instagram often supports traditional gender stereotypes, especially in how it depicts beauty ideals. The persistent presentation of this kind of gender relatedness is very concerning because it creates a social environment where marginalization and exclusion of people who do not conform to the existing norms becomes possible.
One argument that can be made against Instagram is the way it supports gender stereotypes by portraying specific content on hashtags like #BodyPositivity. False claims of inclusivity and diversity are frequently evident in portraying beauty products. Still, this portrayal mostly sticks to the traditional notion of beauty, which centers on people who "truly" resemble the ideal of beauty, with flawless skin and a slim body. This selective depiction of being body positivity, instead, maintains standards of beauty and leaves some people out (Cohen et al., 2019). These include individuals who do not fit into the narrow categories. This phenomenon, in turn, promotes feelings of inadequacy and exclusion, especially for young girls, highlighting Instagram's stereotypical effects.
Moreover, the visual-centric functionality of Instagram also worsens the problem as it puts beauty above its essence. Influencers and brands benefit from and capitalize on Instagram to speak to girls about certain products and lifestyles, driving the notion that exceeding beauty is the ultimate goal to pursue. It implies that women have to lead their lives to fulfill their beauty objectives regardless of what it takes. It is this commodification of body positivity that not only dis-authenticates the movement but also reproduces harmful gender norms when physical appearance is equated to self-worth. It promotes an unrealistic ideal of beauty that makes another group of people fall short (Lazuka et al., 2020). Also, more often than not, these girls do not feel good enough or significant enough about themselves.
Instagram's algorithmic bias causes more women to adhere to the limiting notions of normative femininity that uphold traditional gender roles. For instance, recommending content related to beauty to female users and technology or sports to males may develop or influence their gender interests. As a result, their preferences and behaviors become gender-oriented (Fouquaert et al., 2022). Thus, with this algorithm bias, not only does the audience heterogeneity narrow, but it also confirms that certain activities and interests are innately related to either males or females. It limits individual instances of expression and ensures that people follow pre-determined standards of society.
In conclusion, Instagram's application of beauty ideals ultimately strengthens gender stereotypes by enforcing conventional roles and requirements. In order to tackle this problem, social media channels like Instagram should give priority to diversity and inclusivity in their content moderation and recommendation algorithms. Hence, there would be no person who would experience exclusion based on their level of compliance with contemporary beauty norms. Through combating traditional gender stereotypes, social media platforms are capable of having a significant role in encouraging the world to be more equal and fair toward everyone in society.