For this essay (1000-1500 words), you will critically analyze a facet of contemporary popular culture that appeals to you. Select a text created within the last three years (a short story, a television show or web series, a music album, a podcast, a music video, or an art exhibit). Then, form an argument in which you analyze:
how the material you’ve selected demonstrates a cognitive bias,
what “truth” this reveals about our contemporary culture, and
why this matters.
For instance, you might analyze how the character Michael Scott in The Office exemplifies the Dunning Kruger Effect (Links to an external site.) because he’s often certain he knows more than he actually does, and he’s unaware of his own intellectual limitations. The “truth” this puts forth is that those in leadership positions, even if theyre effective some of the time, arent necessarily the smartest or most hard working. This matters because it may cause us to assume that the decisions people in positions of power make are right without critical examination.
Or, you could examine how Waylon Smithers, Mr. Burn’s assistant in The Simpsons, exemplifies the Halo Effect (he views Mr. Burns as being “good” and this colors how he sees Burns’ atrocious actions). This might reveal how people commit unethical acts because of who they admire.
Perhaps, you might examine how various characters in Schitt’s Creek interact with each other to demonstrate the horn effect (the opposite of the halo effect), to discuss how Southern accents or things we ascribe to white trash is still a prevalent stereotype we adhere to, which in turn might perpetuate the urban/rural divide. The implication is that we might dismiss important viewpoints that could help better our society.
In any case, its important to cite any criticisms that youve read, and you must offer an original argument.
For this draft you must
setup the context of the event and provide relevant background information for an academic audience
put forth an explicit thesis statement that offer an arguable stance
demonstrate your ability to identify and analyze cognitive biases and their importance in a larger cultural context
demonstrate your ability to substantiate your argument with textual evidence. You are not required to cite additional sources, but if you choose to do so, only cite sources that are appropriate for an academic audience in correct MLA format.
organize your essay logically, with focused paragraphs that have clear direction
demonstrate a more sophisticated organizational strategy than a standard five-paragraph structure
use transitions to guide the reader through your analysis
The final draft must be 1000 – 1500 words.
be in third person
demonstrate a fluid and sophisticated command of language
properly format the essay and cite sources in current MLA style
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