Analytical Essay

First draft due Wednesday, November 25

5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced, and stapled

For this assignment you will write an analytical essay about a YouTube video. The video should have at least 5,000 views, and ideally the video addresses a subject that you are interested in. The video should either be in English or have English subtitles. Aim for a video that is five-minutes in duration or shorter.

The specific type of analysis that you will do is technical evaluation. You will analyze a video as an expert who draws on experience to evaluate techniques that are presented in the video. Imagine that you are writing for someone who is considering using the video to learn or refine his or her own techniques.

Examples of successful essays evaluated videos on making particular dishes, car maintenance, the application of make-up, and the basics of playing a guitar.

Research Question

The basic question you need to answer is whether you would recommend the video that you select to a particular audience. Your thesis statement should mention the video and identify the audience, and ideally your thesis statement will introduce criticisms that you will discuss in the essay.

Outline

Roughly the first half of your essay should consist of a scene-by-scene summary of the video. The summary should be in chronological order. In the second half of your essay you will evaluate the video. You should devote at least one paragraph to the reception of the video given in the comments. You should address criticisms in the comments and write about ways in which the video could improve.

The expectations for your essay are very high, and it is important for you to develop a writing process for producing polished and well-informed essays. You are required to post journal entries with the title and channel name of your video and your research question. You are required to receive feedback on an initial outline.

You should expect to do multiple drafts of this essay. After you receive feedback on the first draft you should revise the essay, and you should continue to receive feedback and to revise the essay until either the end of the quarter or the essay is an A-quality essay.

The essay will be graded according to the essay-grading rubric for EWRT1A. If you use outside sources then you will need to include citations and a works cited page with your essay.

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