YOUR ASSIGNMENT

This is a research essay with a lot of scope for creativity. If you have a topic you would like to do, come and see me and we’ll see if it’s doable. You are not confined to my ideas, just to the standards of the English language and the standards of writing an essay!

You are welcome to find whatever videos you want. There are several posted on this blog. If you’re unsure whether a TV show is appropriate ask me. Don’t start writing if you aren’t sure.

The Givens:

1. Your essay must be from 500 to 750 words in length.
2. You must reference three different TV shows and each show must be from a different era. Pick your eras from the following: 1950s/1960s    AND     1970s/1980s     AND      1990s/2000s.
3. You must clearly indicate the names of the shows, giving a brief overview of the each show’s plot and characters; you must also indicate the era the show is from.
4. You must have a topic sentence, a thesis statement, and a clear ending that isn’t just the cessation of words on the page!
5. EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: If you would rather do a video or a power point presentation than an essay you’re free to do that. I still have to see or hear all of the same elements, however. Points 2, 3, and 4 still apply.

Possible Essay Topics:

1. Show how the role of mothers has changed over the decades.
2. Show how the role of fathers has changed over the decades.
3. Show how the depiction of children has changed over the decades.
4. Show how the depiction of teenagers has changed over the decades.
5. Show how the perception of family problems/conflicts has changed over the decades.
6. Show how parenting has changed over the decades (eg. discipline, morality, expectations.)
7. Show how expectations for girls has changed over the decades.
8. Show how expectations for boys has changed over the decades.
9. Show how the filming of family TV shows has changed over the decades. (eg. laugh tracks, silence, use of music, dialogue, acting.)
10. Show how the use of humour in family TV shows has changed over the decades.
11. Show how the depiction of authority has changed over the decades.
12. Show how depictions of single parents has changed over the decades.
13. Show how depictions of following rules has changed over the decades.