TV show analysis “grandfathered pilot episode”
The episode this paper should be analysis is “grandfathered” pilot season 1 episode 1, here is the link you can watch this episode online: http://www.acfun.tv/v/ac2240674
PAPER ASSIGNMENT #1 – Language and Nonverbal Interaction in a TV Scene
IMPORTANT: See next page for key info about format requirements, policies, grading criteria, and getting help!
You will be analyzing a communication scene that appears in an assigned television show/episode. You must write your paper on
the specific show/episode that your TA assigns you to watch (or else you will receive a zero). Once you know which TV program
and episode to watch, select one particular interaction/conversation within the show to analyze (choose an interaction with
interesting language usage and nonverbal forms of communication). In your introduction, remember to identify which show and
interaction you are analyzing, and be sure to provide a thesis statement(s) about what you plan to discuss in your paper (but keep
the whole intro very brief!).
In this paper, you must:
1) Identify and analyze two important language usage issues that are operating within the interaction and having an
effect on the characters/conversation.
To find two LANGUAGE USAGE issues, watch the scene and look at the word choices characters make and the
phrasing they use. Think about how and why different characters react in certain ways to what is being said, and
about whether characters use a particular style of speaking (slang, vocabulary, etc.) in particular contexts or with
particular people. Then look through your lecture notes and your textbook chapter on language (Ch 3) and see
which two separate course concepts fit with what you have observed. Some example language concepts that you
could use (and where to find them in our course material) include:
connotation vs. denotation of words (lec & Ch 3); speech accommodation or code switching (lec & Ch 3); powerful vs.
powerless speech styles (lec); high vs. low language (Ch 3); professional jargon or culture or gender or other language &
identity issues (Ch 3); euphemisms (section & Ch 3); equivocal language (lec & Ch 3); labeling (Ch 3); biased language
(Ch 3); etc.
2) Identify and analyze two important nonverbal communication codes that are operating within the interaction and
having an effect on the characters/conversation.
To find two NONVERBAL communication codes, watch the nonverbal behaviors and expressions that go on in
the scene, and again, see how characters use and react to them. Note for yourself also how the nonverbal actions
relate to the verbal/language patterns (and vice versa). There are numerous nonverbal codes that you’ll see, so
you’ll need to choose two for which you can make the most interesting/insightful analysis. Some example
nonverbal codes that you could use (covered in both lecture and Ch 4) include: paralanguage (or specific aspects
of paralanguage); proxemics; kinesics (or specific types of kinesics); oculesics; haptics; chronemics; etc.
For each separate language and nonverbal issue, give evidence that that particular language or nonverbal usage is
indeed going on in the scene and make arguments about how it appears to have a significant impact on the
interaction(s) between characters (e.g., how meanings were more effectively/ineffectively exchanged; how
misunderstandings ended up being created; how the characters’ judgments, perceptions, or reactions were affected;
etc.). Be sure that your arguments are both thorough and thoughtful, and be sure that you define your terms and
support all of your claims! Your own opinion is NOT enough – use appropriate reading and lecture material (cited in
APA style) and specific, concrete examples from the scene in order to prove to your reader that you know what these
issues are, that they are going on in the scene, and that they matter.
3) Tie together the different aspects of your paper, including how the different language and nonverbal issues that
you’ve discussed for the scene work together. Some tying together should be done “as you go along” in the paper
(e.g., to provide a good transition between issues; to note an important connection between a verbal and nonverbal
issue that happened at the same time, etc.), but you will also need to draw some larger conclusions about how the
different issues affect one another on different levels—e.g., how the verbal and nonverbal issues may operate
differently for the characters’ personal friendship than for their connection as co-workers, etc.
Remember that a good paper is not a detached bunch of paragraphs that just address each of the above things. You
should be building toward some point or points that you wish to make. Your conclusions should even be fairly
complex! Your goal is to take the ACADEMIC ideas of the course and show us that you recognize how they APPLY
to REAL LIFE interactions (albeit as dramatized in a TV show, of course).
PAPER ASSIGNMENT #1 CONTINUED…
Requirements and Policies
FORMAT: You should have a title page with your name and your TA’s name/section clearly identified. Do not use a running
head nor put your name anywhere else in your paper, as the TAs do blind grading (which means they turn over the title page for
all papers before grading, so that they cannot tell whose paper is whose while grading them). Your papers must be 5-6 pages in
length (please number your pages and do not exceed 6 pages). All papers must be typed, using Times 12pt, double-spaced, with
one-inch margins. Note that MS WORD uses different default formatting, so be sure to change your settings! All papers should
also have proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
APA STYLE: All source material (e.g., lecture, textbook, academic journal articles, online sources, etc.) must be appropriately
cited using APA style (whether directly quoting or paraphrasing). Be sure to use APA (not MLA!) style, both in the text of your
paper, as well as in the Reference list at the end of your paper. See “Using APA Style” in this manual for examples.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: Plagiarism will result minimally in a zero grade, so be sure to properly cite your sources. In
addition, do NOT “borrow” from another student’s paper, new or old. Even if you change the specific words, YOU ARE
PLAGIARIZING and will receive a zero. I strongly suggest you DO NOT EVEN READ someone else’s paper, as it is
difficult to write your own ideas in an original way once you have seen how someone else has written theirs. You must also be
sure to write your paper on the exact TV show or advertisement that your TA assigns to you. If you write about the wrong
TV show or ad, we must assume that you have plagiarized from an old paper, and you will get a zero.
TURNING IN PAPERS: Paper assignments are due in hard copy version on the designated date in lecture (see syllabus and
course schedule). Electronic versions of papers are NOT acceptable! Late papers are marked down 5 points per day (note
that if your paper is late, it will be considered “turned in” when the TA receives the paper, not necessarily when you dropped it
off). Always keep a copy of your paper on hand for your records, and remember that it is your responsibility to see that
your TA receives your paper.
Grading Criteria
Grading will be based on how well your paper, compared to the papers of other students, shows: depth of analysis in using
course concepts, effectiveness at articulating and supporting arguments, accurate and thorough understanding of course material,
university level writing style and organization, and adherence to the assignment.
Note that it is a mistake to think that if you just “do what the assignment asks” you will get a good grade. Doing the assignment
is the minimum, and usually results in an “average” grade (i.e., in the “C+” range). To get a higher grade, you’ll need to apply
course concepts not only with accuracy, but with depth and insight. Your grade is based ultimately on how effectively you
are able to articulate and support good ideas, relative to other students.
Getting Help on Your Paper(s)
A good paper begins with good thinking, then a good outline, and THEN good writing. An even better paper goes through
several revisions before being turned in. Be sure you give yourself time on your own to think, outline, write, and then revise your
paper. To encourage you to do this, you get points in section for doing paper preparation, such as having outlines ready, as well
as for completing an exercise on finding and summarizing empirical studies.
Your TA will devote much time in section to helping you understand and do well on the assignment, so it is important to attend
section to get this vital information. You are also encouraged to see your TA or Prof Mullin at office hours. But neither your TA
nor Prof Mullin can just tell you what to write to get a good grade. When you come in, it is a good idea to bring your outline or
some notes you’ve made (brainstorm which potential issues you could use and what you could say about each). You may also
get writing help from Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS) (see syllabus for info), although please note that the tutors at
CLAS, while helpful with general writing skills, usually do not know the specific course material nor the assignment.
RE rough drafts: You may bring a rough draft to your TA’s or Prof Mullin’s office hours, and you may ask questions about
any part of your draft or outline. But you must choose only ONE paragraph of your actual draft to have us go over with you in
detail for writing style and/or content issues. We will not read the entire draft and give you comments. This is because a) any
general comments we make would be misleading to you (i.e., you’d think you’re “on the right track” or just need just a few
changes, but then might still end up with a lower grade than expected), and b) making more detailed comments throughout the
paper would be editing your paper for you, which is not fair to other students, and is YOUR job anyway. So, ASK about ANY
part of your outline or draft, but choose a small portion for detailed writing help. Then you can take what you have learned from
how we tore apart the one paragraph and edit/fix the rest of your paper on your own.