Dear Class,
We're doing something a little different for your latest blog response. You can either 1) post a section of your paper here and ask for specific feedback (e.g. paste your thesis and a body paragraph and ask how clearly that paragraph supports the thesis) or 2) provide feedback on someone's section (once people start posting sections).
I'm pretty booked with meetings this week, but if I get a chance, I'll try to provide some feedback to what you post as well.
Due: By Thursday morning (since your papers are due at noon that day)
Announcements:
1 ) I have extra OH 2-3PM tomorrow (in addition to my 9-11 hours in the morning) if you need to see me
2) Be prepared to discuss not only LOP and the Visual Portfolio, but Jean Anyon's excerpt as well (since we didn't have time for it today). If there's time, we'll have a quiz.
3) Here is the Group Project Assignment: http://www.sartuno.com/classdocs/GroupProjectAssignment.doc
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Television sitcoms today now have wide variety of family types for any viewer to relate with. We can now watch families from different social classes, races, and backgrounds live their fictional television lives and watch how they deal with the challenges that come with those lives. A perfect example of an accurate depiction of a relatable American family is the family from Malcolm in the Middle. Malcolm’s family strays far from the typical 1950s “perfect” television sitcom family archetype, and although Malcolm’s family isn’t like many of the other conventional television families, the Malcolm’s family depicts a real functional American family and demonstrates many family values viewers can learn from and identify with.
ReplyDeletei would just like to know if my thesis is easy to find and if it's a strong one.
Hey Mo. I'm doing my essay on Malcom in the Middle as well. I'm guessing your thesis statement is this: Malcom's family depicts a real functional American family and demonstrates many family values viewers can learn from and identify with.
ReplyDeleteI hope that's it, if not I guess you can say it's not that easy to find. I would elaborate on this point. In what ways does Malcom's family demonstrate family values? I'm sure you will provide examples and what not but I would bring your thesis to a more argumentative point, something beyond the obvious and I think you can achieve that by going into detail. Hope that helps!
Jenny, that's pretty helpful feedback. I was going to say something similar, but you beat me to it--particularly the part about making a more argumentative point that goes beyond the obvious/descriptive.
ReplyDeleteThe 1950's values were described as "the emphasis of putting one's emotional and financial eggs in the small basket of the immediate nuclear family" according to Stephanie Cooniz's article. This means that all outside networks including friends and extended family were not nearly as important of a priority as the nuclear family was. T.V. shows of the 1950's era clash horribly with the modern T.V. sitcom. Many modern sitcoms portray the message that nuclear families are not always the "ideal family" that the 50's tried to make them out to be. Gilmore Girls is a prime example of how not only is the nuclear family not always ideal but that other types of families and bonds prove to be just as suitable or even more so in different situations.
ReplyDeleteThe above is my intro/thesis. Any suggestions on how to make it stronger?
Looking back in time, specifically to the 1950s, families were perfection. The television shows aired during that period portrayed what a perfect family was. These TV shows made families want to be more like them. But what classifies them as a perfect family. A conventional family is one in which there is a mom,dad,a brother and a sister. Usually the dad is the one working, while the mother stays at home to take care of the house and children. Unconventional families have the mom, dad, some children and non-kin members like grandparents, uncles, and friends. For both conventional and unconventional families to function there needs to be love, trust, communication and sometimes laughter. Not only are unconventional families functional, but they have traits that provide their members benefits that conventional families can't always provide, such as communication, affection, interaction, and support.
ReplyDeleteThis is my intro/thesis. Any suggestions on how to make it better.
Over the years the morals and values we watch on television have changed. In the 1970’s they aired showed like The Brady Bunch, Laverne and Shirley, and Happy Days. All of these shows featured happy-go-lucky families with a lot of the same messages that they showed in the 1950’s. Even though That 70’s Show is set in the 70’s the family doesn’t show values they showed back then. It’s a very modern day sitcom with modern day messages. In today’s society television sends the message that drug use, underage drinking, premarital sex, and stereotypes are ok. This show is meant for teenagers in our day and age, but it shows things that can have a very negative impacted.
ReplyDeletethis is my intro/thesis.
(thesis)Lately the messages that producers imply towards the end of most modern family sitcoms is that, as long as there is love and respect for each other, no matter how odd the family is, they are still considered a family.
ReplyDelete(paragraph)At the end of the episode of Modern Family, Jay reads a poem that Manny wrote for the girl he likes saying, “we are from different worlds, yet somehow we fit together, love is what binds us, through fair and stormy weather, I stand before you now with only one agenda, to let you now my heart is yours, Felman Brenda. Although Manny wrote it for a girl, they show a scene of the generations of family getting along together surrounding the new baby that the gay couple adopted, when Jay is reading the poem. Not only was the poem meant for the girl that Manny likes, but the first part of it tells a message that families can get along even though there are diverseness and differences in the family, as long as there is love and respect for each other, than they can be considered a family.
does the paragraph clearly support the thesis?
hey, i was wondering if you had any tips on making my thesis stronger, here it is...
ReplyDeleteSitcoms today depict a far different family setting than those of the 1950’s. Before, we were shown a happy and busy mother, a father that came home from work at 5, and two perfect kids that never swore or turned in late homework, but today’s sitcoms, such as Desperate Housewives, show us a more realistic and sometimes even negatively exaggerated form of a family, simply to convey the message that a perfect family does not exist, but through imperfections, functional family life still exists.
Jenn I like your introduction. I think its good although I am not sure if it was just a typo or what but in the 2nd sentence I think it should be “shows” not “showed”. As far as your thesis statement goes… “In today’s society television sends the message that drug use, underage drinking, premarital sex, and stereotypes are ok.” I hope I got that right.?
ReplyDeleteHey Kristin
ReplyDeleteI read over your thesis and I believe that this is the strongest part of it.
such as Desperate Housewives, show us a more realistic and sometimes even negatively exaggerated form of a family, simply to convey the message that a perfect family does not exist, but through imperfections, functional family life still exists.
If it helps maybe you could build more focus on this part of your thesis. The beginning feels like it is its own descriptive sentence and it may be better to separate them into separate sentences. Hope that helps.
thesis:
ReplyDeleteUnconventional families actually function just as well as conventional families, and have qualities that present supplementary benefits for their members. These families encounter different situations and barriers a normal family would typically never have to experience and result in rapidly acquiring the life skill of adaptation, as well as gaining larger motivational and emotional support systems.
body paragraph #4:
Predominantly, one of the benefits of being apart of an unconventional family is the fact that these families produce a drive and motivation in each of its members. Whether they are an exceedingly large family, or a small two-person family, without a doubt, members of unconventional families rely and depend on each other to function as a whole. Naturally, these families will motivate one another to move forward. In “The Indian Story” Jack recalls, “[His] home and academic life improved a lot after [he] had moved in with [his] Aunt Greta” (53). Although it was just the two of them living together, his Aunt Greta was his incentives for exceeding in school, as well as getting better along at home in comparison to his old situation living with his father. Having his aunt as a motivational support system Jack also pointed out how, “[He is] out of high school and going to college. Meanwhile Jeffery Pine is a high-school dropout and living with the folks” (52). Jeffery Pine is the narrator’s stepmother’s son that is living with his father and obviously does not have or receive motivation within his more conventional household. Tougher and unique situations are the encouragements that push members of an unconventional family forward to their advantage.
(does this paragraph clearly support my thesis??? I feel like it doesn't flow... :/ SUGGESTIONS? :] )
Over the years, American society has defined how a family is supposed to function and what they’re supposed to look like. The differences between conventional families and nonconventional families can range from a variety of different elements. Yet, there is an undeniable question of which type of family actually functions better. Benefits and disadvantages from each side seem to outweigh each other, leaving observers confused on which type of family is more efficient to grow up in. Even though conventional families are stereotypically meant to function better, unconventional families are exposed to unique situations that will teach them life skills that can help them more in life.
ReplyDeleteThis is my into and thesis. Can you clearly find the thesis?
modern day sitcoms display that even the most unconventional families can balance each other out to function. The show "leave it to lamas" contradicts modern television shows by portraying that hollywood's richest families aren't pefectly happy because of their money, but are actually more dramatic, and have way more problems then a normal family. "Leave it to Lamas" shows us that having riches isn't everything we hoped for- unless you don't mind having a dysfunctional family.
ReplyDeletesoo late! but my thesis is all over the place =/ \
THESIS
ReplyDeleteIn all reality, behind those artificial smiles and friendly waves to the next door neighbors hides a woman who goes through great lengths to hide the ugly truths because deep inside she knows her family is anything but perfect. The hit series’ main message is that even the happiest looking families are full of serious problems.
im concerned that its not clear enough...........
to ricky not ricky V. just ricky
ReplyDeletei think that your paragraph clearly supports your thesis especialy with that quote that u brought in and you explained it very well.
Whole intro. I fear it is too long-winded.
ReplyDeleteAll manner of issues directly affecting humankind have evolved for the better throughout our history. One area we can point to is the extension of rights to various minority groups that were once considered to be unnecessary or even unworthy in contributing towards a functional and harmonious society. The 1950s for example was an era when an ideal family constituted of two-generational immediate members only with separate orderly roles for husband, wife and children alike. Sitcoms back then, conveyed messages that seemingly discouraged married women from seeking a career so as to be able to fully concentrate on domestic duties and raising kids. Whether the extended rights gave rise to or enabled groups that existed plenty to come out of the closet, we are now living in a society where all kinds of diverse families are visible. Are today’s unconventional families as functional as conventional families pursued in the 50s? They are just as capable of being so. Moreover, certain attributes can bring additional benefits for their members in areas where conventional families are bound by inherent limitations.
The myth of the (model) family scarcely reflects the complexities of modern American life , a statement taken from the book Rereading America, it expresses that Modern American Society is complicated and that the traditional family model can no longer address these intricate issues. The best option should be to put into practice a family model with traits that can be tolerant to the diversity of the society, one that is able to adapt to the ever changing situations and needs of the family members. For that reason the unconventional family can be identified as the best suited family type since it has characteristics that can accommodate every aspect of the modern American family as it evolves with the changing society and without setting limitations. Therefore, the main focus will be to show how tolerant the Unconventional family is than the conventional one by providing the similarities and distinctions between the two and how unconventional family goes beyond just offering the basic functions of a family but also provide additional benefits to its members. For the purpose of this analysis the following writers; Stephanie Coontz look at 1950s family appeal and its dark side, Roger jacks’ ‘An Indian story’ portraying the unconventional family and Aulette’s take on how the modern family deals with the
ReplyDeletesocial dynamics of class, race and gender provide the necessary information proving that unconventional families are more effective in the modern society.
Any comment on what i need to improve is welcome
In modern America the population has become very diverse that different cultures and races have intertwined and produced a different tradition and culture. Therefore the idea if sticking to one perfect concept of family has expired. According to a poll by Knight-Ridder news agency in 1996 American chose the 1950s than any other single decade as the best time to raise children. However is this true for African American and native Indian which are minorities during the 1950s? Every race has different traditions, point of view and way of raising children. Therefore the perfect idea of the nuclear family doesn’t apply to all Americans anymore. And because every human being is unique and every family is different in modern America, as a result of diversity, unconventional families actually bring additional benefit to the family members.
ReplyDeleteAny suugestion on my intro?
Help on intro please!
ReplyDeleteModern American families have gone astray from the traditional nuclear families 60 years ago. There are a lot more unconventional families than conventional families. Conventional families are being referred to a family of four Caucasian members, the father, mother, and two children, a boy and a girl. In these days such shows as 90210, present a reflection of reality to common families in America. It shows families separation, integrated races within a family, and the daily disputes from children to parents. Though unconventional families look different on the outside, they still have the same morals and values as a conventional family.