VICE Report Analysis

Preparing for your term paper…
This research paper, due in Week 4, requires you to analyze one of the VICE news videos which are provided within various Chapter Modules. Although these videos are produced by HBO, most of them can be found for free on VICE’s YouTube channel. Note that other non-VICE videos provided in the modules are not eligible for this assignment.

Research papers should be written in your own words (use quotes sparingly, if at all) that use credible and/or academic sources. They should be written in a professional academic tone that is contextualized within course concepts. Assume the reader knows nothing about the subject, walk them through your thought process, and state your conclusions clearly and succinctly. Use and define key terms from the course.

If you’d like, you may submit a draft of your paper early and request feedback from the course SIA. Submissions will not be considered final until the deadline passes. You may also consult a GWC Librarian for research and citation advice, or contact the GWC Reading & Writing Center for tips on improving your writing and/or paraphrasing skills.

Goal
Explore a real world issue from the perspective of cultural anthropology.

Requirements and Point Values
Choose a VICE video from one of the videos lists located below the lectures in the Canvas modules. Then, analyze the cultural component(s) of the VICE report in a 4-5 page paper (1000-1250 words) comprised of the sections outlined below. Students may lose up to 20 points for each page short of the minimum word count.

Template & Formatting (5 points)
The paper format and required sections are already set up for you in the VICE Report Analysis Template (Links to an external site.), which you should download, save, complete, and upload by the deadline. Do not make any changes to the formatting or sub-headers.

Required Sections
Introduction (5 points)
Introduce your paper and give a brief overview of the contents.

Media Summary (15 points)
Briefly summarize your chosen VICE news report.

Current Status of the Issue (25 points)
Using credible sources, describe the current status of the issue covered in your chosen VICE news report. Have things improved, worsened, or stayed the same, and why? Are there any new developments, or are there other cultures experiencing something similar?

Cultural Analysis (30 points)
Using what you have learned about cultural anthropology from the course, discuss the issue from a culturally relative perspective. How might an anthropologist view this story? What components might be pointed out by an anthropologist? How does the issue relate to concepts you learned in class? What insights are gained by examining the issue through the lens (theories, methodologies, philosophies, etc.) of cultural anthropology? Is it valuable or beneficial to examine the issue from this perspective? Why or why not?

Conclusion (5 points)
Summarize your paper and provide any concluding remarks.

Evaluating Sources for Credibility (Links to an external site.)

Formatting Requirements (5 points)
All assignments must be double spaced, Arial 12-point font, 1 inch margins, and submitted in .doc, .docx, or .pdf file formats. Completing assignments on smart phone or tablet devices is not recommended as this may cause formatting issues. If you do not have access to a computer at home, you may access the computers in the GWC or Public Libraries. Don’t forget to put your name, the date, the course, and title including the assignment number. Be sure to edit (Links to an external site.) and spellcheck your work!

Reference Requirements (10 points)
You must cite sources used in a References section at the end of your assignment. This should include the course textbook, the story being analyzed, and whatever sources you use to support your real world implications (e.g., news publications, recent scientific journal articles, etc.). Follow the citation guidelines outlined in the APA Style Guide (Links to an external site.) (note that APA formatting applies only to the References section; you do not need to include a Title Page or Abstract). In-text citations are not required unless a direct quote or close paraphrase is used.