You have received an assignment from your social sciences instructor for a research project. After spending some time at the library, you've started to write, but just aren't sure about your thesis.
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For your second essay you'll be using your newfound semiotic skills to deconstruct an advertisement. Before you start writing, you'll need to find a print advertisement that you feel is particularly compelling and brainstorm some theories as to why you find it compelling and what this says about the consumer culture we live in. This is essentially an argument paper, so you'll need to think of an extremely strong thesis and back it up through close "textual" analysis. In other words, rather than simply answer the usual questions – audience, assumptions, appeal, etc. – I want you stake out an original claim and use the advertisement as evidence.
Your essay should be 5-6 double spaced pages, MLA style. You must present your audience with a clear thesis statement. A successful essay will present a rich knowledge of the issue, a strong thesis, and a well-developed, thoughtful argument.
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