Select two news stories on a current topic from two different countries, preferably with different political beliefs (Examples–Russia and Great Britain; Mexico and the US). You can find these stories in the Nexis database in the library. Write an approximately three page, double-spaced analysis of the articles using discourse analysis principles identified in the class.

Things to consider: how does the language likely influence beliefs and interactions? How do beliefs of the writers shape the language used in the articles?

Here is a sample of the organizational structure of a paper:
A. Introduction: What, Why, How …

1. Briefly describe the topic/ media artifacts.
2. Explain why the particular topic is significant to your reader.
3. Tell your audience how you will provide evidence or demonstrate an analysis of the media artifact—preview the points of the paper.

B. Body of evidence: Describe the media artifact and explain what the audience should notice.

1. Provide a brief, denotative description of what the articles are about.
2. Develop the analysis. You should have a section of the paper for each article.
3. Begin the analysis by identifying the loaded/strong/value laden language in the first article. Then give examples of at least quotes that show the concept—for example, if you are finding immigrants described as animals, you’ll need two different quotes that use animal terms. You should identify three to six different characterizations.
4. Move on to the next article. Write several paragraphs about it, following the instructions in B3.
5. Contrast the language used in each article by providing a summary of the overall effect of the language in each article. Then discuss the ideology wrapped up in each article, the social relations and power present in each article, the interests perpetuated in the text, and the kind of world each example creates
6. Discuss the implications for readers –how would each article affect audience perspectives?

C. Conclusion: State how your analysis provides new insight about the media subject:

1. Remind the audience why the media is important (as stated in your introduction).
2. Review your points
3. Finally, explain how your analysis provides new insight, reveals assumptions, or unintended meanings represented by the selected articles.