Critical media literacy (e.g., how media shapes public understanding of identity, race, gender, childhood, or social issues; who is centered vs. erased; how we resist dominant narratives)

🔍 What You’ll Do:

You’ll take a topic we’ve explored in class and expand one of your previous weekly responses into a thoughtful, structured positionality paper. In this paper, you’ll explore two perspectives on the topic—your own and another one—and use Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (or another developmental framework we’ve studied) to show how different contexts and life experiences shape how people come to see things differently.

This isn’t an argument paper—it’s about deepening your understanding. You’ll practice:

• Connecting your ideas to developmental theory
• Exploring identity and positionality
• Using credible sources
• Thinking critically and fairly across perspective

✍️ What Your Paper Should Include:

Length: 5+ pages (not including title page and reference list)
Sources: At least 6 (readings from class are fine!)
Style: Loosely follow APA basics (Times New Roman 12pt, in-text citations, reference list)
Structure: You may use different headings if helpful; there will be a final paper template to follow otherwise

📚 Suggested Outline:

1. Introduction (1–2 pages)

• What is your topic? Why does it matter?
• Introduce your positionality: How have your identity, culture, or lived experience shaped your view?
• Include a brief explanation of your chosen developmental framework (Bronfenbrenner is the default) for the reader
• Preview the two perspectives you’ll explore ( they need not be opposite perspectives, just different enough so that you must consider another’s experience deeply and respectfully)

2. Your Positionality (1–2 pages)

• Share your point of view, with support from sources
• Use your developmental framework to explain as best as you understand why you see the issue this way
• Include how identity, environment, culture, or media comes into your thinking

3. Another Perspective (1–2 pages)

• Fairly and thoughtfully explore a different point of view
  (e.g., the dominant narrative, a policy position, or a contrasting lived experience)
• Use your developmental framework to explain how someone might come to this view. If you do not understand- get curious vs. judgmental. Do some research. Ask questions and wonder vs. making assumptions. Be sue to use the developmental framework when doing so!
• Back it up with sources where possible

4. Conclusion + Reflection (1 page)

• After using your ecological framework (or other developmental framework), what did you learn about how people come to believe what they believe?
• What will you take from this class as a critical thinker or future educator?