Category: Advice

When it comes to deciphering media, you can break down basically everything into the 5-Step Media Literacy Process.

• Description – Summarize the media and describe to the reader what the media is about, down to the specific details.
• Analysis – Here, you describe to the reader all the patterns you see and create a vivid image to the reader.
• Interpretation – How do you interpret the media? Here you discuss what each pattern means and break down the media as a whole.
• Evaluation – Here, you evaluate the media for the reader and give your interpretation of how it impacts you and how you think
• Engagement – How did people react to the media? Here, you can look up facts, statistics, and other evidence that shows the media was either affective or non affective.

The 5-Step Media Literacy Process helps us determine how a form of media appeals to us and if it is affective at gaining the reader or audience’s attention.

When writing an essay, I find it easiest to begin with choosing a topic. Most people suggest you create a web or planning sheet before hand, but I find it easiest to go with the flow and write as I come up with new ideas for my paper. Sometimes it’s harder to start an essay than to actual write the body and conclusion. Without a stable starting point, it can be hard to find the flow of the writing and can lead to the dreadful writers block.

When I was younger, I would often face a lot of writers block because I hated doing the planning and rough draft part of the essay. I write my best when I can improv and write as I go and with what I’m thinking of in my brain. Writing comes easy to some people, but to others it can be very difficult. Sometimes, one may be better at math than they are writing, but here are some tips that I hope can help someone who may be facing some essay trouble.

1. Choose a topic and stick with it.
2. Write some rough paragraphs. What’s the Introduction about? How many body paragraphs will there be? How will we come to the conclusion?
3. Research your topic!
4. Ask your peers for advice and read other scholarly articles about your topic.
5. Ask yourself some questions: Would I want to read this? What makes my paper stand out? Am I writing down ALL the information about my topic?

Writing can be difficult, but it can also be easy when you stick to a plan. Hopefully these tips help!