Television Ratings Analysis Essay

Introduction: If you watch television, you have most certainly noticed the television rating in the top left corner of your television screen. It appears at the very beginning of a television show and then disappears after the first minute or so. If you don't catch it at the beginning then you never do know the rating of the television show you may be watching. What does the rating mean? What is the basis for the rating? How accurate is it? Do viewers really understand the rating system? These questions and many more are viable questions as we move ahead into a time when television shows are produced with moral ambiguity; a time when television is often used as a babysitter for young children; a time when the boundary line between reality and fantasy is becoming more and more unclear; and a time when televisions shows endorse more sexual immorality and filthy language than any R rated movie showed 40 years ago.

Purpose of the Essay: The purpose of this essay is for you to examine two television shows with a critical eye in regard to the rating applied to that show.

Rating Scale: A copy of the rating scale used to rate television shows is attached. You can learn more about the television rating system from the PTA web site at http://www.pta.org/programs/nbcguide.htm.

Directions: Watch two television shows. Make note of the rating of each show. As you watch the show, refer to the rating guidelines. Critically exam whether or not the rating applied was accurate, appropriate, adequate, and advantageous.

Were there scenes in the show containing violence, sexual innuendoes, or language that should have been classified as a higher rating? If so, the rating applied might not be accurate. Did the material seem a little too risqué for the age group recommended for these shows? If so, the rating might not be appropriate. Likewise, the rating could be too harsh. Is the scale adequate? Maybe the scale is too harsh or too easy. It could be that you believe the TV14 rating needs to include stricter guidelines. Lastly, was the rating advantageous? Did it help in anyway?

The Four A Words:

Accuracy: means the tv show met the guidelines of the rating as described in the guidelines

Appropriate: In your opinion, is the tv show appropriate for the audience the rating system says it is appropriate for.

Adequate: Is the overall rating system adequate. Are there enough ratings and/or doe the ratings “do the job?”

Advantageous: Was there any advantage to knowing the rating? Was it helpful?

Getting Started Writing: If you've watched your two television shows with a critical eye and you have the rating guide nearby, then you should be ready to start writing. Remember that this is an essay. You will have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your introduction will state the purpose of your essay, it will tell the two shows you watched, and it will reference the rating scale. The body paragraphs will be where you discuss those four 'A' words: accurate, appropriate, adequate, and advantageous. Remember to address each of those for the two shows you watched. Finally, you need to write the conclusion. Bring your paper full circle by referring back to what you wrote in your introduction, but this time you will close out your paper. Make your final impression.

Additional requirements: You must include examples from the two television shows in order to support your reasoning for those four 'a' words. The essay can be handwritten, but typed is better. Lastly, you should have a minimum of 750 words.