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Ryan Thompson
Mrs. DeBock
English 4
Essential Question: Do reality television shows promote negative views to the audiences they
are exposed to and are the participants on them affected?
Working Thesis: Reality television programs hinder the audiences perception of who they are
watching.
Refined Thesis: Reality television projects harmful stereotypes about the people who are
represented and areas shown on the various programs and present to the viewer a rose tinted
way of life.
Annotated Bibliography
Breyer, Richard. "Reality TV Has a Negative Influence on Society." Reality TV. Detroit, MI:
Greenhaven, 2008. N. pag. Print.
This source explains the origins of reality television and why it has become so popular
over time and how the themes changed. All reality shows have originated from shows
such as Candid Camera and Americas Funniest Home Videos that are completely
innocent and with good humor in mind. Now reality television focuses on suggestive
themes like drugs, sex, and violence. It shows that the main purpose for reality TV is all
profits. The past president of the American Psychological Association explained that the
general themes are now degradation and humiliation and it is about making the private
public. The source explains that the reason people put themselves in these situations is
because reality television enables the average person to become a star. This source is

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useful to my argument that reality television has a negative influence on people because
it exposes personal lives.

Darling, Cary. "Reality TV Encourages Racial Stereotyping." Reality TV. Ed. Karen F. Balkin.
San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 1
Sept. 2016.
This article was written by Cary Darling who is an entertainment writer for the Miami
Herald. This source discusses how reality television encourages racial stereotyping, especially
in African American men. It recounts that many participants on shows such as CBSs Big
Brother and MTVs The Real World have been kicked off due to hostile behavior, when
there was nothing on film to prove them of inappropriate actions. It shows how African
American men are stereotyped as possessing explosive tempers, being lazy, or overly sexual or
a combination of the above. This is relevant to the paper because it explains how negative these
behaviors are and how it makes black people appear.

"Reality Television Then And Now." Points Of View: Reference Shelf- Reality TV (2014): 1.
Points of View Reference Center. Web. 1 Sept. 2016.
This source shows a plethora of reality television programs and explores the different
types of reality and the realness of them. One of the first big events to be televised is the
Miss America pageant and that event has not gone away since then and is still celebrated
even today. The different themes of programs displayed are home improvement, various
jobs, and competitions. The problem of audiences figuring out the difference between
scripted and unscripted scenes is described here and how shows like The Real World

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were able to seamlessly fit in actual reality and scripted scenes. This source is about the
evolution of reality television and includes the most influential shows that have been
broadcasted.
Reiss, Steven, and James Wiltz. "Fascination with Fame Attracts Reality TV Viewers." Reality
TV. Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. At Issue. Opposing
Viewpoints in Context. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.
This source explains the phenomena that is reality television and why Americans are so
obsessed with it; people want to be famous. People love the concept of winners and
losers and that they are chances for revenge on most shows. The fact that millions of
people watch makes Americans believe that the people they are watching are important
even if they are acting crudely. Another aspect that makes people want to watch reality
tv more is the competition of the shows that makes participants build alliances and then
backstab one another to go even further. This source helps prove why people watch
reality tv in the first place and the desires American audiences crave that the shows
supply.

Riley, Rochelle. "Reality TV Exploits Fame Seekers." Reality TV. Ed. Karen F. Balkin. San
Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 13 Sept.
2016.