You will watch a full-length feature film OR read a novel and write a paper on how course concepts are demonstrated in the film or novel. Below are guidelines for the film or novel analysis paper. Choose a film or novel that would be appropriate.
Example films: Bridges of Madison County, Little Miss Sunshine, The Notebook, When Harry Met Sally, or your own choice. Examples book: You Before Me, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, or your own choice.
Format:
• Paper should be 5-7 FULL pages of TEXT (not counting cover, References, etc.).
• Number your pages.
• Use 1” margins on all sides and use 10 to 12 pt. font.
• Write in multiple paragraphs and not in one long continuous paragraph.
• Double space the entire document.
• Check spelling, grammar, and mechanics carefully.
• All papers should conform to APA-style-guidelines. Either see the style manual (recommended) or go to a reliable online source such as The Owl at Purdue http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/.
• Make sure you have an introduction, body, and conclusion as well as title page, abstract, and any references.
Content:
• Include a BRIEF (no more than one page) synopsis of the film or book
• Your paper should include an introduction with synopsis, introduction with a preview and thesis statement, and a conclusion with a review and reinforcement of the thesis statement.
• Your task is to identify and apply relevant and appropriate course concepts to the film or novel
• First, as you watch and reflect on the movie or read the novel, look for how course concepts are demonstrated and choose the one(s) you want to focus on and take notes as you watch.
• In your paper, clearly define the concepts you have chosen to work with and discuss how the concepts were demonstrated in the film or novel by providing specific examples. Consider: How is the film or novel interpreted in light of the course material? What can the course material add to an understanding of it?
• You may apply one concept to the film or novel in an in-depth discussion (if there is enough depth for you to be able to do that) or choose more than one to apply to the film in a less extended discussion. You will not be able to apply everything so be selective.
• Papers will be graded based upon how well you meet the following criteria: Format and style and how well you followed directions; how well you chose the concepts to apply; how well you defined the concepts; how well you applied the concepts; and creativity and originality.
