Research Paper: Essay 1
This assignment must be submitted to Turnitin.com [to check for plagiarism] by March 1, 2010 at 7am. You can access your essay later that afternoon and make appropriate revisions. You must submit a hard copy to me of your final draft to be graded by noon on March 3, 2010. You must go to turnitin.com and join this class.
The turnitin ID for this course is: 3075320
The password is: worldlit10
Assignment: Choose one of the text/film combinations that we have studied in class so far [The Iliad & Troy or The Symposium & Hedwig and the Angry Inch] and compare the written text with the film.
Directions: The essay must be 3-4 (at least 3 but no more than 4) pages in length and should strictly follow MLA style guidelines, including: double-spacing (of everything!); 12 point Times New Roman font, upper left corner header; a unique, centered title; correctly incorporated internal citations; a "Works Cited" page, etc.
Specific Guidelines: You must incorporate at least 8 academic sources in your paper. These sources include: 3 academic, scholarly articles about the book; 3 academic, scholarly articles about the film; as well as citations from both the book and the film. You must use the LIBRARY databases to do your research-- you will NOT find academic articles by using a "google" type search. To find scholarly articles on the books, you may use MasterFile Premier, or a similar library-based search. Such journals that you may find include: The Explicator, Modern Language Notes, Film/Literature Quarterly, etc. You may also use books, or chapters in books, that discuss the story. You may find articles about the film in similar academic journals-- ones devoted to "film". However, it is acceptable to use film reviews, so long as they are previously published and written by well-known critics from well-known newspapers and magazines, such as The Chicago-Sun Times, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Rolling Stone, etc. You may access these articles through www.imdb.com; type in your film, then click on "external reviews". Not all reviews that come up are scholarly-- please double check where they are from. Your "Works Cited" page should contain at least 8 entries. If you cite more in your essay, then please cite everything that you use!
You must bring all of your sources to class for approval. Please print out the articles (and the citation information!). A good test as to whether or not an article is usable is 1. Does it have an author? 2. Was it published in a journal, magazine, newspaper-- not just the internet? 3. Do I see volume/issue numbers and other relevant citation information?
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please highlight areas of your articles that you are using-- or bookmark sections of the books. Every idea presented in the essay that is not your own must be CITED-- PROPERLY.
Suggestions: In writing this essay, you might ask yourself the following questions: 1. Are there more similarities or differences between the texts? If there are more similarities, then state this, and move on to focusing on the differences. After you've discussed the differences, bring the comparison back together by the end. If there are more differences, then state this, and move on to focusing on the similarities. Bridge them together in the end. 2. What are the goals of each? Was the filmmaker's intention to make a film inspired by the text, to interpret the text, to bring it to life faithfully? 3. In what ways does the film honor or dishonor the text? 4. How do the parts of the film (script, acting, cinematography, directing, costume, music, etc.) work to give life to the text? 5. Be sure to quote parts of the book and parts of the film right next to each other to relay your comparison.
If you are writing on "Sympsium/Hedwig", then you might want to take 3 or 4 speeches from "Symposium" and show how they are applied to the film. How does Pausanias' ideas of "commonly" and "heavenly" love come into play in the film, for example? How does Aristophanes? Put it into context. If you are writing on "Iliad/Troy", then you might pick 3 or 4 major departures in the film from the text. You might discuss the differences in male bonds, role of women, the spirit of the outcome of each; you decide. Just make sure that you have evidence from the texts and from the research to support your claims.
Your essay should be mainly analytical (spelling out the similarities/differences between the text and film with evidence), but an evaluative element should also be present. In other words, you might provide a judgment about "turning the speeches into music" or "adding the mythology onto the story"; in other words, you will place value on the film as it relates to the text. However, this should be done OBJECTIVELY. All essays should be written in the 3rd PERSON, objective voice. This means that we don't use "I" or "YOU" in the essay... EVER.
Also, remember that historical information should be discussed using past tense, but the stories and films themselves-- the plot points-- are referred to in PRESENT TENSE.
Your essay should be no less than 5 paragraphs long but no more than 6. A complete paragraph contains at LEAST 5 sentences, but in a paper of this length, the average paragraph will contain 7-8 sentences. Balance your paragraph lengths. Make sure to include a topic statement for each body paragraph. Remember to introduce, state, and analyze each quote; include at least 3 quotes per body paragraph, and cite all 8 sources. Transition to the next paragraph.
QUOTES: You will be using quotes form the text, the film, and the research to illustrate your points. Please refer to the chart below for correct citation format:
The Iliad: book #.line # : Example: (Homer 24.5-8).
The Symposium: author line #: Example: (Aristophanes 12).
The films: (Film)
Journal articles / Film Reviews / Books: Author Pg #: Example: (Ebert 4).
Interviews: (Mitchell, 2001). That is interviewee's name and year of the interview.
If you print the article from the online library database and don't have page numbers, then you must use paragraph numbers. Example: (Ebert, par. 5-7). You will have to number the paragraphs yourself.
Please avoid LONG QUOTES. This is a short essay, so we don't need long quotes. No quote should exceed 3 sentences-- please use only the parts of the quote that are relevant to your discussion point. There should be approximately 3 quotes per body paragraph.
Hanging quotes is a common mistake that students make; be sure to properly work the quotes in to your own sentences and cite correctly. Examples:
Incorrect: "Achilles kept grieving for his friend, the memory burning on... he longed for Patroclus' manhood" (24.5-8). The passionately charged language of this quote expresses the love Achilles felt for Patroclous, which seems to extend beyond mere friendship.
Correct: The Iliad is filled with passionately charged language that expresses the emotion Achilles feels for Patroclus, such as when Achilles "kept grieving for his friend, the memory burning on... [longing] for Patroclus' manhood" (24.5-8); this type of language seems to indicate a relationship between two men that extends beyond mere friendship.
Notice that my words are in present tense-- Achilles "expresses", not "expressed". Notice that the first quote is "hanging"-- it is stuck there alone with no introduction. Notice that the second is a complex sentence; it is introduced, quoted, and explained all in one shot. Notice the punctuation of the quotes-- please refer to the example when in doubt! If you need to alter or add a word in a quote so that it makes sense (mechanics or grammar) within the context of your own sentence, then please put the change in brackets.
Here is a link to an essay guide for Comp/Lit. While not all of it applies to your essay, much of it does. You must have a clearly stated thesis in the introduction, and each body paragraphy must begin with a clearly stated topic sentence. You should focus on 1 topic per paragraphy. An essay of this length typically has between 5-8 paragraphs. Your paragraphs should be balanced in length (no overly long or very short paragraphs). A paragraph is incomplete if it contains less than 5 sentences.
http://complitnotes.weebly.com/essay-1.html
Please refer to the MLA guide and the grammar guide on this website... the links are located on the home page.
Due Dates:
F 19 Feb: Essay 1 Topics-Library Research
M 22 Feb: Poetry: "Song of Songs", "Saphho", "Love of You..." (52)
W 24 Feb: "The Apology of Socrates" () & Dante's Stages of Hell
F 26 Feb: "Poetics" (799-804) & Research Paper Sources & Outline Due
Unit 2: Old & Middle English Lit: [LO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6]
M 01 Mar: Rough Draft Due
W 03 Mar: Essay 1 Due; Exam Review
F 05 Mar: Midterm Exam
NOTES ON COMPARISON: Establish a context for your discussion. Follow this pattern:
Introduce the idea, incorporate a quote to back up the idea, then explain the idea.
In a paper of this length, body paragraphs are usually around 10 sentences in length. This allows for a topic sentence, introduction of a point, quotes to back up the point, explanation of the point, another introduction of another similarly related point, more quotes, more explanation, and transition.
THESIS: This must bridge the 2 works in a comparative way; example: While Richard Brooks takes some liberties with Tennesee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and does not remain completely faithful to the text, the film is a brilliant cinematic reinvention of the compelling story. [Notice that it establishes a difference "not completely faithful" and a similarity "cinematic reinvention of the compelling story"-- we know that the crux of the story remains]. Avoid saying, "There are simliarities and differences between the book and the movie"-- this is too vague. Also, try to avoid the three-pronged thesis: "This paper will discuss the similarities and differences of plot, character, and theme", etc...
Your intro. must set up context-- get out the main gist and purpose of the story here... because this particular work is largely about broken relationships and secrets, i'd have to establish that here in the introduction.
TOPIC SENTENCES: These must define the "topic" of the paragraph and must examine some aspect of the story/film in a comparative way. Do NOT use summary statements as a topic sentence-- these do NOT define the topic of the paragraph. For example, a topic sentence on character might sound like this: "The actors in Brooks' film fully capture the dynamic characters in Williams' play". Then, i'd go on to discuss how Williams characterizes his leads and how the actors fit into those roles. Then i'd do the same with minor characters. I'd include some commentary from my film reviews that refers to "acting" and "roles" and perhaps a quote or two from my scholarly research that refers to characterization. I would also include a quote from the film and from the movie to establish who these characters are.
Examples of a NON-Topic sentence: "Brick and Maggie have marital problems". OR "Achilles decides to fight the war". These are too specific to the text... they are "plot points".
TRANSITION SENTENCES: Your tansition must wrap up the topic of the paragraph and lead into the topic of the next. A sample transition might be: "While Williams creates intensely human characters, he also infuses his play with a life-like setting that also acts as a supporting character."
Next Topic: Every aspect of the setting acts as a symbolic parallel to the emotions and actions presented in the play, and this is not lost in the film adaptation. [I would go on to discuss the southern plantation, the stormy weather, and the bedroom and how each symbolically relates to what is going on in the play.]
I would follow the same pattern-- at least 1 more body paragraph, then the conclusion...
The CONCLUSION: Should pick up where the intro. left off. What can be learned from these works-- esp. from studying them together-- alongside one another? Why have these works stood the test of time-- and inspired filmmakers all these centuries later? How do these seemingly different media come together to examine the same THEMES (identify these themes)? A good idea is to refer back to your title here and bring your paper full circle. Always re-mention the titles and author/director in the closing paragraph.
ESSAY CHECKLIST:
Do you have a full header in the upper left-hand corner?
Do you have a centered title?
Is everything double-spaced?
Do you have 1 inch margins, 5 space indentions?
Are your paragraphs balanced-- approximately 7 - 10 in each paragraph?
Does each body paragraph contain quotes and citations that are correctly formatted and not hanging?
Is there a clear thesis, clear topics, good transitions?
Are the author/director mentioned in the intro. and concl.?
Are the titles (book and film) underlined?
Read each sentence. Does it make sense? Does it flow?
Are you using complex sentences as opposed to short, choppy ones?
Are you using commas and semi-colons correctly?
Are your subjects clear? Are you using dangling/misplaced modifiers, or overusing words like "Things" and "it"?
Do you have a Works Cited sheet? Are there at least 8 entries, in ABC order?
Are they correctly formatted? (use your handbook).
Is every entry double-spaced and the 2nd line a hanging indent of 5 spaces?
Are they all GOOD sources-- sources from scholars/experts and your primary sources?
Did you use them ALL in your essay? (you must)
Make sure that you are not simply summarizing the plot. You should state the major plot points and introduce the characters in the introduction; this usually takes only 1-3 sentences to accomplish. If you are stuck on the introduction, then start by generally discussing the theme of the story/film. Then transition from the general "idea" [like love, soulmates, or war] to the specific plot of the story/film. Finally, give some evaluative insight to the story/film. Review the questions for consideration for more ideas.
If you print articles from the internet and they have no page numbers to cite, then number the paragraphs and cite them; example: (Ebert, par. 4) or (Ebert 18): the first is for paragraphs, the second is for page numbers.
paragraphs and cite them; example: (Ebert, par. 4) or (Ebert 18): the first is for paragraphs, the second is for page numbers.
The turnitin ID for this course is: 3075320
The password is: worldlit10
Assignment: Choose one of the text/film combinations that we have studied in class so far [The Iliad & Troy or The Symposium & Hedwig and the Angry Inch] and compare the written text with the film.
Directions: The essay must be 3-4 (at least 3 but no more than 4) pages in length and should strictly follow MLA style guidelines, including: double-spacing (of everything!); 12 point Times New Roman font, upper left corner header; a unique, centered title; correctly incorporated internal citations; a "Works Cited" page, etc.
Specific Guidelines: You must incorporate at least 8 academic sources in your paper. These sources include: 3 academic, scholarly articles about the book; 3 academic, scholarly articles about the film; as well as citations from both the book and the film. You must use the LIBRARY databases to do your research-- you will NOT find academic articles by using a "google" type search. To find scholarly articles on the books, you may use MasterFile Premier, or a similar library-based search. Such journals that you may find include: The Explicator, Modern Language Notes, Film/Literature Quarterly, etc. You may also use books, or chapters in books, that discuss the story. You may find articles about the film in similar academic journals-- ones devoted to "film". However, it is acceptable to use film reviews, so long as they are previously published and written by well-known critics from well-known newspapers and magazines, such as The Chicago-Sun Times, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Rolling Stone, etc. You may access these articles through www.imdb.com; type in your film, then click on "external reviews". Not all reviews that come up are scholarly-- please double check where they are from. Your "Works Cited" page should contain at least 8 entries. If you cite more in your essay, then please cite everything that you use!
You must bring all of your sources to class for approval. Please print out the articles (and the citation information!). A good test as to whether or not an article is usable is 1. Does it have an author? 2. Was it published in a journal, magazine, newspaper-- not just the internet? 3. Do I see volume/issue numbers and other relevant citation information?
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please highlight areas of your articles that you are using-- or bookmark sections of the books. Every idea presented in the essay that is not your own must be CITED-- PROPERLY.
Suggestions: In writing this essay, you might ask yourself the following questions: 1. Are there more similarities or differences between the texts? If there are more similarities, then state this, and move on to focusing on the differences. After you've discussed the differences, bring the comparison back together by the end. If there are more differences, then state this, and move on to focusing on the similarities. Bridge them together in the end. 2. What are the goals of each? Was the filmmaker's intention to make a film inspired by the text, to interpret the text, to bring it to life faithfully? 3. In what ways does the film honor or dishonor the text? 4. How do the parts of the film (script, acting, cinematography, directing, costume, music, etc.) work to give life to the text? 5. Be sure to quote parts of the book and parts of the film right next to each other to relay your comparison.
If you are writing on "Sympsium/Hedwig", then you might want to take 3 or 4 speeches from "Symposium" and show how they are applied to the film. How does Pausanias' ideas of "commonly" and "heavenly" love come into play in the film, for example? How does Aristophanes? Put it into context. If you are writing on "Iliad/Troy", then you might pick 3 or 4 major departures in the film from the text. You might discuss the differences in male bonds, role of women, the spirit of the outcome of each; you decide. Just make sure that you have evidence from the texts and from the research to support your claims.
Your essay should be mainly analytical (spelling out the similarities/differences between the text and film with evidence), but an evaluative element should also be present. In other words, you might provide a judgment about "turning the speeches into music" or "adding the mythology onto the story"; in other words, you will place value on the film as it relates to the text. However, this should be done OBJECTIVELY. All essays should be written in the 3rd PERSON, objective voice. This means that we don't use "I" or "YOU" in the essay... EVER.
Also, remember that historical information should be discussed using past tense, but the stories and films themselves-- the plot points-- are referred to in PRESENT TENSE.
Your essay should be no less than 5 paragraphs long but no more than 6. A complete paragraph contains at LEAST 5 sentences, but in a paper of this length, the average paragraph will contain 7-8 sentences. Balance your paragraph lengths. Make sure to include a topic statement for each body paragraph. Remember to introduce, state, and analyze each quote; include at least 3 quotes per body paragraph, and cite all 8 sources. Transition to the next paragraph.
QUOTES: You will be using quotes form the text, the film, and the research to illustrate your points. Please refer to the chart below for correct citation format:
The Iliad: book #.line # : Example: (Homer 24.5-8).
The Symposium: author line #: Example: (Aristophanes 12).
The films: (Film)
Journal articles / Film Reviews / Books: Author Pg #: Example: (Ebert 4).
Interviews: (Mitchell, 2001). That is interviewee's name and year of the interview.
If you print the article from the online library database and don't have page numbers, then you must use paragraph numbers. Example: (Ebert, par. 5-7). You will have to number the paragraphs yourself.
Please avoid LONG QUOTES. This is a short essay, so we don't need long quotes. No quote should exceed 3 sentences-- please use only the parts of the quote that are relevant to your discussion point. There should be approximately 3 quotes per body paragraph.
Hanging quotes is a common mistake that students make; be sure to properly work the quotes in to your own sentences and cite correctly. Examples:
Incorrect: "Achilles kept grieving for his friend, the memory burning on... he longed for Patroclus' manhood" (24.5-8). The passionately charged language of this quote expresses the love Achilles felt for Patroclous, which seems to extend beyond mere friendship.
Correct: The Iliad is filled with passionately charged language that expresses the emotion Achilles feels for Patroclus, such as when Achilles "kept grieving for his friend, the memory burning on... [longing] for Patroclus' manhood" (24.5-8); this type of language seems to indicate a relationship between two men that extends beyond mere friendship.
Notice that my words are in present tense-- Achilles "expresses", not "expressed". Notice that the first quote is "hanging"-- it is stuck there alone with no introduction. Notice that the second is a complex sentence; it is introduced, quoted, and explained all in one shot. Notice the punctuation of the quotes-- please refer to the example when in doubt! If you need to alter or add a word in a quote so that it makes sense (mechanics or grammar) within the context of your own sentence, then please put the change in brackets.
Here is a link to an essay guide for Comp/Lit. While not all of it applies to your essay, much of it does. You must have a clearly stated thesis in the introduction, and each body paragraphy must begin with a clearly stated topic sentence. You should focus on 1 topic per paragraphy. An essay of this length typically has between 5-8 paragraphs. Your paragraphs should be balanced in length (no overly long or very short paragraphs). A paragraph is incomplete if it contains less than 5 sentences.
http://complitnotes.weebly.com/essay-1.html
Please refer to the MLA guide and the grammar guide on this website... the links are located on the home page.
Due Dates:
F 19 Feb: Essay 1 Topics-Library Research
M 22 Feb: Poetry: "Song of Songs", "Saphho", "Love of You..." (52)
W 24 Feb: "The Apology of Socrates" () & Dante's Stages of Hell
F 26 Feb: "Poetics" (799-804) & Research Paper Sources & Outline Due
Unit 2: Old & Middle English Lit: [LO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6]
M 01 Mar: Rough Draft Due
W 03 Mar: Essay 1 Due; Exam Review
F 05 Mar: Midterm Exam
NOTES ON COMPARISON: Establish a context for your discussion. Follow this pattern:
Introduce the idea, incorporate a quote to back up the idea, then explain the idea.
In a paper of this length, body paragraphs are usually around 10 sentences in length. This allows for a topic sentence, introduction of a point, quotes to back up the point, explanation of the point, another introduction of another similarly related point, more quotes, more explanation, and transition.
THESIS: This must bridge the 2 works in a comparative way; example: While Richard Brooks takes some liberties with Tennesee Williams play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and does not remain completely faithful to the text, the film is a brilliant cinematic reinvention of the compelling story. [Notice that it establishes a difference "not completely faithful" and a similarity "cinematic reinvention of the compelling story"-- we know that the crux of the story remains]. Avoid saying, "There are simliarities and differences between the book and the movie"-- this is too vague. Also, try to avoid the three-pronged thesis: "This paper will discuss the similarities and differences of plot, character, and theme", etc...
Your intro. must set up context-- get out the main gist and purpose of the story here... because this particular work is largely about broken relationships and secrets, i'd have to establish that here in the introduction.
TOPIC SENTENCES: These must define the "topic" of the paragraph and must examine some aspect of the story/film in a comparative way. Do NOT use summary statements as a topic sentence-- these do NOT define the topic of the paragraph. For example, a topic sentence on character might sound like this: "The actors in Brooks' film fully capture the dynamic characters in Williams' play". Then, i'd go on to discuss how Williams characterizes his leads and how the actors fit into those roles. Then i'd do the same with minor characters. I'd include some commentary from my film reviews that refers to "acting" and "roles" and perhaps a quote or two from my scholarly research that refers to characterization. I would also include a quote from the film and from the movie to establish who these characters are.
Examples of a NON-Topic sentence: "Brick and Maggie have marital problems". OR "Achilles decides to fight the war". These are too specific to the text... they are "plot points".
TRANSITION SENTENCES: Your tansition must wrap up the topic of the paragraph and lead into the topic of the next. A sample transition might be: "While Williams creates intensely human characters, he also infuses his play with a life-like setting that also acts as a supporting character."
Next Topic: Every aspect of the setting acts as a symbolic parallel to the emotions and actions presented in the play, and this is not lost in the film adaptation. [I would go on to discuss the southern plantation, the stormy weather, and the bedroom and how each symbolically relates to what is going on in the play.]
I would follow the same pattern-- at least 1 more body paragraph, then the conclusion...
The CONCLUSION: Should pick up where the intro. left off. What can be learned from these works-- esp. from studying them together-- alongside one another? Why have these works stood the test of time-- and inspired filmmakers all these centuries later? How do these seemingly different media come together to examine the same THEMES (identify these themes)? A good idea is to refer back to your title here and bring your paper full circle. Always re-mention the titles and author/director in the closing paragraph.
ESSAY CHECKLIST:
Do you have a full header in the upper left-hand corner?
Do you have a centered title?
Is everything double-spaced?
Do you have 1 inch margins, 5 space indentions?
Are your paragraphs balanced-- approximately 7 - 10 in each paragraph?
Does each body paragraph contain quotes and citations that are correctly formatted and not hanging?
Is there a clear thesis, clear topics, good transitions?
Are the author/director mentioned in the intro. and concl.?
Are the titles (book and film) underlined?
Read each sentence. Does it make sense? Does it flow?
Are you using complex sentences as opposed to short, choppy ones?
Are you using commas and semi-colons correctly?
Are your subjects clear? Are you using dangling/misplaced modifiers, or overusing words like "Things" and "it"?
Do you have a Works Cited sheet? Are there at least 8 entries, in ABC order?
Are they correctly formatted? (use your handbook).
Is every entry double-spaced and the 2nd line a hanging indent of 5 spaces?
Are they all GOOD sources-- sources from scholars/experts and your primary sources?
Did you use them ALL in your essay? (you must)
Make sure that you are not simply summarizing the plot. You should state the major plot points and introduce the characters in the introduction; this usually takes only 1-3 sentences to accomplish. If you are stuck on the introduction, then start by generally discussing the theme of the story/film. Then transition from the general "idea" [like love, soulmates, or war] to the specific plot of the story/film. Finally, give some evaluative insight to the story/film. Review the questions for consideration for more ideas.
If you print articles from the internet and they have no page numbers to cite, then number the paragraphs and cite them; example: (Ebert, par. 4) or (Ebert 18): the first is for paragraphs, the second is for page numbers.
paragraphs and cite them; example: (Ebert, par. 4) or (Ebert 18): the first is for paragraphs, the second is for page numbers.
