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Paper workshop

Paper workshop. The Final Paper. 5-7 pages (double-spaced) 3 outside sources (2 academic, 1 popular) MLA in-text citation format Any film of your choice Except weekly screenings Pending approval by me (email by Wednesday). Topics. Wide open! Must be argumentative Off-limits Opinion

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Paper workshop

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  1. Paper workshop

  2. The Final Paper • 5-7 pages (double-spaced) • 3 outside sources (2 academic, 1 popular) • MLA in-text citation format • Any film of your choice • Except weekly screenings • Pending approval by me (email by Wednesday)

  3. Topics • Wide open! • Must be argumentative • Off-limits • Opinion • Plot Summary • “Thematic” Analysis • Compare/Contrast • Two films, book vs. film, etc.

  4. Thesis Statement #1 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) is a re-make of the classic 1984 horror film of the same name. PROBLEM: Too Obvious; 7 pages?!

  5. Thesis Statement #2 Avatar is one of the most innovative films of all time. PROBLEM: Yeah? And?

  6. Thesis Statement #3 The Social Network tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg and how he became the world’s youngest billionaire. PROBLEM: Plot summary; No Analysis

  7. Thesis Statement #4 Inception is the best movie of all time. PROBLEM: “How could you possibly know that?” How would you argue that?

  8. Thesis Statement #5 Pretty Woman is a modern day fairy tale. Better, but still has problems: -Obviousness -No formal analysis -No narrative analysis BUT: could work with an ideological approach.

  9. A thesis should… • Lay out a clear argument • Preview the main points of the argument • Each point should relate to ONE central idea • Provide a roadmap as to where the paper is heading (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

  10. Thesis Statement #6 Transformers is a unique film due to the fact that it was based on a popular toy line, contains CGI special effects, and was a blockbuster hit. Better: • Preview of points But: • The “cool stuff” fallacy • Obvious • Points don’t cohere • No analysis

  11. Thesis Statement #7 • In the Mood for Love is a film that features three-point lighting, continuity editing, and sound bridges to tell its story of two lonely people. Better: • Preview of points But: • So what? • Most films use these techniques.

  12. A thesis should • Address what is unique, unusual, interesting, or thought-provoking about your film. • Tell a reader something s/he don’t already know. • Assume the reader (me) has seen your film. • What has your analysis illuminated that someone who hadn’t taken this course would’ve likely missed?

  13. Thesis Statement #8 Black Swan conveys Nina’s fractured mental state through three central motifs: mirrors, doubles, and the metaphor of the swan transformation. 

  14. Thesis Statement #9 • In Do The Right Thing, Spike Lee relies on a highly stylized mise-en-scene to reflect the racial tensions of the Bed-Stuy neighborhood on the hottest day of the year. The film’s costumes, color palate, and blocking all work to visually depict the conflict of the film. 

  15. Thesis Statement #10 • Taxi Driver has drawn a great deal of commentary for its depiction of vigilante violence. But what if the bloodshed that occurs in the film never actually took place? In this paper, I will argue that the acts perpetrated by Travis Bickle were confined to his mind. 

  16. Introductions • Set up the film • Brief (1-2 sentence) plot summary • HOOK your reader • Why would s/he want to keep reading? • Thesis + preview of main points

  17. Top7Ways to Screw This Up

  18. #7: The DVD Commentary • a/k/a the filmmaker’s intent

  19. #6a: The Awards List • Oscars, Golden Globes, Cannes Film Festival, etc.

  20. #6b: Box Office figures • “Avatar is the highest-grossing film of all time!”

  21. #5: The Movie Review • Too much plot summary • Too much opinion • Not enough argument

  22. #4: Poor Citation Style • Learn MLA formatting and how to use it!

  23. #3: Bad Research • No academic sources • Not using sources to support your argument • “Sprinkling” quotes • Adding quotes at beginning or end of paragraphs with no explanation of how it is relevant. • Irrelevant/misapplied quotes • Make sure you understand what the quotation means.

  24. #2: Argument Doesn’t Match Thesis • Outline your paper first. • Each paragraph contribute to your argument.

  25. #1: Excessive Praise • I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR OPINION! • I need you to convince me that your argument is valid.

  26. Sources • 1 Popular • Examples: New York Times, AJC, Newsweek, etc. • 2 academic/scholarly sources • Generally long (15+ pages) • Published by a University press • Contains footnotes and citations • Peer-reviewed RESEARCH GUIDE (on blog)

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