the Contextual Audience, the contextual Culture of that audience. Focus on the reason specific elements were changes in each of the films to make it more appealing, engaging to the contextual audience, that make it different from the original film and either enhances or detracts from the original book version.

Do NOT focus on technical or special effects!! This project allows the student to look at aspects of a culture as represented in the two films, in an in-depth analysis. It requires Research into the appeal of the book and each of the films to its contextual audience; do not just speculate on what the appeal may have been from your own reactions (though you can include those).
Part of the “worth” of this assignment is in the organization skills it requires — both in the organization of the text of your paper and of the time it takes to research, analyze and interpret the information.

To get an “A” on the paper, it MUST be 10 pages of “A” quality work — 8 pages of even excellent work is a “B” grade.
Part of the “worth” of this assignment is in the organization skills it requires — both in the organization of the text of your paper and of the time it takes to research, analyze and interpret the information.

To get an “A” on the paper, it MUST be 10 pages of “A” quality work — 8 pages of even excellent work is a “B” grade.

No late papers will be accepted without penalty. Late papers will be dropped in grade for each day late unless pre-approved by instructor.

One copy of the Research Paper needs to be submitted to the Assignment Dropbox, on or before the due date.

THe Turnitin.com link is now automatic, when you submit your paper to the dropbox.

Required:

One NON-Fiction Book source — quoted or paraphrased in the text of your paper.

Your textbook does NOT count! Nor does the book version of your chosen films — since they are not analysis of the two films or research into the contextual culture and audience of each film. Though if the book contains commentary, you can refer to that, but still need an outside source.

Works Cited page.

Other sources, interviews, internet, video, etc. may be used in addition to the one book source as long as they are cited

MLA format for citations — I’m not real strict on which method of citation you use, just as long as I know who you are quoting or paraphrasing.
Format: This paper must be composed in a word processing program, saved as a file and attached to this Dropbox: as a .doc file or .html or .rtf format will also be accepted.

DO NOT USE .odt files, .wp01S or .wp01d files (Word Perfect) or .pdf : these file formats are not acceptable — re-save these files as .html or some kind of .doc file or RTF.
You will graded on your thoughtful use of course concepts in relation to the films you choose.

The purpose of this is to allow the student to develop research techniques and organizational skills. If nothing else, the one thing a college degree should say is “I know how to find the answer! I have research skills.” Seven pages can’t be written off the top of your head — at least for most of us, so seven pages requires you to organize the material in an effective support for your thesis statement.

!!Be sure to check your film choices with me!! — I can help focus your interests, suggest resources and in general keep you from spinning your wheels on a topic that doesn’t work for this paper.

things to consider as your are analyzing story and plot, that are appropriate to this paper.

1. What is the story about?

2. Why do these films appeal to the contextual audience? What are the underlying core elements of the films that have continuing appeal to other audiences?

3. How does each of the films arouse, sustain and satisfy interest by the viewer?

4. What kind of emotions does the film elicit from the audience?

5. What are the important thoughts in the film? Is there an overt “message”? An argument? A theme? Be careful here, since we can never be sure what moral the film-maker had in mind — and sometimes they change their own mind about the meaning of the films! And really we are not looking for a Moral of the story so much as the cultural influences, appeal of the overall theme.
5. What are the important thoughts in the film? Is there an overt “message”? An argument? A theme? Be careful here, since we can never be sure what moral the film-maker had in mind — and sometimes they change their own mind about the meaning of the films! And really we are not looking for a Moral of the story so much as the cultural influences, appeal of the overall theme.

Papers for our class should stress character and genre.

Plotline and narrative analysis should provide a framework in which you discuss character and genre; Synopsis should be a short and well-thought out description of the film to orient the paper. Plotline and synopsis are NOT what your paper is about (or graded on)! Your analysis is what I’m looking for, and grading you on!

Always give examples from the film that support your or arguments, or statements.

Be careful of vague, generalizations (i.e. he was cool, the film was cool, they were mean or ugly, etc.); explain why you think he was cool (and what you mean, specifically, by “cool”); what example from the film supports your opinion?)

— and be careful of sermonizing or being judgmental. Though your personal take on a film might be added in, these are academic assignments!