ASSIGNMENT
The assignment is to write a macrocosmic adaptation analysis essay that compares a literary text and its filmed adaptation. The assignment is a research project that results in a critical and theoretical essay; hence, the essay must be scholarly in content and form, style and tone, written in the MLA (Modern Language Association) Style, and contain proper in-text citations of secondary sources.
TOPIC
1) Select a literary text (novel, short story or play) and its filmed adaptation:
2 OPTIONS!
Either it is: Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
Or: Devil in a Blue Dress/novel & film
2) Find at least four (4) scholarly and professional secondary sources: two about your literary text, and two about the filmed adaptation of your literary text. The list of secondary sources could include a combination of the following types of sources: article from a scholarly or academic journal; popular review article from credible magazines, newspapers, or websites; and a book source.
3) Read again your selected literary text and carefully watch its filmed adaptation, at least twice, and take notes while watching the film the 2nd or even 3rd time.
4) And, with as complete a reference to your selected literary text, filmed adaptation, and scholarly secondary sources as possible, write a macrocosmic adaptation analysis that critically compares your literary text and its filmed adaptation.
As a theoretical and critical paper, the adaptation analysis willcombine the following two analytical approaches that determine how the two texts create meaning(s):
a) a textual analysis that explores how the formal and stylistic systems work in relation to the overall structure and thematic concerns of the text: story, plot, characters, narrative structure, writing technique(s) for the literary text; and story, plot, characters, cinematography, sound, editing, and narrative structure for the filmed adaptation.
b) a contextual analysis that looks at how the meaning in each text is affected by the context (historical, economic, cultural and institutional factors) in which the literary text was written and published, and the filmed adaptation produced and distributed.
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NOTE ON SECONDARY SOURCES Secondary sources may include reading materials used for this class. Avoid using questionable sources taken from the internet. The internet can certainly be used to start your research and to access scholarly databases where you’ll find full-text versions of articles from newspapers, popular periodicals, and academic journals. However, much of the material found on the internet in blogs, individual review sites, and social media is of questionable worth and usually lacking in references, citations, and legitimate fact-checking. Thus, they cannot be used as secondary sources for this type of scholarly assignment. Any paper submitted with such web-based sources, will receive an automatic failing grade. Look for credible critical analyses of your chosen literary text and filmed adaptation that support or compliment your analysis and interpretation of the works. However, do not simply repeat the analysis as presented in the sources–develop your own critical response using your own critical observations and examples. Properly acknowledge and cite your secondary sources in the MLA style of citation. Hence, Proper in-text citations of all sources listed as secondary sources or ‘works cited’ are required in the essay. Papers that fail to follow these requirements for secondary sources will not be accepted and will result in a failing grade for this assignment. |
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NOTE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: STANDARDS OF WRITING AND PLAGIARISM The Department of Cinema-Television Arts expects the highest standard of excellence and ethics from all students. Papers must use academic standards of writing and demonstrate clarity, organization, thoroughness, and insight. Hence, you should avoid using a casual or informal style and tone in your writing; rather, use the MLA style of academic writing, and properly cite your secondary sources in your paper. Keep in mind that you are writing an analytical essay that is making an argument about the possible meanings of the literary text and its filmed adaptation, or the many possibleinterpretations the two texts offer. Therefore, there is no right or wrong meaning to a text. You will be making an argument for the interpretation of the two texts (literary text and film) in light of your own thesis and analysis of the specific aspects you are considering about the two. However, any claim about a possible meaning of a text must be supported by valid evidence and examples from each text. Hence, you will need an over-riding thesis and a series of sub points which make arguments in support of that thesis. A well-written paper has a strong, clear, well-thought-out thesis or main idea that is presented concisely in the opening paragraph and then developed in an orderly fashion throughout the body of the paper. All significant main ideas included within the body of the paper should be included in the order in which they appear in the opening paragraph. Finally, a well-written paper is free from grammatical errors, typos and misspellings.
PLAGIARISM‼️‼️‼️ Plagiarism, cheating and submission of others’ work as your own will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is representing, intentionally or knowingly, the words, ideas, or work of another as one’s own. In researched writing and project, you can draw on the works of other researchers and writers. However, you must acknowledge their contributions to your paper by citing them properly. Please, know that the violation of this policy is an academic dishonesty that is severely punished by law (see “Legal Notices” in your University Catalog) and will result in a failing grade for the class. All suspected cases of plagiarism or any form of academic dishonesty will be turned over to the Dean’s office for disciplinary action. LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER Please, note that if you have difficulty writing papers or have never written an analytical type of paper before, there are several resources on campus to help you in this endeavor. Search them out and utilize them if necessary. I will always be personally available to assist you with any questions or problems that you may have. Get started immediately and finish early if you would like me to review your draft.
CRITERIA FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE PAPER Paper will be evaluated based on the academic quality of your writing including the quality of your argumentation, logic, mechanics, organization, clarity and level of analysis. Your grade is based largely upon your ability to write a good and strong critical paper, which will be graded based on the following: clarity of thesis: a concise and strong outlining of an appropriate critical and theoretical thesis. (20%) strength of argument: strong critical and theoretical stand on your thesis; strong line of argumentation or reasoning; clear development of ideas; cohesiveness of writing; specific and concrete supporting details and examples; appropriate use of the weekly readings as secondary sources; strong application of theory. (30%) organization: organized structure; clear transitions and even flow of discussion; engaging and accurate introduction and conclusion. (30%) 4. style: correct grammar, punctuation, word choice, and spelling. All assignments must be thoroughly proofread; grammar, spelling, syntax, punctuation, style and capitalization errors will lower your score significantly. At the college level, papers with grammatical errors, wrong spellings, wrong punctuation, and typographical errors are unacceptable. (20%)
TIPS FOR WRITING AN ANALYTICAL PAPER Follow a clear and coherent line of argument throughout the essay. Always analyze and write about the film and book in the Present Tense. Italicize or underline the titles of film and books (e.g. Frankenstein, or Frankenstein). Call the characters by their character name, not their real (person/star) name; that is, he is “Easy Rawlings” not “Denzel Washington”; or you might refer to the character as “Denzel Washington’s character.” Use either both the first and last name or only last name of an author of a book or a director of a film; do not use his or her first name only. More importantly, avoid informal tone and style of discussion as well as impressionist or merely emotional descriptions such as, “I like when. . .” or “I hate when. . .” or “it sort of makes me feel like. . .” or “I can’t describe it but. . .” in this type of assignment. Also, vague assertions like “such and such lends a strange intensity to so and so. . .” or “it seems that the filmmaker felt that. . .”, or “I think that the filmmaker meant to or wanted to” do not cut it as analysis unless strongly backed up with concrete explanations and clear references to the film or book. Simple declarative sentences may be boring to write but they are usually more meaningful to the reader, and they help present your ideas in a much clearer and stronger way. |