Essay #1:  Assignment and Guidelines

Length and Due Dates 

Length:  3.5-4.5 pages, formatted as described below
First Draft Due: Friday, April 14, by 4:00 p.m. at Kimberlee's office (Padelford A-16)
Conferences: Week of April 17
Final Draft Due:  Monday, April 24, with draft and conference materials attached 

Assignment 

You may write your essay on one of the following topics: 

1)  Compare and contrast the attitude toward modernity displayed in the films of two silent clowns--Keaton, Chaplin, or Lloyd.  While your paper should focus on two films viewed in their entirety, you may briefly refer to excerpts shown in class. Your essay may discuss one or more of the aspects of modernity outlined in class:  technology, especially technologies of representation, the emergence of the middle class and a new class mobility, the transformation of urban space, consumerism, and advertising.

2)  John Belton argues that American comedy engages that which society represses.  Analyze one or two of the films viewed during the first three weeks in light of Belton's thesis.  You may investigate the social tensions at play in the film(s) or use your analysis of the film(s) to refute Belton's argument.

3)  Without the materials of language and other sounds, silent comedians had to develop a language of comedy that was entirely visual.  Did this visual language find expression in the development of comic personae and gag types unique to silent cinema?  In your answer, focus on at least two films.

Guidelines

1) Because your audience has viewed the film(s), you do not need to summarize plot.  Instead, concentrate on analyzing the film and offering examples of specific scenes, narrative details, or cinematic techniques that support your claims. 

2) Essay #1 requires you to make an argument about the film(s).  A successful essay will pose a clear, defendable argument regarding the chosen topic and develop that argument over the course of the essay.  All summary, paraphrase, quotation, or description of images should be offered as part of an  analysis.  Each reference to the film(s) or reading should support your argument.  Follow the links for more information on writing about film and reading a film sequence.

3) You may draw on class reading in your essay.  If you do so, you must indicate the author's name and the page in parentheses at the end of the sentence in which you use the material.  You need not provide a works cited list.  For more information on citing sources, click here.  For information on avoiding plagiarism, click here.

4) Please submit essays on 8 ½" by 11" paper, titled, paginated, typed and double-spaced, with one-inch margins.  In the upper right hand corner of the first page, include your name, the course number, the assignment number, and the due date; this information should be single-spaced.  You may use a 10 or 12 point Arial, Bookman, Century Schoolbook, or Times New Roman font for your paper.

5) If you have questions or concerns about writing this essay or want to discuss ideas, please speak with us during office hours. We have set up an electronic discussion space for writers who would like to discuss ideas-in-progress with Kimberlee and other writers. Click here to go to the space.  Click here for instructions on using the space.

Grading

To view grading criteria for this assignment, click here.  Failure to submit a draft will bring a reduction of .5 in the paper grade, as will failure to show up for the conference; .5 will be deducted for each day a final draft is late, including weekends and holidays.