Length and Due Dates

Length:  4 pages, formatted as described in the "Requirements" section of the Web site 
First Draft Due: Friday, August 11, by noon at Kimberlee's office (Padelford A-16) or via email
Final Draft Due: Friday, August 18, by 4:00 p.m. in Kimberlee's office; commented first draft must be attached 

Assignment 

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

1)  Explicate a scene or short sequence of scenes from a film viewed during weeks four through nine, analyzing how the scene(s) key narrative and cinematic element(s) (editing, sound, mise-en-scene, cinematography) reflects the film's construction of race or gender.  As you develop your analysis, consider how the selected scene fits into the film as a whole.  Does it contain a motif that recurs throughout the film?  Does it introduce a key theme?  Does it foreshadow or echo elements of another scene?  Possible scenes for analysis include:

• the sequence of scenes accompanying Jo's final voiceover in Chan is Missing
• Cheryl's trip through the archive in The Watermelon Woman
• Leeloo's reconstruction in The Fifth Element, or any scene with Rubi Rohd
• Rudy's pursuit of the French woman in Born in East L.A., or the scene of him teaching the "OTMs"
• Mina's picnic with Demetrius's family in Mississippi Masala, or Jay's argument with Demetrius
• the bus scene in Smoke Signals

3) You may develop your own topic, analyzing one or two of the films viewed during weeks four through nine.  Your topic should address both themes and formal techniques studied in the course.  Before writing on your own topic, you must have the topic approved.

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 #2 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. 

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. 

4) You may not write on a film you have already analyzed in Essay #1.

5) If you have questions or concerns about writing this essay or want to discuss ideas, please speak with me during office hours. 

Grading 

The essay will be graded according to these criteria.  Failure to submit a draft will bring a reduction of .5 in the paper grade; .3 will be deducted for each day a final draft is late, including weekends and holidays.