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Workshop 6: The Final EssayFilm 3440J: Practice of Film Criticism Spring 2016Write a complete essay on any of the films we have watched this semester. Your essay should be 3-5 pages long 12 point font, double spaced.Remember that your essay should use 1-2 methodological approaches and should include some outside research.You must cite any outside sources you use in the essay.What should the essay include?1. A strong thesis.2. A clear methodology used to approach the essay.3. Outside research (at least 2 sources)4. Textual evidence (including description of narrative, character, mise-en-scene,cinematography, and editing).5. Proper terminology.Be sure to read both the Course Notes and Writing Spotlight for Module 6, as well as other student’s comments on your post, and other posts on Discussion Board before you begin this assignment.
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WRITING SPOTLIGHT: Tips for Writers
Please review all of the Writing Spotlights in Modules 1-6. Below are some tips and things we have seen
come up repeatedly during this semester. You can use them as a checklist during your revision process.
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Avoid overly general or vague introductions. Immediately let your reader know what you will be
saying about the film in question. Do not begin with general statements about the world or even
about the film.
Avoid evaluative statements. “I like/don’t like this movie” does not teach your reader anything
new about the film. Other versions of this are telling the reader how many awards the film has
won, or saying that it is an “important/exciting/heart-wrenching” film. While these are all
important starting points for you as a viewer, and should guide your ideas, they are too vague and
evaluative to help the reader learn about the film.
Cite and describe specific examples. Each paragraph should include a description of a piece of
textual evidence in support of your argument. Be sure that your description doers not simply
“name” an element or aspect of the film, but paints a picture of it in the reader’s mind. A surefire way to do this is to review the terminology list and be sure you are using this terminology
in your description of the element. This terminology allows you to show the reader what you are
seeing on the screen.
Review the instructions and grading rubric before you begin writing and during the revision
process. Too often we have read great, interesting, and well thought out papers that missed a
crucial part of the assignment. Be sure this does not happen to you when a full 20 points are on
the line.
This is a writing class. Grammar and spelling count! Be sure that each sentence contains one idea,
and has a concrete character and action.
Do not begin by repeating the assignment. Begin by directly engaging the reader in your ideas.
Pay attention to peer review. We rarely catch our own mistakes. Let other readers guide your
revision. If possible, share your final paper with someone else who you trust to give you honest
advice about your ideas and writing.
Re-watch the film after you are done writing, being sure you accurately describe the elements
you have used and catching anything you missed in your previous viewings that you may want to
add to your paper.
Be creative! Take a chance on an idea that you have, but leave yourself enough time to start over
if it doesn’t work out.
COURSE NOTES for MODULE 6: FINAL REVIEW
This week you will be tasked with putting together everything you have learned in this class to write a
complete critical essay on any film we have seen these past six weeks. As you proceed, please keep in
mind that the writing process can be broken down into three phases:
1. Preparation/Research. This is the phase where you gather the notes and ideas you will use in
your critical essay. Generally, it will involve the following steps:
a. Prepare to Watch the Film. In this step, you are gathering some information to make your
first film viewing an active and fruitful experience. Read reviews and essays on the film,
find out a little about its production and reception, etc. Then sketch some questions that
will guide you in your viewing. [See Module 1 for more information on this step].
b. Watch the Film. In this first viewing, you are becoming familiar with the film. Pay careful
attention to the plot, characters, themes, and formal elements. Be sure you have a way
to take notes! Jot down some ideas to your questions and mark the times of any scenes,
character, or elements that you think you will use in your essay. [See Module 2 for more
information on this step].
c. Organize your notes and create an outline. Read over your notes and decide what struck
you about the film, and what you will want to write about. Create a full outline of your
essay, including a thesis statement, indications on what textual evidence you will use in
each paragraph, and notes on key terms you will be using. At this step, you should select
a methodology that you will focus on in your essay. [See Module 3, 5]
d. Re-‐watch the film. Now that you have your thesis and outline, re-‐watch the film paying
special attention to the elements you will be writing about, and noting any additional
aspects you missed on your first viewing.
2. Writing. At this point, you are putting your thoughts and notes into full ideas. Although this may
seem like you are merely expanding your notes into sentences, this is in fact among the most
creative and exciting parts of the process. As you write, be open to the ideas that emerge from
the process and be open to changing your outline or even your thesis! However, when you do, be
sure to go back and revise what you have already written so that your essay has the final form:
a. Introduction. The introduction sets out the central question or thesis that your essay will
address, and lets your reader know how you will answer them. [See Module 4]
b. Body. In the body of the essay, you are supporting your thesis using textual evidence from
the film itself. Be sure that each paragraph contains a description of a specific scene or
formal element from the film and that you describe that scene or element using proper
terminology and clearly explain to the reader how it supports your central argument. [See
Module 5]
c. Conclusion. The conclusion should not simply repeat or reiterate the thesis, but instead
explain how, overall, you have proven your central thesis, and perhaps ask some
questions that expand or challenge your argument. [See Module 4]
3. Revision. At this stage, you are going back over what you have written. As with the writing phase,
be open to deleting what doesn’t work, moving things around, or going back to writing new ideas
that come to you during this process. There are a number of different things to look out for:
a. Coherence/Consistency. Do you lay out a central thesis in the introduction, and does
every essay in the body support this thesis with a concrete example or piece of textual
evidence?
b. Voice/Tone. Are you being overly conversational and casual? Is your language expressing
the tone that you want to get across?
c. Terminology. Are you using the proper terminology that you have learned in this course?
Review each of the modules and the associated terminology to be sure that you are using
the proper terminology when called for and that you are using it properly.
d. Writing. Check that you are using the active voice, that every sentence has an active
character and action, that your sentences are concise and clear, and that your grammar
and spelling are impeccable. Review each of the Writing Spotlights for tips on what to
look for in your writing.
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Bicycle Thieves Film
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