Overview
For this first analysis paper, students are to choose any film they wish, watch it in its entirety and choose ONE pivotal scene in the film to analyze. The scene should be anywhere from two-to-five-minutes in length. Longer scenes can be very challenging to analyze in a short paper such as this, so choose wisely. Remember that you do not necessarily have to choose a film you like. Instead, choose a film that you are passionate about in order to fuel your writing.Here are the basic requirements for the assignment:
3.) A word count must be provided either in the heading or at the end of the paper and be accurate:Analysis papers with falsified word counts, especially actual word counts that are well below the word count provided, will result in a ZERO for the assignment.
4.) The minimum word count for the assignment is 1,250 words.
5.) Your introductory paragraph should include the name of the chosen film, its director, and the year it was made.
6.) The introductory paragraph is one succinct paragraph that sets up a single pivotal sequence for readers by explaining context (i.e. a very brief overview of the film, where the selected sequence occurs in the movie, and why the scene is so impactful) and essential characters who are in the sequence.
7.) The introductory paragraph must also include a clear and effective thesis statement that is underlined.
8.) A brief summary paragraph that provides an overview of the action of the sequence that provides important background information relevant to the analysis
9.) The body of the paper must be a formal analysis of how 3 specific tools of cinema and/or aspects of mise-en-scene were used to forward the narrative of the chosen sequence with strong topic sentences:
Failure to examine a single pivotal sequence from a formal perspective in the analysis paper, including tools used by the director to elicit a response from the audience were identified and interpreted in an academic manner, will result in a ZERO for this set of criteria.
10.) A satisfying concluding paragraph must be included
11.) Paper must be written and formatted in MLA-style format
12.) The writing style of the paper must be clear and free of spelling and grammatical errors