Paper Structure:
Each paper is divided into three parts. Please label each part clearly and keep them separate:
Part One—the idea: In this part (roughly a third of your paper) you need to describe the idea/concept/argument (by the relevant political theorist) that you are going to connect to the film. You must cite only one idea/concept/argument. For example, for the first paper, you will explain the idea/concept/argument from Machiavelli’s Prince that you will eventually connect to The Godfather if you chose to write your paper based on Module Two (Module three is the other option). Do not discuss the film in this section.
Part Two—the film: Describe the part/scene of the film that you are going to cite and link to the idea/concept/argument developed in Part One (no more than a third of your paper). Do not discuss the theorist’s idea/concept/argument in this section.
Part three—link the idea to the film: In this part explain how the theorist’s idea (e.g., Machiavelli) developed in Part One applies to Part Two of your paper (roughly a third to half of your paper). This is the most important section of your paper where you will synthesize (not repeat) Part One and Two and provide a thorough analysis and/or argument, allowing you to demonstrate your ability to apply, and critically engage, the theoretical insights of this course.
Grading Criteria for Papers:
- Papers are primarily graded based on a student’s demonstration of their ability to understand/interpret/critically engage relevant ideas/concepts/arguments and apply them to analyzing popular culture & films.
- Papers must be between 600 and 700 words, double-spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins and proper in-text citation in order to receive full credit.
- You cannot have direct quotes from any text (any direct quotes will result in significant grade penalties). A direct quote is a part of someone’s writing that you include in your writing, putting it in quotation marks and providing a reference for it. The following is a direct quote: “In a majoritarian system the only winners in elections are the citizens who happen to be in the majority” (Dahl, How Democratic, p. 107). To avoid direct quotes, you need to paraphrase the ideas of an author in your own words. In the case of the above example, you can write: In a country where the party which receives the largest number of votes wins the election, the only winners are the citizens who belong to that party (Dahl, How Democratic, p. 107). Although they can guide you, you should not cite my lectures for this assignment.
- Make sure that you cite the text and/or the film whenever you mention what someone says/claims/etc. Use the following example for citing: Machiavelli believes/says/thinks/argues that cruelty is good... (Machiavelli, the Prince, p. 133).
At the end of your paper, give a full citation of your sources in the following way: Author’s last name, author’s first name; title in italics (the city where the book was published, publisher: date of publication).
To cite the films, use the following format: In the opening scene, we get a preview of who is really in charge (The Godfather, 1972, 24:03-26:18)
- Your submission is checked using Turnitin. Turnitin checks for plagiarism from online sources and if your paper has been already submitted to fulfill the requirements for this or another course at CSUSM. Papers that plagiarize typically result in an F for the assignment and further academic sanctions. So, when in doubt, ask or just site.
View Rubric
| 472 Paper Rubric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
| Essay Quality view longer description | 80 pts Superior Shows exceptional understanding by utilizing material from the readings to effectively analyze the film. Demonstrates strong critical thinking and originality of thought. Provides a connection that goes above and beyond the obvious. Very well-written and free of mistakes.77 pts Excellent Shows strong understanding by utilizing material from the readings to analyze the film. Demonstrates positive elements of critical thinking and originality of thought. Provides a complete analysis that addresses all relevant features of the associated concept, idea, etc. Well-written and generally free of mistakes.72 pts Good Shows good understanding by using materials from readings to analyze the film. Demonstrates a concerted attempt to think critically and use originality of thought. Provides an analysis that addresses most, if not all, of the relevant features of the idea, concept, or institution being applied. Writing is solid, but may contain mistakes.65 pts Satisfactory Shows adequate understanding by using some materials from the readings to analyze the film. Demonstrates some attempt to think critically and/or use originality of thought. Analyses is underdeveloped. Writing could use some improvement.55 pts Needs Improvement Shows a somewhat vague understanding and makes little to no reference to the readings when analyzing the film. Minimal attempt made to think critically or show originality of thought. Connection and analysis are undeveloped. Writing needs improvement.40 pts Needs Vast Improvement Shows an inaccurate understanding and fails to utilize material from the readings. No attempt was made to think critically or show originality of thought. Connection and analyses are undeveloped or incomplete. Writing needs vast improvement.0 pts No Marks | / 80 pts |
Essay Offers Examples & Evidence view longer description | 10 pts Superior Superior use of evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view, primarily drawn from the class and well-integrated throughout the essay.8 pts Excellent Excellent use of evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view, primarily drawn from the class.7 pts Good Good use of evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view.5 pts Satisfactory Satisfactory use of evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view, which may be too vague or general.3 pts Needs Improvement The essay needs to better use evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view, unclear if the student is familiar with the material.2 pts Needs Vast Improvement The essay lacks evidence and examples that support the essay's point of view, unclear if the student is familiar with the material.0 pts No Marks | / 10 pts |
Essay Offers Novel Connection & Analysis view longer description | 10 pts Superior Submission does a superior job of not only making a novel connection between the film and the course, but also demonstrates an exceptional degree of understanding, critical thinking, and effort using evidence from the film and the textbook8 pts Excellent Submission does a excellent job of not only making a novel connection between the film and the course and demonstrate a good degree of understanding, critical thinking, and effort evidence from the film and/or the textbook7 pts Good Submission does a good job of not only making a novel connection between the film and the course and demonstrate a good degree of understanding, critical thinking, and effort evidence from the film and/or the textbook5 pts Satisfactory Submission does a satisfactory job of making a novel connection between the film and the course, but needs to demonstrate more understanding, critical thinking, and effort.3 pts Needs Improvement Submission makes some a connection, but it is either vague, unclear, or is written in such a way that it is difficult for the reader to understand the connection that is trying to be made or does not seriously engage with the text, film, or lectures2 pts Needs Vast Improvement Submission fails to make a quality connection that is either vague, unclear, or is written in such a way that it is difficult for the reader to understand the connection that is trying to be made or does not seriously engage with the text, film, or lectures0 pts No Marks | / 10 pts |
Instructions view longer description | 0 pts Needs Improvement Exam only partially follows the exam instructions (-5 points)0 pts Needs Vast Improvement Exam does not follow several of the exam instructions (-10 points) | / 0 pts |
Total Points: 0MODULE TWO: “Keep your Friends Close but Your enemies Closer”: Machiavelli & Michael CorleoneAfter successfully completing this learning module, students will be able to:
Introduction to this week's module:Student's often come to this class with some exposure to Machiavelli. However, as we will see, Machiavelli, and his associated insights and contributions to political theory, are more nuanced than conventional wisdom may have us believe. Indeed, we can see these insights expressed in what is considered to be one of the most influential films of all time, The Godfather. Pay close attention, relax your existing assumptions, and let's get a better picture of how truly influential Machiavellian thought is on our popular culture! Module Two SummaryNow that you have read Machiavelli, you should have a firm understanding of why it is difficult to pin down his true motivation for writing the Prince. Indeed, unlike films, such as the Godfather, where the director gives us insight into the internal thinking of characters, we will never really know what Machiavelli was up to. There is a whole school of thought, hermeneutics, that tries to tackle this thorny issue, but that is for another class. Indeed, not know Machiavelli's motives has hardly diminished the impact his thinking has had on political theory, governance, and popular culture. Next week we get a significant contrast with Kant, who puts one's motive at the center of his moral philosophy.
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