Essay On Decoding The Adult World In The Films

O’Healy & Young Fall 2020

Essay 1: Exploring Children Decoding the Adult World

This paper is your first opportunity to discover and actively engage in a scholarly conversation about the films you watch in this class. In preparation, you will have viewed each film carefully, perhaps more than once, taking notes on production aspects (where was the film produced, and when?), historical context, plot, characterization, setting, cinematography, and so on. As a viewer, you may also provide your personal response to the film.

Some of the details mentioned above are already evident in the listing of the films on the syllabus (where and when each film was produced) and other details are provided in the readings. It is important both to have read the critical texts associated with each of the relevant films and to undertake your own research for this paper.

Reflecting on what other scholars have already written about the films, consider how you can carry the conversation forward by exploring how the child characters decode the adult world. Although we want to learn about the existing scholarly discussion of these films, we are also interested in your contributions to the conversation.

Specifications:

1. 3-4 pages

2. MLA format

a. Double spaced, Times New Roman size 12 font, 1” margins, proper heading, and Works Cited page, etc.

b. See EasyWriter pg. 118-67 and OwlPurdue MLA formatting online https://bit.ly/2QsRhXQ)

3. Sources: You will need a minimum of 3 scholarly, peer-reviewed sources for this first paper.

a. You must use at least one source assigned as in-class reading. This means assigned readings will directly relate to this paper.

b. You must also find at least one of your own sources.

c. You must also find one source from the bibliography of another source. This could be from the assigned reading or your own research.

4. Annotated Works Cited Page: For each source, create an excellent MLA citation. Take time to really perfect your Works Cited formatting here, as you will be graded strictly on adherence to MLA, and merely copying the source from a web tool or other source can too easily lead you astray.

As you find solid sources to bring into the conversation, create an accurate citation for each source. Beneath each source include the following:

i. Summarize the source’s main argument and evidence (1 maybe 2 sentences)

ii. Evaluate the ethos of the author (1 sentence)

iii. Explain how this work illuminates, supports, contests, or addresses your topic (1 maybe 2 sentences)

iv. Puts this work in conversation with others in the annotated bibliography. (1-4+ sentences) **

The Steps:

After reviewing the films, your notes, assigned readings, and this prompt once more, it is time to begin researching. Using the films themselves and the concept of children decoding (or trying to interpret) the adult world, begin to research what scholars are saying about these topics through LMU’s Library Onesearch and Google Scholar. Then, follow your curiosity! What is interesting, surprising, or begging for more research? Use your curiosity as a confirmation of interest, and there you will find an academic conversation worth joining. This will be the topic that will guide you to a thesis statement.

With sources identified, read, and solidified as essential elements in the conversation of your paper, lay them out in MLA formatting for the Works Cited page and write the annotations.

With the annotations complete, you will be positioned to see your sources’ ideas separately from you own. Now it’s time to write. You may choose to create an outline at this point, prior to tackling the full draft, or you may begin writing. Keep in mind the ideal format for ordering this paper:

1. Introduction funneling to Thesis.

2. Introduction to the scholarly conversation (utilizing much of what you highlighted in the annotations).

3. Connecting the ideas of scholars with your own analysis—aka joining the conversation. Include a few main points, and don’t be afraid to reference the scholars you’ve now introduced. Also, be sure to use not only the scholars, but also the films themselves as evidence for your claims (although you must be careful not to attribute real-life validity to a film text that is, after all, a representation and not a window into reality).

4. Conclude the paper, reviewing the topic, specific discussion, your contributions, and perhaps suggesting the next step of study in this scholarly conversation.

DUE DATES: Except for the peer review materials, all submissions must be a PDF. Peer review materials must be uploaded as a docx.

Draft 1: September 20, by 11 p.m. to Brightspace

Peer Review Edits & Worksheet: September 22, by 11 p.m. to Brightspace via Discussion Board

Final Draft: September 27, by 11 p.m. to Brightspace

Grading & Rubric

This paper is worth 11% of your final grade. The entire paper will be strictly graded on adherence to directions. This is about process, not product alone. Carefully read the prompt several times, especially once more before turning it in, and pay careful attention to the rubric, below.

15 points First Paper Draft : Complete, clean, properly submitted on time.

5 points Peer Review Edits: Quality reader feedback in comments, no silly mistakes left unflagged, no ambiguous advice (“I’m pretty sure this is wrong… look it up” is not acceptable. You are the editor!)

5 points Peer Review Worksheet: Follows all instructions, clearly reflects careful consideration, complete.

15 points Final Paper Draft: Complete, clean (clear of any track changes), properly submitted on time.

10 points Technicalities: Proper length and use of MLA formatting guidelines.

15 points Sources: Minimum number of sources met & following prompt specifications.

10 points Annotations: Include all necessary points and include proper MLA works cited page citations.

25 points Paper Content: Includes a clear introduction, thesis statement, source engagement, personal analysis grounded in evidence, and conclusion.

**Note: If you do not turn in the first draft on time, you will not be allowed to participate in the peer review process. This means you can earn a maximum of 75% on this paper.