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Shakespeare​ ​in​ ​Film ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Paper​ ​1​ ​instructions

Paper​ ​1​ ​assignment​ ​instructions​​ ​-

● 20%​ ​of​ ​final​ ​grade ● 3-5​ ​double-spaced​ ​pages​ ​(If​ ​for​ ​some​ ​reason​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​write​ ​a​ ​longer​ ​paper,

talk​ ​to​ ​me​ ​first!) ● on​ ​any​ ​of​ ​the​ ​films​ ​assigned​ ​in​ ​the​ ​class​ ​or,​ ​with​ ​permission,​ ​another​ ​adaptation

of​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​plays​ ​we​ ​will​ ​read​ ​(e.g.,​ ​​The​ ​Lion​ ​King​​ ​adapts​ ​​Hamlet​,​ ​and​ ​there​ ​are several​ ​well-known​ ​​Romeo​ ​and​ ​Juliet​​ ​adaptations​ ​from​ ​the​ ​last​ ​several​ ​decades)

Choose​ ​​one​​ ​of​ ​the​ ​following​ ​options:

1)​ ​Film​ ​review

This​ ​assignment​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​move​ ​beyond​ ​a​ ​description​ ​of​ ​film techniques​ ​and/or​ ​theory​ ​by​ ​evaluating​ ​an​ ​entire​ ​film.​ ​A​ ​film​ ​review​ ​judges​ ​the​ ​quality of​ ​a​ ​film​ ​and​ ​provides​ ​enough​ ​information​ ​to​ ​support​ ​the​ ​writer’s​ ​evaluation.

Good​ ​reviews​ ​offer​ ​an​ ​overview​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film​ ​somewhere​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​text, followed​ ​by​ ​a​ ​detailed​ ​description​ ​of​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​scenes,​ ​film​ ​techniques,​ ​and/or​ ​details about​ ​the​ ​acting,​ ​script,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​elements​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​filmmaking.​ ​Don’t​ ​write​ ​about​ ​the whole​ ​film​ ​chronologically!​ ​Instead,​ ​shape​ ​your​ ​paper​ ​and​ ​your​ ​interpretation​ ​of​ ​the film,​ ​elaborating​ ​on​ ​the​ ​details​ ​that​ ​develop​ ​your​ ​point​ ​of​ ​view.​ ​This​ ​doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​that you​ ​should​ ​ignore​ ​details​ ​that​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​contradict​ ​your​ ​reading,​ ​however.​ ​You​ ​should also​ ​address​ ​contrary​ ​evidence​ ​or​ ​counter​ ​arguments,​ ​but​ ​explain​ ​why​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​negate your​ ​argument.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​also​ ​want​ ​to​ ​concede​ ​some​ ​points;​ ​that​ ​is,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​want​ ​to highlight​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film’s​ ​strengths​ ​even​ ​though​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not​ ​recommending​ ​it​ ​overall. In​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​judge​ ​the​ ​film,​ ​but​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​done​ ​so​ ​with​ ​equanimity​ ​and​ ​by offering​ ​strong​ ​evidence​ ​to​ ​support​ ​your​ ​reading,​ ​the​ ​piece​ ​will​ ​not​ ​come​ ​off​ ​as off-puttingly​ ​opinionated​ ​or​ ​overly​ ​biased.​ ​You​ ​should​ ​also​ ​strive​ ​to​ ​draw​ ​on​ ​the concepts​ ​and​ ​terminology​ ​of​ ​film​ ​studies​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​as​ ​precise​ ​an​ ​analysis​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film​ ​as possible.​ ​And​ ​be​ ​sure​ ​to​ ​mention​ ​any​ ​particularly​ ​striking​ ​details​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film,​ ​such​ ​as unusual​ ​editing,​ ​costumes,​ ​acting​ ​style,​ ​color,​ ​etc.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​also​ ​certain​ ​conventions that​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​followed​ ​in​ ​review​ ​writing,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​may​ ​want​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at​ ​several​ ​reviews​ ​to familiarize​ ​yourself​ ​with​ ​them.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​you’ve​ ​included​ ​a​ ​plot​ ​synopsis​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early portion​ ​of​ ​your​ ​review,​ ​but​ ​be​ ​careful​ ​of​ ​revealing​ ​key​ ​surprising​ ​choices​ ​or​ ​plot​ ​twists.

2)​ ​Critical​ ​analysis

The​ ​analytical​ ​paper​ ​differs​ ​from​ ​the​ ​film​ ​review​ ​in​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​primarily​ ​evaluative. Rather,​ ​this​ ​assignment​ ​allows​ ​you​ ​analyze​ ​film​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​its​ ​social,​ ​political,​ ​and ideological​ ​contexts​ ​by​ ​focusing​ ​on​ ​a​ ​close​ ​reading​ ​of​ ​the​ ​text.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​apply​ ​the methodology​ ​of​ ​film​ ​studies​ ​and/or​ ​critical​ ​theory​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​make​ ​an​ ​argument​ ​about the​ ​logic​ ​or​ ​aesthetic​ ​of​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​movie.​ ​You​ ​will​ ​not​ ​have​ ​room​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​the whole​ ​movie,​ ​but​ ​should​ ​choose​ ​two​ ​or​ ​three​ ​scenes​ ​or​ ​themes​ ​that​ ​support​ ​your​ ​reading of​ ​the​ ​movie​ ​or​ ​some​ ​aspect​ ​of​ ​it.​ ​You​ ​should​ ​demonstrate​ ​how​ ​techniques​ ​contributes

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Shakespeare​ ​in​ ​Film ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Paper​ ​1​ ​instructions

to​ ​the​ ​overall​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film​ ​so​ ​that​ ​you’re​ ​conscious​ ​of​ ​your​ ​thesis​ ​through​ ​the entire​ ​paper.​ ​While​ ​this​ ​is​ ​not​ ​technically​ ​a​ ​research​ ​paper​ ​(i.e.,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not​ ​required​ ​to include​ ​and​ ​assess​ ​other​ ​scholarship),​ ​you​ ​will​ ​find​ ​it​ ​useful​ ​to​ ​read​ ​some​ ​recent scholarship​ ​on​ ​the​ ​film​ ​to​ ​familiarize​ ​yourself​ ​with​ ​other​ ​interpretations,​ ​which​ ​you​ ​can then​ ​engage​ ​with.​ ​This​ ​will​ ​also​ ​allow​ ​you​ ​to​ ​better​ ​understand​ ​how​ ​scholars​ ​of​ ​film structure​ ​and​ ​support​ ​their​ ​arguments.​ ​Pay​ ​particular​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​how​ ​scholars​ ​begin and​ ​end​ ​their​ ​articles,​ ​as​ ​these​ ​are​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​do​ ​well.​ ​Neither​ ​should​ ​simply​ ​summarize your​ ​argument.

Either​ ​option​ ​should:

● have​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​and​ ​explicit​ ​thesis​ ​statement​ ​or​ ​claim​ ​(it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​required​ ​that​ ​this​ ​be expressed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​last​ ​sentence​ ​of​ ​your​ ​introduction,​ ​though​ ​that​ ​is​ ​frequently​ ​a good​ ​choice,​ ​but​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​use​ ​signposting​ ​so​ ​that​ ​your​ ​reader​ ​doesn’t​ ​fail​ ​to see​ ​the​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​that​ ​sentence,​ ​wherever​ ​it​ ​appears)

● make​ ​use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​vocabulary​ ​of​ ​film​ ​studies​ ​and/or​ ​the​ ​strategies​ ​of​ ​one​ ​or​ ​more critical​ ​theories​ ​to​ ​support​ ​your​ ​interpretation​ ​and/or​ ​evaluation

● meet​ ​the​ ​expectations​ ​of​ ​your​ ​particular​ ​genre,​ ​context,​ ​and​ ​audience​ ​-​ ​you​ ​learn to​ ​do​ ​this​ ​by​ ​paying​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​how​ ​others​ ​are​ ​writing​ ​for​ ​that​ ​same​ ​genre, context,​ ​and​ ​audience,​ ​and​ ​imitating​ ​them

● be​ ​reasonably​ ​error-free​ ​-​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​grade​ ​with​ ​a​ ​red​ ​pen​ ​in​ ​hand​ ​or​ ​seek​ ​out grammatical​ ​missteps,​ ​but​ ​if​ ​errors​ ​of​ ​proofreading,​ ​editing,​ ​or​ ​grammar​ ​distract me,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​affect​ ​my​ ​evaluation​ ​(spellcheck​ ​is​ ​literally​ ​built-in​ ​to​ ​your​ ​word processor;​ ​please​ ​use​ ​it!)

Due​ ​dates

1)​ ​Draft​ ​1,​ ​in​ ​extended​ ​prose​ ​or​ ​outline​ ​form​​ ​-​ ​due​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​class​ ​10/20 in​ ​hard​ ​copy​ ​(printed​ ​or​ ​hand-written)​ ​(NB​ ​we​ ​will​ ​have​ ​informal​ ​group​ ​peer​ ​review​ ​in class​ ​that​ ​day,​ ​meaning​ ​your​ ​draft​ ​or​ ​outline​ ​will​ ​be​ ​read​ ​and​ ​assessed​ ​by​ ​several random​ ​classmates;​ ​if​ ​you​ ​want​ ​your​ ​paper​ ​to​ ​be​ ​anonymous,​ ​don’t​ ​put​ ​your​ ​name​ ​on​ ​it. You’ll​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​it​ ​after​ ​class.)

In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​following​ ​the​ ​basic​ ​assignment​ ​requirements,​ ​either​ ​first​ ​draft​ ​option should:

● have​ ​a​ ​succinct​ ​thesis​ ​statement​ ​or​ ​claim​ ​expressed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​and​ ​complete sentence

● have​ ​multiple​ ​reasons​ ​that​ ​explicitly​ ​support​ ​the​ ​thesis​ ​(how​ ​many​ ​depends​ ​on your​ ​argument)

● show​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​counter-arguments​ ​and​ ​other​ ​possible​ ​interpretations, whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​address​ ​them​ ​at​ ​length

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Shakespeare​ ​in​ ​Film ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Paper​ ​1​ ​instructions

● organize​ ​the​ ​reasons​ ​according​ ​to​ ​some​ ​logical​ ​principle​ ​(i.e.,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​know how​ ​they​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​and​ ​have​ ​given​ ​some​ ​thought​ ​to​ ​why​ ​you’ve​ ​put them​ ​in​ ​the​ ​order​ ​you​ ​did)

● demonstrate​ ​some​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​audience​ ​(I​ ​and​ ​your​ ​classmates​ ​are​ ​your audience:​ ​what​ ​do​ ​we​ ​know,​ ​what​ ​will​ ​we​ ​need​ ​explained​ ​or​ ​summarized,​ ​what​ ​do we​ ​care​ ​about,​ ​what​ ​are​ ​we​ ​interested​ ​in,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​are​ ​you​ ​going​ ​to​ ​get​ ​and maintain​ ​our​ ​attention?)

● include​ ​at​ ​least​ ​two​ ​questions​ ​for​ ​your​ ​readers​ ​about​ ​places​ ​where​ ​you​ ​are struggling​ ​or​ ​unsure​ ​-​ ​the​ ​more​ ​specific​ ​the​ ​better:​ ​i.e.,​ ​‘do​ ​I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​address​ ​the counter​ ​argument​ ​to​ ​this​ ​point?’;​ ​‘does​ ​this​ ​reason​ ​actually​ ​support​ ​my​ ​thesis?’; ‘is​ ​the​ ​relationship​ ​between​ ​these​ ​reasons​ ​clear?’;​ ​‘is​ ​there​ ​a​ ​better​ ​example​ ​for this​ ​reason?’​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​get​ ​you​ ​more​ ​useful​ ​responses​ ​than​ ​‘is​ ​this​ ​interesting?’

If​ ​doing​ ​the​ ​prose​ ​draft​ ​option,​ ​paper​ ​should​ ​be​ ​800-1200​ ​words​ ​in​ ​complete​ ​sentences. Introduction​ ​and​ ​conclusion​ ​are​ ​not​ ​required​ ​(these​ ​are​ ​often​ ​best​ ​left​ ​for​ ​last​ ​/​ ​later drafts).

If​ ​doing​ ​the​ ​outline​ ​option,​ ​bullet​ ​points​ ​and​ ​incomplete​ ​sentences​ ​are​ ​fine​ ​after​ ​the thesis​ ​statement,​ ​but​ ​there​ ​should​ ​be​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​given​ ​serious​ ​thought​ ​to the​ ​ideas.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​length​ ​requirement,​ ​but​ ​aim​ ​for​ ​3-4​ ​well​ ​developed​ ​reasons​ ​with examples​ ​and​ ​evidence.​ ​As​ ​with​ ​the​ ​draft,​ ​introduction​ ​and​ ​conclusion​ ​are​ ​not​ ​required.

Draft​ ​1​ ​is​ ​not​ ​graded​ ​but​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​feedback​ ​from​ ​at​ ​least​ ​three​ ​students​ ​that​ ​should guide​ ​your​ ​revisions.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​available​ ​in​ ​office​ ​hours​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​feedback​ ​on​ ​any​ ​stage​ ​of the​ ​paper,​ ​from​ ​brainstorming​ ​to​ ​final​ ​polishing.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​also​ ​make​ ​use​ ​of​ ​Temple’s writing​ ​center​ ​for​ ​additional​ ​support.

2)​ ​Revised,​ ​polished​ ​paper​ ​due​ ​11/3​ ​in​ ​class,​ ​in​ ​hard-copy,​ ​printed​ ​and double-spaced.​​ ​Single-​ ​or​ ​double-sided​ ​printing​ ​is​ ​fine.​ ​Use​ ​a​ ​standard​ ​12-point​ ​font with​ ​standard​ ​1”​ ​margins.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​include​ ​a​ ​title.​ ​Any​ ​citations​ ​or​ ​references should​ ​follow​ ​MLA​ ​format.

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Shakespeare​ ​in​ ​Film ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Paper​ ​1​ ​instructions

Evaluation​ ​criteria

You​ ​will​ ​earn​ ​a​ ​failing​ ​grade​ ​if​ ​the​ ​paper:

● does​ ​not​ ​follow​ ​the​ ​assignment​ ​guidelines ● is​ ​late ● does​ ​not​ ​contain​ ​detailed,​ ​concrete​ ​examples ● does​ ​not​ ​make​ ​use​ ​of​ ​film​ ​concepts​ ​and​ ​terminology​ ​and/or​ ​critical​ ​and

theoretical​ ​principles

You​ ​will​ ​earn​ ​in​ ​the​ ​D/C​ ​range​ ​if​ ​the​ ​paper:

● is​ ​submitted​ ​on​ ​time​ ​and​ ​addresses​ ​the​ ​requirements​ ​of​ ​the​ ​assignment,​ ​but​ ​is otherwise​ ​incomplete,​ ​lacking​ ​in​ ​detail,​ ​or​ ​too​ ​short

● has​ ​substantial​ ​problems​ ​with​ ​grammar​ ​or​ ​typos ● includes​ ​concrete​ ​examples​ ​but​ ​does​ ​not​ ​develop​ ​them​ ​substantively ● shows​ ​evidence​ ​of​ ​critical​ ​thinking​ ​and​ ​logical​ ​reasoning ● attempts​ ​to​ ​use​ ​film​ ​terminology​ ​and/or​ ​theoretical​ ​principles,​ ​though​ ​it​ ​may​ ​fall

short​ ​of​ ​full​ ​engagement

You​ ​will​ ​earn​ ​in​ ​the​ ​C+/B​ ​range​ ​if​ ​the​ ​paper:

● is​ ​submitted​ ​on​ ​time​ ​and​ ​follows​ ​the​ ​requirements​ ​of​ ​the​ ​assignment ● has​ ​minimal​ ​typos​ ​and​ ​reasonably​ ​solid​ ​control​ ​of​ ​grammar​ ​and​ ​language ● addresses​ ​a​ ​scene​ ​or​ ​element​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film​ ​in​ ​substantive​ ​detail ● shows​ ​clear​ ​evidence​ ​of​ ​critical​ ​thinking ● contains​ ​technical​ ​language​ ​and/or​ ​theoretical​ ​principles​ ​explained​ ​in​ ​depth ● demonstrates​ ​evidence​ ​of​ ​engagement​ ​and​ ​thoughtfulness:

○ a​ ​good-faith​ ​first​ ​draft​ ​or​ ​outline​ ​for​ ​peer​ ​review ○ has​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​argument​ ​that​ ​is​ ​supported​ ​logically​ ​with​ ​reasons​ ​and​ ​evidence ○ uses​ ​signposting​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​oriented ○ shows​ ​a​ ​grasp​ ​of​ ​the​ ​elements​ ​shaping​ ​the​ ​genre​ ​(review​ ​or​ ​analysis)

You​ ​will​ ​earn​ ​in​ ​the​ ​B+/A​ ​range​ ​if​ ​the​ ​paper:

● meets​ ​all​ ​the​ ​criteria​ ​for​ ​the​ ​C+/B​ ​paper ● asks​ ​insightful​ ​and​ ​relevant​ ​questions​ ​of​ ​the​ ​film​ ​and​ ​explores​ ​the​ ​issues

surrounding​ ​those​ ​questions ● gets​ ​beyond​ ​obvious​ ​or​ ​superficial​ ​analysis​ ​to​ ​comment​ ​on​ ​larger​ ​implications ● makes​ ​connections​ ​with​ ​ideas​ ​or​ ​details​ ​from​ ​assigned​ ​readings​ ​or​ ​class

discussions

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