4 page MLA format essay W/ work cited page

ENGL 1102

Evaluation Argument

Instructions

Due Date: Wednesday, November 20th at 5:00 pm

Goal: Write a four-page essay that evaluates a dystopian novel, film, or television series.

· Choose a novel, film, or television series to analyze

· If it is a novel, you must have access to a hard or electronic copy

· If it is a film, you must have access to a DVD or an online copy

· If it is a television series, you must have access to the entire series (or nearly the entire series) unless you plan to limit your thesis to a particular group of episodes; for example, if you were focusing on a plot limited to one season, a set of five episodes, or the storyline of one character

· There are several options on how to approach your analysis. You will choose an approach early in the process; however, you may always change later or adapt one or more approaches to suit your needs.

· Show how the text (written or video) represents dystopian characteristics

· Show why the text is both worthwhile and problematic to the genre

· Show why a character(s) (or relationship between characters) is important

· Explain how it represents one or two of the dystopian controls

· Explain how it effectively or ineffectively—or both—addresses present day society

· Compare it to Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower

· Compare it to another version (original short story, novel, graphic novel, or another version of the text)

· The essay should be at least four pages (but no more than five pages) and must include:

· An introduction paragraph(s) that introduces the reader to the film and presents the thesis at the end

· You may want to have an introduction of two paragraphs; the first paragraph would introduce your reader to the film or television series, and the second would explain your approach and state your thesis

· A thesis that clearly states your position.

· It will most likely be one or two sentences long. (In some cases, it may be longer.)

· Supporting evidence from the following three types of sources.

· The novel, film or television series

· A review or analysis of the novel, film, or television series from an appropriate source (such as a magazine, newspaper, journal article, book chapter, or reliable website); if you have an issue finding a review, you may use a second journal article or (if approved) any article, book, or book chapter from an appropriate source

· A journal article from a database or the hardcopy of a journal; it must be a minimum of ten pages long. Any exceptions to the length must be approved in writing.

· This may be an article about the novel, film, or television series OR

· It may be an article used to support any element of your thesis. For example, if you are writing about infidelity of a character. You might use a psychology or sociology article that discusses reasons for cheating.

· You may use additional sources; however, it is not required.

· All evidence from outside sources must be properly cited using MLA formatted in-text citations

· A conclusion paragraph that highlights the main ideas of the essay

· A Works Cited (MLA) page containing all sources used as supporting evidence. This page does not count as part of the four-page requirement.