k film

Composition Hints

I. Formulating a thesis statement and writing an opening paragraph.

1. Formulate a strong thesis, the main argument of your paper. Try to state your argument in a sentence or two. Couple your thesis statement with a few sentences of relevant background/introductory statement which place the thesis in context.

2. If your thesis is vague, your whole argument is likely to be vague, too. All paper topics, no matter how specific, require further focusing. You must decide how you will approach the topic--which aspects will you emphasize?

3. Don't be afraid to "give away" your point. State your thesis as specifically as possible; in the rest of your paper, you will go through the details of your argument, giving evidence to support each statement, and making sure that each statement follows from your thesis and leads toward your conclusion.

4. The fact that introduction is the first part of your paper does not mean you have to write it first. In fact, you can come up with your thesis statement and write your introduction only after you have worked through your arguments and supporting textual evidence. Sometimes you will come up with a specific and strong thesis, only after you have written several drafts.

5. In the opening paragraph, stick closely to the question/paper topic you have chosen to answer. You don't need generalizations about "colonialism" or "the oppression of women." You are dealing only with the specific ways in which these issues are treated by the text you are asked to write about.

II. Analysis

1. Your paper is expected to be analytical rather than simply a summary(paraphrase) of the texts or lectures/discussions.

2. All the topics ask you to write about issues, i.e. the whys and hows of things. They ask you to relate different aspects of the text(and/or relate the text to the larger historical context) and propose a hypothesis, make a judgment and/or draw a conclusion about the ways in which the text deals with the issues.

3. When you make a statement or argument about the text, you have to be able to support it with textual evidence, either through quotation or citation. In other words, your analysis of the text must be backed up with evidence you can gather from the text.

4. Summary simply repeats in different language what the original work says.

5. While your essay should consist mainly of analysis, you have to summarize selected plot elements or scenes relevant to your argument. Do it briefly. It is best to indicate some reason before you give selected plot elements.

III. The Process Called Writing

In order to write a good paper, you should be prepared to go through several stages:

1. Planning--reread or look over the text, especially the parts which concern the issues or the paper topics you are writing about, and take notes.

2. Pre-writing/outlining--you don't have to use a formal outline, but you should find some method of organizing your ideas in rough form.

3. Rough drafts--you will need to go through several.

IV. Editing Your Paper

1. Do you state your thesis clearly in the opening paragraph?

2. Make sure your reasoning is sound.

3. Do you make clear the logical progression of your thought?

4. Do you support your argument(s) with specific and appropriate examples?

5. Is your organization effective? Paragraphs should flow from one to another. Are they connected with logical and smooth transitions?

6. Is each paragraph organized around a main point? Do you state the main point in the beginning of each paragraph?

7. Proofread carefully.

8. Create a title.

V. Style

1. When you cite a text, give reference to page number in parentheses within the body of your paper.

2. Stay in the present tense when analyzing a text.

3. Use of "I" should be kept to a minimum.

4. "This" is a word whose referent is often unclear. Be sure that you indicate clearly to what concept or fact in the preceding sentence your "this" refers. This indication will help your readers greatly.

5. Take out at least half your uses of "it" and "is." Make active verbs do the main work of your argument.

Paper # 1

Length: 750 words (minimum)~ 1000 words (maximum) double-spaced, normal margins (1”), 12-point font. (Approximately 250 words per page. Total 3~ 4 pages.) Please do not go over the maximum limit.

--Please respond to BOTH prompts.

--No formal citation needed. (For the issue of citation, please refer to Composition Hints, posted on Canvas, under “General Materials”)

--Please refer to “Composition Hints” (for citation rules etc.) and “Close Reading Techniques” under “General Materials” on Canvas.

About 400 words (1 ½ pages min.)

Analyze the following 4 passages around the idea of the Japanese empire’s policy of assimilating Koreans into its war mobilization efforts during the Asia-Pacific War, i.e., “becoming Japanese” as some scholars have called the process. First, analyze them separately and then connect your analysis of all 4 passages together at the end. Please refer to the notion of Gramscian hegemony (from Hall), Sturken and Cartwright’s definition of “ideology,” and Althusser’s notion of “interpellation.”

1) ‘You were always the smartest among us. But your upbringing still has you in thrall. You were raised in the habits and ways of Western people. You became a Westerner yourself in that Christian school. But we are in a different era now. …We mothers must fix our gaze on the road ahead and relinquish our insignificant minor emotions.’ Hyebong the mother replied: ‘I do not agree. I do not believe the road ahead of me, ahead of all of us, is so clear.’

2) ’When we go to a picture theater and watch the newsreel scenes of the Imperial Army marching to the sound of great cheers and the audience erupts in clapping, he turns to me and asks why I am quiet. ‘Why aren’t you cheering? Aren’t you happy for them?’ He scolds me endlessly….’

3) ‘He’s not my host, he’s the big-nosed Yankee! He’s crying because he’s the Yankee and all of his territories are falling—Hong Kong, Malay, he’s lost them all! He cannot touch us Japanese….’

4) No, they gloried in their nimble boys who reached for the Garuda cards so swiftly no one could stop them. An atmosphere of warmth and pleasure suffused them. Kyongja took up the Garuda pack and began to read from the cards again while Hyebong, Unyong and the boys gathered round. Outside the chill wind blew. But none of them felt the cold.

About 400 words (1 ½ page min.)

Composition Hints

I. Formulating a thesis statement and writing an opening paragraph.

1. Formulate a strong thesis, the main argument of your paper. Try to state your argument in a sentence or two. Couple your thesis statement with a few sentences of relevant background/introductory statement which place the thesis in context.

2. If your thesis is vague, your whole argument is likely to be vague, too. All paper topics, no matter how specific, require further focusing. You must decide how you will approach the topic--which aspects will you emphasize?

3. Don't be afraid to "give away" your point. State your thesis as specifically as possible; in the rest of your paper, you will go through the details of your argument, giving evidence to support each statement, and making sure that each statement follows from your thesis and leads toward your conclusion.

4. The fact that introduction is the first part of your paper does not mean you have to write it first. In fact, you can come up with your thesis statement and write your introduction only after you have worked through your arguments and supporting textual evidence. Sometimes you will come up with a specific and strong thesis, only after you have written several drafts.

5. In the opening paragraph, stick closely to the question/paper topic you have chosen to answer. You don't need generalizations about "colonialism" or "the oppression of women." You are dealing only with the specific ways in which these issues are treated by the text you are asked to write about.

II. Analysis

1. Your paper is expected to be analytical rather than simply a summary(paraphrase) of the texts or lectures/discussions.

2. All the topics ask you to write about issues, i.e. the whys and hows of things. They ask you to relate different aspects of the text(and/or relate the text to the larger historical context) and propose a hypothesis, make a judgment and/or draw a conclusion about the ways in which the text deals with the issues.

3. When you make a statement or argument about the text, you have to be able to support it with textual evidence, either through quotation or citation. In other words, your analysis of the text must be backed up with evidence you can gather from the text.

4. Summary simply repeats in different language what the original work says.

5. While your essay should consist mainly of analysis, you have to summarize selected plot elements or scenes relevant to your argument. Do it briefly. It is best to indicate some reason before you give selected plot elements.

III. The Process Called Writing

In order to write a good paper, you should be prepared to go through several stages:

1. Planning--reread or look over the text, especially the parts which concern the issues or the paper topics you are writing about, and take notes.

2. Pre-writing/outlining--you don't have to use a formal outline, but you should find some method of organizing your ideas in rough form.

3. Rough drafts--you will need to go through several.

IV. Editing Your Paper

1. Do you state your thesis clearly in the opening paragraph?

2. Make sure your reasoning is sound.

3. Do you make clear the logical progression of your thought?

4. Do you support your argument(s) with specific and appropriate examples?

5. Is your organization effective? Paragraphs should flow from one to another. Are they connected with logical and smooth transitions?

6. Is each paragraph organized around a main point? Do you state the main point in the beginning of each paragraph?

7. Proofread carefully.

8. Create a title.

V. Style

1. When you cite a text, give reference to page number in parentheses within the body of your paper.

2. Stay in the present tense when analyzing a text.

3. Use of "I" should be kept to a minimum.

4. "This" is a word whose referent is often unclear. Be sure that you indicate clearly to what concept or fact in the preceding sentence your "this" refers. This indication will help your readers greatly.

5. Take out at least half your uses of "it" and "is." Make active verbs do the main work of your argument.