Prompt 2: Many films, while not typically understood as comedies, nevertheless
include elements of comedy and opportunities for laughter. Choose one such film
and, using specific examples, construct an argument for how the film uses
superiority, relief, incongruity, and, if applicable, Bergsonian theory to underscore
the impact of what you believe the implicit meaning of the film to be. Some
examples of films I’m thinking of here are: Get Out (2017), There Will Be Blood
(2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), A Serious Man (2009) Indiana Jones and
the Temple of Doom (1984), Good Will Hunting (1997), Memento (2000), The
King’s Speech (2010), Flight (2012), Braveheart (1995), many films by Quentin
Tarantino, and others.
final_paper_prompt_and_best_practice_advice.pdf
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TDGE11: Great Film Comedies – Paper Prompt
Due by 6 PM Wednesday, March 13 via TurnItIn (No hard copy needed)
Please include the words “Prompt 1” or “Prompt 2” in the title of your paper.
Write a 1,200-1,500 word essay responding to one of the below prompts:
•
Prompt 1: Imagine you have been hired by Wal-Mart and are tasked with
compiling a “Stylistic Value ThreePac” of movies under the umbrella “Campy
Classics!”, “Bergsonian Humor!”, or “Playful Parodies!”.
One movie for each of these bundles has already been chosen for you: for
“Campy Classics”, you must include Little Shop of Horrors, for “Bergsonian
Humor!”, you must include Dr. Strangelove, and for “Playful Parodies”, you must
include Blazing Saddles.
Choose ONE of these categories, choose two other movies to round out your
“ThreePac,” and, using two or more elements listed in the chapter “Formal
Analysis” (narrative, mise-en-scéne, cinematography, acting, editing, and sound),
construct an argument for why your “ThreePac” should be sold as a set. You must
both explain how all three films fall under the same umbrella of comedy as well
as explain a connection between the films’ implicit meanings.
•
Prompt 2: Many films, while not typically understood as comedies, nevertheless
include elements of comedy and opportunities for laughter. Choose one such film
and, using specific examples, construct an argument for how the film uses
superiority, relief, incongruity, and, if applicable, Bergsonian theory to underscore
the impact of what you believe the implicit meaning of the film to be. Some
examples of films I’m thinking of here are: Get Out (2017), There Will Be Blood
(2007), No Country for Old Men (2007), A Serious Man (2009) Indiana Jones and
the Temple of Doom (1984), Good Will Hunting (1997), Memento (2000), The
King’s Speech (2010), Flight (2012), Braveheart (1995), many films by Quentin
Tarantino, and others. If you choose a film that isn’t listed here, please check
with me to ensure the film you’ve chosen is appropriate for this assignment.
Other Guidelines
—If you use secondary sources, include a bibliography of every source you looked at, not
just the sources from which you may be quoting. If you cite from a source, include the
author and page number(s) in parentheses right after the quote, and full publication
data in the bibliography. You may also use another documentation style with which
you’re familiar. As an example, “Cite from page 26 of the Susan Sontag essay Prof.
White has posted on TED like this” (Sontag 26).
—Submit an electronic copy of your paper to Turnitin.com via our TED site before the
beginning of class (6:00 pm) on March 13 (Session 10). You don’t need to submit a
hard copy.
—Late papers will be docked 10% for each day for fraction of a day they are turned in
late, per the late guidelines in the syllabus.
—We strictly enforce UCSD’s Policy on Integrity of Scholarship. Anyone suspected of
violating this policy will be reported to the Office of Academic Integrity.
Prompt 1 Rubric
25 Total Points
Does the Title say the words “Prompt 1”?
Has a clear argumentative thesis that the paper seeks to prove.
Clear, specific examples and discussion of two elements of formal analysis?
Thoughtful comparison of implicit meanings of films.
Does the paper show how the chosen films all fit under the same umbrella?
Paper is within word limits.
Plot summary minimal and appropriate to points made?
Are grammar/spelling/usage/citations correct? Is the paper easy to read?
Total
Points
Possible
Points
Earned
1
5
7
5
4
1
1
1
25
0
Prompt 2 Rubric
25 Total Points
Does the Title say the words “Prompt 2″?
Has a clear argumentative thesis that the paper seeks to prove.
Has clear, specific examples of the three theories of humor, and Bergsonian
if applicable.
Thoughtful analysis of how humor in films affects the implicit meanings.
Paper is within word limits.
Plot summary minimal and appropriate to points made?
Are grammar/spelling/usage/citations correct? Is the paper easy to read?
Total
Points
Possible
Points
1
5
8
8
1
1
1
25
0
Guidelines for writing and editing papers:
Argument:
1.
Could the first paragraph be dropped or is it necessary to the paper? (Avoid hype and wild
generalizations.)
2.
Is there a clearly stated thesis or question set up in the first paragraph? A paper should have one
controlling focus, to which everything contributes. What expectations does the opening of the paper set
up for the reader?
3.
Does the rest of the paper fulfill those expectations set up at the beginning? (e.g. does it demonstrate
the thesis, or answer the question?) Or does it seem to start in one direction and end up in another?
(Hey! I thought this bus was going to Los Angeles, but we’re in Chula Vista!)
4.
Are statements within the paper clear and supported with evidence from the text? Are there confusing
phrases where you are not sure what the paper-writer meant? (This is much easier to catch in someone
else’s writing than in your own. Get a friend to read your paper and tell you where you are unclear.)
5.
What are the most important or interesting points? Are they presented persuasively? Could they be
strengthened in some specific way? Can you think of counter-evidence or other objections to the point
being made, evidence or objections which the paper needs to address as part of its strategy of
persuasion? (Tip: avoid assertions that include “every,” “all,” “none,” “never,”or “always.” Your
reader will immediately think up one exception, which is all that is needed to undermine your claim.)
6.
If you include quotations or a bit of plot summary, do you use this material to make a point? Do you
comment on it? Or is it just filling up space? (Avoid too much plot summary; you can assume we’ve
read the play.) Just as arguments need supporting evidence, so evidence needs to be made part of an
argument.
Organization:
7.
Does the paper wander off from its stated topic into irrelevant material?
8.
Does each paragraph have a clear focus, or does it include material that does not belong there? Could
that material go better in another place, or should it be cut?
9.
Is there a logical order or reasonable flow to the series of points made in the paper? (Could you make
an outline of this paper?) Or does it jump disconnectedly from one topic to another, piling up a random
bunch of ideas, to the reader’s confusion?
10. Does the conclusion fit the paper? A conclusion should sum up but without repeating what you said at
the beginning. Answer:”So what?” What have you shown, or what insight have you gained, or what
does this help us understand? Again: avoid hype and wild generalizations, but do broaden out to
address the significance or implications of what you have said.
Mechanics:
11. Spelling, word usage, grammar, punctuation. Check the meanings of a word you are not sure about;
wrong usage gives readers the wrong message. If you use another book or essay or website, make sure
you cite your sources and use the correct forms. (Check any writing manual for footnote forms.)
Proofread and correct careless errors.
Tone:
12. Write as one normal person addressing another; avoid extra fancy or pedantic writing, as well as
writing that is too slangy or “cute.” Also avoid a correct but awkward or dull style: e.g. repetition of a
phrase or idea, or lots of sentences in a row with identical structure. It helps to read your paper aloud.
If you can’t get through the sentence without a pause, there should probably be a comma where you
took a breath. If something sounds clumsy or dull, make it sound better. Even silent readers are
affected by what they “hear” mentally.
…
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