LIT3180 Final Project (Group Project)
Your final project for this class will develop of our last unit, the (now quite common) translation of graphic novels to film. You will choose a pairing (graphic novel and film) that interests you and do an in-depth comparison of how the two address an issue of your choice. This is, above all, an analytical project and will be presented as a written analytical argument.
Your overall claim should be value-based and emphasize which is better and why--the original graphic novel or the film. See possible topic choices at the bottom of this page.
NOTE: Analysis goes beyond simply description. You must explain WHY the author uses the visuals in the ways that they do and WHY (for what purpose). Do not simply summarize what happens. That isn't analysis.
NOTE: THE IDEAS FOUND IN THIS PAPER MUST BE YOUR OWN, AND YOU MAY NOT USE OUTSIDE SOURCES! YOU MUST ALSO MAKE USE OF THE FILM TERMINOLOGY PRESENTED IN CHAPTER 3 OF THE FILM TEXT FROM YOUR ASSIGNED READING (COMMENTS ABOUT SOUND, LIGHTING, CAMERA SHOT, EDITING, SET DESIGN, COSTUME DESIGN, SPECIAL EFFECTS, ETC.).
RULES ABOUT THE GROUP ASPECT OF THIS ASSIGNMENT:
1) AT ANY POINT THAT THE MAJORITY OF A GROUP FEELS ANOTHER STUDENT IS NOT COMPLETING THEIR SHARE OF THE WORK OR ISN'T COOPERATING WITH THE OTHER GROUP MEMBERS, THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY BE FIRED FROM A GROUP BY MAJORITY VOTE.
2) GROUP MEMBERS WILL GRADE ONE ANOTHER ANONYMOUSLY FOR A PORTION OF THE GRADE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT (SEE GRADING RUBRIC BELOW). THIS SHOULD ENCOURAGE GROUP MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THEIR SHARE OF THE WORK.
3) BEFORE FIRING A GROUP MEMBER FROM A GROUP, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OTHER GROUP MEMBERS TO COMMUNICATE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS OR ISSUES WITH JOB PERFORMANCE TO SAID GROUP MEMBER. PREFERABLY, THIS SHOULD BE IN PERSON; HOWEVER, IF THE GROUP MEMBER ISN'T ATTENDING MEETINGS OR RESPONDING TO TEXT MESSAGES, THIS MAY BE COMMUNICATED BY EMAIL ("CC" ME A COPY OF THAT EMAIL).
4) GROUP MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO RESOLVE ISSUES ON THEIR OWN BEFORE INVOLVING THE PROFESSOR.
What is Literary/Film Criticism and How Do I Write a Paper of This Nature?
At its very basic definition, literary/film criticism is a written evaluation of a work of literature or film that attempts to enlighten a reader about the underlying meaning of the text, whether it is a play, poem, short story, novel (or graphic novel), a short film, or a feature-length movie.
Purpose
In this type of paper a writer is forming an academic argument. As the writer you are arguing that your interpretation of the text is a valid - not the only interpretation - in an attempt to aid the reader in “seeing” the text in a new light or from a different perspective that perhaps may be different from their own. Specifically for this assignment you are arguing which you feel is better, the graphic novel or its film adaptation.
Audience
Your audience is made up of academics, scholars, literary critics, professors, film critics and film professionals and students (who are academics, scholars, and literary/film critics in-training). You should assume that they have read the text and are familiar with its contents. Because of this you would never merely retell the story because your audience is already familiar with it. This would also conflict with the purpose of this type of paper. You are to discuss underlying meaning, not retell the events of the story.
Because your audience is a scholarly one, your paper must be presented in a formal manner. You should use high diction and avoid first person, personal pronouns, and contractions.
Essay Focus & Organization
The Essay Purpose and Your Overall Claim:
Your essay should respond to the following questions:
When comparing the graphic novel and its film adaptation, which is better and why?
Answer this question in one sentence. This becomes the overall claim/thesis for your essay (the point you are attempting to prove).
Title: Did you give your essay a title? Keep in mind that this title should reflect the entire content of your paper and set up an expectation for your reader about your paper’s topic. It should mention three things: 1) The title of the works you are discussing 2) The author's and director's name of each of those works 3) Provide a clue about which is better (the graphic novel or film adaptation) and why
Introduction: Your introduction should be a general preview the entire content of your essay (and never present specifics/quotes). In your opening line, you also need to mention the author/director and titles of the texts you plan to examine. You must also state an overall claim/thesis in the intro (usually toward the end of the paragraph). You also need to include a “so what” statement. In other words, explain the significance of your claim in the broader context of the text as a whole. Remember that what you are writing is academic argumentation. Convince your reader that your interpretation is valid. You shouldn’t argue that it is the only interpretation. You are simply claiming that it is the most important one. The intro is your chance to explain why you think so.
Body: The body of your paper is where you must provide the reader with all of the minute details of your argument and interpretation. Here you will make sub-claims (statements and assertions that support your overall claim/thesis). These are the equivalent of topic sentences for a paragraph. Just remember that each of these statements must relate back to your claim/thesis and don’t’ leave it up to your reader to guess what this connection may be. They are readers of criticism, not mind readers. Explain to them what you think the connections are. Do this for each example that you provide.
Remember, you want to repeat these steps throughout the body of your paper:
1)Make an assertion (sub-claim) about the text(s) you are discussing. This becomes a topic sentence/sub-claim that you will place at the beginning of your paragraph.
2)Provide evidence from the text that illustrates or supports this assertion (a quote or quotes from the text).
3)Explain how this evidence illustrates the assertion/point you are attempting to make. Explain this example’s connection to your thesis/overall claim.
Steps 2 & 3 are the supporting points of the paragraph for the sub-claim you created in step one.
Essay Conclusion: The conclusion should be a general summary of the entire content of the body of your paper and restate the claim/thesis. It should also re-emphasize the “so what” explanation.
You cannot have new information in a conclusion.
NOTE: WHEN READ TOGETHER THE INTRO AND CONCLUSION SHOULD FORM ONE IDEA.
Also be sure that:
-You use present tense verbs when relating the events of the stories.
-Do not summarize the plot. Your readers are familiar with both the novel and film and have read and viewed each. Only relate events that are relevant to your INTERPRETATION of the text.
-Keep in mind that your readers are highly educated. Don’t, for instance, provide definitions for words (i.e., Webster’s Dictionary defines confusion as …) Your audience would consider this an insult.
- Don't use first person, contractions, or personal pronouns (such as you, we, me, mine, my, our, ours). These are considered too informal. Instead, use phrases like "a reader may notice that," "one could interpret this to mean," etc.
-Be sure that you set up your quotes in the body of your paper. Do not create a floating quote.
Explain to your reader where you are in the story/plot (the sequence of events in the story) and which character is speaking.
-Discuss the texts or the historical context of the texts only. Never include personal examples from your own life, etc.
FORMAT
Your essay should have a title and be formatted using MLA format. It should be typed, double spaced, with one-inch margins all around, Times New Roman Font, & 12 pt. Your paper should be 4 FULL PAGES up to 6 FULL PAGES; in addition, you must include a works cited page. Refer to OWL at Purdue for questions about MLA format and citations.
YOU SHOULD END YOUR ARGUMENT WHEN IT IS COMPLETELY DEVELOPED, NOT AT THE END OF PAGE 4 SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS AN OPTION.
This paper will include a rough draft, a peer review, feedback from SmartThinking, a revision plan based on that report, and a reflection.
Your grade for this essay will be determined as follows:
Total Possible Points: 60/
Individual Scoring (18 points):
Score for individual score for contribution to in-class drafting/invention and overall contribution to project (graded by group members).
Group Scoring (42 points ):
Final Draft, evaluated on the following criteria:
Focus (12 points): Does essay have a clear purpose (show how the page advances a clear theme or show the relationship between multiple themes? Provide the images/story line on the chosen page? Present a clear meaning/interpretation?
Development (12 points): Are there detailed descriptions of how artist's use of style, space, size/shape, line, transitions,symbol, and design to advance the theme? Does the writer use this knowledge to create a basis for breakdown with the purpose and audience squarely in mind? Help others understand the image as they do?Does the writer avoid giving detail without illustrating importance? Does the writer break the work down into individual components and discuss their importance to the work as a whole? Does the writer appropriately use outside scholarly sources as backing (further evidence) to support their claims and engage with their theme?
Organization (12 points): Do ideas and paragraphs proceed in logical and apparent sequence or pattern? Does writer use sufficient audience cues to let the reader know what has been discussed, what is being discussed, or what will be discussed? Does writer use attention-getting title and lead-in, paragraph hooks, transitional words and phrases? Does writer guide the reader from beginning to end?
Style (3 points): Is language clear direct and readable? Are sentences clear, concise, and easily read by intended audience? Is word choice appropriate for audience? Do sentences reveal and sustain appropriate voice and tone?
Mechanics (3 points): Are there obvious errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar? Are there patterns of error? Cite outside sources appropriately and include a works cited page in the appropriate format?
NO 1ST DRAFT ON DUE DATE (-5 POINTS)
NO PEER CRITIQUE (-5 POINTS)
NO SMARTTHINKING REPORT AND REVISION PLAN (-5 POINTS)
NO REFLECTION (-5 POINTS)
NO PROCESS=NO GRADE
Grading scale:
A 54-60
B 48-53
C 42-47
D 36-41
F 0-35
POSSIBLE TOPICS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
