Final Paper — This a formal paper and 700 words minimum are required. Your paper must meet academic guidelines with a thesis, justifications, citations, and new research. Review the COURSE RUBRIC as you write this paper.
Final Paper: Due May 6 in dropbox. Pick one of the Six Guiding Principles. The link to the article is in Module 4, so you have already read it and need to review it again.
The final paper is like the other writing assignments but with one primary difference. I am asking you to “Briefly explain which one of the principles is particularly and personally interesting and relevant to you and why. Briefly quote from the principle.”
From there the writing is pretty much the same as for earlier papers. You will end your first paragraph with a thesis that explains whys this principle applies to a required course film of your choice. This thesis will frame your Final Paper analysis and structure your subsequent justifications.
As usual, your paper will be evaluated by the rubric. You should include analytical elements that are appropriate and that justify your thesis. Not every analytical element can or should be included, but primarily those that justify your thesis.
Follow the rubric. This writing must be at least 700 words.
General Ideas: The purpose of the paper is to critically analyze a film and situate it within course ideas, and the contemporary world or course history. It is to evaluate the content, Mise-en-scène, and hip-hop cultural/musical influences, as appropriate for your argument, in relationship to the film.
Critical as part of the thesis:
as usual, explain how the film relates or does not relate to the reading’s theoretical concerns and issues
Structure your paper so that your thesis and sub-assertions are justified by
analysis of the narrative, themes, scenes and/or cultural context
Mise-en-scène must be a part of your analysis
academic sources — use nonacademic sparingly, mostly for director/actor quotes etc. if relevant.
incorporate a NEW independent source (academic, interview quote, or professional rating/audience reception source) in this writing.
If the following items add to your paper, include them as appropriate (you can include the last two elementis in your final paragraph)
artistic and studio motivations for the film (research directors, studio, etc.
who the film is intended to appeal to– its audience(s) and larger meanings for them
how it addresses or does not address African Americans, hip hop origins, and what that suggests
academically supported historical and cultural context
