Background: You will watch Phil Alden Robinson’s 1989 film Field of Dreams and read at least one film review from Roger Ebert.com, The Guardian, or The New York Times. Now, you will formulate an argument using the they-say/I-say structure to enter into a conversation with a review that you read.
Task: Select one film review from either Roger Ebert.com, The Guardian, or The New York Times. The film review must be about Phil Alden Robinson’s 1989 film Field of Dreams. Using the techniques from Graff and Birkenstein’s They Say I Say, enter into a conversation with the review. Craft an argument either agreeing, disagreeing, or both agreeing and disagreeing with the review. In other words, you might agree with some points and disagree with others.
Audience: Your audience is someone who has watched the film and read the review. They are trying to figure out if they agree with the perspectives in the review.
Purpose: You are trying to convince your audience to agree with your perspectives on the review. You may also be encouraging or discouraging your audience from watching the film again.
Format: Your essay should have an introduction, multiple body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Introduction: Your introduction must introduce the review that you have selected and Phil Alden Robinson’s 1989 film Field of Dreams. Your thesis statement must identify if you agree, disagree, or both agree and disagree with the review and why. You must use techniques from the readings in Graff and Birkenstein to convey these ideas.
Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph must begin with a topic sentence that identifies the specific argument you will make in that corresponding body paragraph. You are essentially arguing for why you think the review is correct, partially correct, or incorrect. In the body paragraphs, you must provide claims, pieces of evidence, and warrants. Each body paragraph needs to include at least one piece of evidence from the review. You must demonstrate how you are agreeing or disagreeing with that piece of evidence within that body paragraph. Again, you must use techniques from the readings in Graff and Birkenstein to convey these ideas. Specifically, consider strategies from chapter four: “Yes/No/Okay/But,” which starts on page 57. The number of body paragraphs you write is up to you, but the paper needs to be well developed. An essay with only one body paragraph isn’t well developed, and an essay with only two body paragraphs is likely underdeveloped as well.
Conclusion: Do not simply restate your thesis. Instead, identify the most important elements to take away from this discussion. Ask yourself what the significance of this topic is. Consider what you would advise an audience to do in terms of considering the review and deciding whether or not to re-watch the film. Consider how your perspective might change the perspective of your audience when it comes to the film.
Requirements: In addition to fulfilling the task requirements, this paper must be typed, double-spaced, and in Times New Roman font size 12. Maintain 1” margins throughout the paper. You can use both third and first person for this paper, and the paper must be at least three full pages long. You must use the correct heading, which is posted on Moodle. Use the MLA heading for this assignment. Also, use MLA style for in-text citations and the Works Cited page. Please note that the Works Cited page does not count toward the three-page minimum.
