The purpose of the reaction papers (indeed, all your written assignments) is for you to demonstrate that you understand and can apply the concepts we are learning about in this class. I am looking for you to find specific examples of topics covered in the book/film and how and why they illustrate a particular concept. I am NOT looking for a detailed retelling of the story; rather pick and choose scenes and characters’ behaviors that are relevant to the topics covered in the syllabus. For example, given that we’ve covered the role of disorganized attachment as a type of trauma and understand it as a precursor to pathological dissociation, you might illustrate this process at work in a character. Or you might talk about a particular character’s resilience to trauma and explain the underlying psychological processes. You could talk about different types of trauma and why they impact a character in the way that they do. Another option might be to discuss the difference between the DSM’s view of PTSD and Van der Kolk’s idea of “developmental trauma”. There are numerous other concepts that you might discuss and you might choose to address biological and social issues as they impact a character as well.
These are just a few examples. Two or three of these concepts, as well as an awareness of the bio/psycho/social model underlying this course, will put you in the ballpark of an A.
I am also, however, looking for clear writing with correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. If you have trouble with this, you can go to The Writing Center for help. Proofread your work.
Finally, there is room for your original creative response and emotional reactions to the film/book and students often relate a film or book to their own experience or help me see something familiar in a novel way. But this should be in addition to, not instead of, your ability to demonstrate that you are keeping up with the reading and grasping major concepts and theories. Since we don’t have any exams in this class, your written work is an important way for me to evaluate your progress.
Papers should be about three pages, double spaced, 12 point font, with APA style citations in the body of the paper and an APA style reference page at the end. APA style beyond this is not required for the reaction paper, but full APA style is required for your final research papers.
You always have the option of re-doing an assignment for a higher grade or picking an additional book or film for extra credit.
If you are still unclear as to how to proceed, please get in touch with me and we can speak individually.
You’re using the exact same sources you used for the paper on Precious . Would have been better use something else. Also – why are you’re references for Hagman in caps? And again, the you cite an author you have to put the year of the publication in parentheses after their name and the complete reference In your reference section.
I would have liked to see a more in depth understanding of how attachment theory relates to the characters in Rabbit Hole, as well as bringing in others we have studied, like Judith Herman Trauma and dissociation or Van der Kolk.
