Reference no: EM132308093

Assignment

Write a two- to three-page evaluation of the film Class Divide. Your text's article on Juno (pp. 198-201) provides an excellent example of the approach that you should take. Obviously, this involves evaluating the film, but that should move far beyond "I like it" or "I don't like it."

You might think of it more as interpreting the film (a lot of your essay should be interpretation-about what it means). As with almost any paper, you need to set out a thesis and then support that thesis throughout the rest of your paper, here using specific evidence from the film.

Consider Ali Heinekamp's thesis: "Although the situations Juno's characters find themselves in and their dialogue may be criticized as unrealistic, the film...successfully portrays the emotions of a teen being shoved into maturity way too fast." Your thesis, like hers, needs to name the film, make the point(s) that you want to make regarding it (your evaluation), and indicate the structure of your response (criteria).

In fact, if you look closely at the structure of Heinekamp's response, it will give you a strong guideline for how you should structure your response. You should begin by giving us as much background as we need to know to get into a discussion regarding the film (your introduction).

The last sentence of your introduction should be your clear thesis statement. The body of your paper should follow the major points that you set out in your thesis (criteria).

It is a good idea for your point to be complex, perhaps recognizing both the weaknesses and strengths of the film, as Heinekamp does. After you have laid out your whole position, you need a paragraph for counterargument and rebuttal. This means one strong way in which someone would disagree with what you are saying, and how you would answer that disagreement (see her paragraph 7).

This should be some different point than one you've already made. As I have often said, your conclusion should probably answer the question, "So what does that mean for us?" or tie it back to something you brought up in the introduction.

*I really don't want you to use any outside sources. However, it might be a good idea to look at some reviews at metacritic.com or rottentomatoes.com, of this film or other films, to get a feel for how your response might feel (tone) or what it might discuss. DON'T let any of the words or ideas find their way into your paper, though, unless you cite them correctly.

Your evaluation should be typed; if you include any citations, they should follow MLA style, using in-text citations after any quoted or paraphrased material (last name of author and page number in parentheses). You do not need a Works Cited page.

As with any other paper in this class, you must use 12-point Times New Roman font; your paper should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins on top, bottom, left, and right. Use Tab to indent new paragraphs, and don't skip extra lines between paragraphs. Include a heading in the top right of the first page. Write a creative title that indicates your topic and the point(s) you will make about it (not just the name of the movie).