You are to write a 1500 – 2000 word research paper on a subject agreed upon with the instructor. Keeping in mind that it is to be a scholarly paper, bear in mind the following guidelines:
- The paper should have a controlling thesis.
NOT “Alfred Hitchcock made a lot of good movies. Here are some of them…”
BUT RATHER “Alfred Hitchcock’s films consistently reflect his lifelong fear of policemen”
OR “Psycho notwithstanding, Alfred Hitchcock’s suspense formula is primarily based on giving the audience as much information as possible, not on withholding information so as to create surprises.”
NOT “Charles Chaplin made some great films for Essanay. A few of my favorites are…”
BUT RATHER “Charles Chaplin’s short subjects for Mutual are justly celebrated, but it is in his work for Essanay that we can see the groundwork laid for the incorporation of pathos into his comedy that would later become the hallmark of some of his best feature films.”
- Assertions of fact should be footnoted.
- Assertions of opinion should be defended.
- Standard MLA style should be observed. Consult the MLA handbook for details.
- Where specific films are relevant to the discussion, those films should be viewed, where possible, rather than relying on descriptions in books or on the web.
- Web sources are permitted, but should be used with caution. Evaluate the source’s credibility and credentials before relying on them. Try to balance online sources with books and periodicals from the library. Any paper based entirely on web sources will be regarded as inadequately researched.
- A paragraph indicating the topic you have chosen is due at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 8.
- A paragraph describing the progress of your research is due at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 22. This paragraph should indicate how you have chosen to narrow your topic and what your controlling thesis will be.
- The final draft of the paper is due at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 8. Rough drafts, including partial drafts, may be submitted prior to that time for feedback from the instructor. The final draft may be submitted in hard copy or by e-mail, at your option. If the paper is submitted by e-mail, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by e-mail. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 24 hours, you should assume that the e-mail was not received and take appropriate steps to follow up.
- A bibliography of sources cited should be appended to the paper, using standard MLA style. Don’t forget to cite the films themselves – they are your primary sources.
A list of suggested paper topics is available online. These topics may be regarded as pre-approved, although you will still need to narrow them considerably and come up with a thesis before receiving final approval to go ahead with your research. Topics not on this list may be acceptable, but will need to be cleared with the instructor prior to submitting the paragraph on July 17.
An online research guide customized to the needs of this class has been provided for your use.
