“PERSPECTIVES” ESSAY
Description: For this summative assessment (see below) essay, you will situate one Hitchcock film within the concepts of the Gothic literary tradition, bringing the film into comparison with the readings from the English course.
- The summative assessment must be passed to receive credit for the course. Otherwise, a mark of 55% will be assigned.
Instructions:
You must choose the same film for your English and Humanities essays. That said, these are two very distinct papers. Treat them as such. The goal is to show that the same film can be analyzed productively from multiple perspectives. Accordingly, this essay will not be a psychoanalytical reading of the film or text(s), but will instead approach Hitchcock from within the Gothic literary tradition. Because the Gothic tradition introduces many concepts that psychoanalysis will develop, there will likely be parallels.[unique_solution]
- The topic and thesis for this assignment must be discussed with the instructor in advance.
You may draw upon any of your prior assignments for the creation of this essay, but the topic must be unique (i.e., not merely an extension of your thesis paragraph assignment).
Goal/Challenge: Make an illuminating comparison between your choice of Hitchcock film and a key American Gothic concept by comparing the film to one or two works of literature read for the course. Show how your choice of film “speaks the language” of the American Gothic, how it participates in an American Gothic worldview, how its underlying themes, conflicts, character types, or critical/political stance mirrors that of American Gothic authors like Poe, Dickinson, Faulkner, etc., on topics such as gender, sexuality, institutionalized power, character agency, the interrelations between space and psyche, perversion, doubling, and so on.
Your essay must include the following:
- evidence of original thinking beyond course discussions;
- a comparative argument that brings the films into comparison and/or contrast with literature from the course;
- a meaningful title that reflects your topic, argument, and corpus (the film and literature you’ve chosen to discuss);
- a thesis statement that clearly and revealingly links your works;
- a thorough introduction that encompasses your entire argument, including your thesis, discussion of major concepts, some initial
analysis of the works to be discussed, and a route map of subsequent arguments regarding those works;
- at least one reference to a peer-reviewed article published since 2001 from an academic journal or book collection of essays;
- quoted or specific references to all texts (film, literature, academic essays);
- a clear and concise summary of all key concepts (e.g., perversity, doubling, allegory, agency, etc.);
- clear and meaningful transitions from point to point and paragraph to paragraph;
- proper context for a reader who is not necessarily familiar with the texts, films, and concepts you address in the essay;
- a meaningful conclusion that synthesizes, not summarizes your argument;
- proper MLA citation for all in-text references;
- a properly formatted, separate Works Cited page in MLA format Reference Purdue OWL with questions.
Mastering Key Concepts in Writing
Your essay must show evidence that you have read and understand the “Mastering Key Concepts” handout that I posted some weeks ago. Essays that are rife with typos or that have errors addressed in that handout will be marked down severely in the “Expression” category.
Take the information offered in the above handout, along with the “Writing Tips DON’Ts” advice on Julian’s assignment very seriously.
____________________________________________
Due Dates:
THESIS PARAGRAPH (REQUIRED) Wednesday, 14 November, on paper, for
writing workshop
FULL ESSAY Monday, 19 November, on paper, beginning of class
Value: 25% of overall evaluation for the course
Total Length: 1,000 words, not including Works Cited page