Comparative Analysis of Films Preparing to Watch Paterson and Down By Law

Preparing to Watch Paterson and Down By Law

Once you have revised, edited, and carefully proofread your paper, you should submit it before the deadline. Make sure you have included your last name in your document title (e.g. FilmEssay2_Walter).  Instructors find it helpful to see documents by name.  Also, check to make sure you have included great title and a Work Cited section.  Double check for MLA formatting of the entire document.  Essays are automatically scanned through Turnitin.com.  If you have any issues, contact me via Inbox.

Here is the rubric I will use to evaluate this assignment (note that this is different slightly from the first essay):

Introduction and Argumentative Thesis

The introduction briefly summarizes the films, sets up the terms of your argument, and narrows the focus of your interpretation. One way to narrow your focus and establish a sense of argument is to acknowledge that the films can be read in another way, but assert that your reading is stronger. A good introduction also begins with a “hook” to get your audience’s attention. Writers often use the title to begin establishing the position of the paper. Create a title that reflects your argument or leads into your “hook”. The intro ends with the argumentative thesis statement. A strong argumentative thesis is specific, narrow, and debatable. It does not sound like a factual statement about the films or a summary of the central meaning. Instead, a thesis will make a claim for a meaning that is not obvious, perhaps even surprising. So, not only will you assert what the director actually means to show us, but you will hint at why and/or how the films achieve this meaning. So, make sure you include your claim for a surprising insight into human relationships. NOTE: Your thesis is always the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

 25 pts

Development of Evidence and Analysis in Paragraphs

Each body paragraph aims to demonstrate and argue in a unique way for your thesis using concrete evidence and analysis. Body paragraphs develop the thesis in greater detail and complicate or deepen our understanding of the work. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that connects its topic to the thesis. The sentences that develop this topic should include interpretation and support. Use a few concrete details and short quotations to back up your argument. Don’t overdo the quotation, however. The emphasis in each paragraph should fall on your interpretation of the details, not the details themselves. Each body paragraph should conclude with a conclusion sentence that reinforces the thesis. Conclusions are drawn from evidence. Therefore, each conclusion sentence should draw from the evidence presented in the paragraph.

25 pts

Conclusion

The last paragraph is the MOST IMPORTANT statement of your argument about Jarmusch\’s insight. Think of the last paragraph not as a repetition of your points but the opportunity to draw the most significant conclusion for your audience. Based on the ideas explored in the body paragraphs, what must your audience conclude? You might use the last paragraph to answer the question: why are these films meaningful to us? Return to your “hook” in some way to round out and provide closure. Do not use the phrase “In conclusion”—ever.

25 pts

Clarity, Form, Citation

A polished essay should have no significant grammar or sentence structure errors. Diction (word choice, vocabulary) should be precise and appropriate to the subject. Good prose is succinct rather than wordy, clear rather than foggy, direct rather than vague. All references to sources must be acknowledged and cited using MLA format—always.

25 pts

Total Points: 100

If you wish to review the assignment, here it is:

1B Essay 2 Assignment: The Films of Jim Jarmusch

Studying two of Jim Jarmusch’s films affords you a special understanding of the director’s deeper interests and subtle themes. For this paper, draw evidence equally from both films to support your argument. This type of assignment is a comparative analysis. 

Prompt: How does Jarmusch’s use of the same particular theme, pattern, or technique in both films we

watched reveal a deeper insight into human relationships?

Guidance: This type of essay is a comparative analysis. As you begin to sort out your ideas, look for significant similarities as well as meaningful differences in the works. It is safe to assume that the artist—Jarmusch—has a particular, perhaps not-so-obvious vision. While the films are obviously quite different in many ways, your task is to find the subtle and meaningful “vision” or insight that connects them and thus reveals the artist’s intention.

Organizing a comparative essay like this is fairly straightforward. Once you have determined your argument or thesis, be sure to develop thesis-related topics for the body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should compare both works in a different way. The best comparisons integrate the subjects or discuss them together rather than separately from start to finish.

Length: 1000 words or more

Use the guidelines and terminology for film analysis (handout).

For MLA citation, consult: https://style.mla.org/in-text-citation-film/Links to an external site..

Review and remember the Academic Essay Guidelines:

Introduction and Argumentative Thesis

The introduction briefly summarizes the work, sets up the terms of your argument, and narrows the focus of your interpretation. One way to narrow your focus and establish a sense of argument is to acknowledge that the work can be read in another way, but assert that your reading is stronger.

A good introduction also begins with a “hook” to get your audience’s attention. Writers often use the title to begin establishing the position of the paper. Create a title that reflects your argument or leads into your “hook”.

The intro ends with the argumentative thesis statement. A strong argumentative thesis is specific, narrow, and debatable. It does not sound like a factual statement about the films or the director. Instead, a thesis will make a claim for a meaning (perhaps derived from a technique) that is not obvious, maybe even surprising. NOTE: Your thesis is always the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.

Development of Evidence and Analysis in Paragraphs

Each body paragraph aims to demonstrate and argue in a unique way for your thesis using concrete evidence and analysis. Body paragraphs develop the thesis in greater detail and complicate or deepen our understanding of the work. Each body paragraph begins with a topic sentence that connects its topic to the thesis.

The sentences that develop this topic should include interpretation and support. Use a few concrete details and/or short quotations to back up your argument. Don’t overdo the quotation, however. The emphasis in each paragraph should fall on your interpretation of the details, not the details themselves.

Each body paragraph should conclude with a conclusion sentence that reinforces the thesis. Conclusions are drawn from evidence. Therefore, each conclusion sentence should draw from the evidence presented in its paragraph.

Conclusion

The last paragraph is the MOST IMPORTANT statement of your argument about the works. Think of the last paragraph not as a repetition of your points but the opportunity to draw the most significant conclusion for your audience. Based on the ideas explored in the body paragraphs, what must your audience conclude? Return to your “hook” in some way to round out and provide closure. Avoid the worn-out phrase, “In conclusion”–please100