COM102 Final Critical Paper: The Researched Argument General Options for Term Projects:  Thematic Connections: Film and Imaginative Literature Targeted Course Content Learning Outcomes (COM102 Syllabus): A.1  Create connections among texts discussed and other texts. B.1  Construct an argument based on a text or texts

QUESTION

COM102 Final Critical Paper: The Researched Argument

General Options for Term Projects: 

1. Thematic Connections: Film and Imaginative Literature

Targeted Course Content Learning Outcomes (COM102 Syllabus):

A.1  Create connections among texts discussed and other texts.

B.1  Construct an argument based on a text or texts.

1. 2 Develop strategies for reaching more than one type of audience in a piece of writing.

1. 3 Select source material (library, print, digital, or fieldwork-based) appropriate to a

writing project’s purpose and audience.

4. 4. Integrate research material from multiple sources into a piece of writing while

maintaining one’s own voice.

5. 5. Demonstrate ethical awareness in writing by incorporating and documenting source material responsibly according to a guidelines system (MLA, APA).

6. 6. Correctly document sources through appropriate in-text citations and a Works

Cited page.

7. 7. Move beyond managing correctness in writing and toward making deliberate choices about

stylistic elements such as clarity, concision, cohesion, and emphasis.

8. 8. Demonstrate skill at the stylistic aspects of integrating sources, such as employing a

variety of transitional effects or integrating a quote into the grammatical structure of

a sentence.

Documentation Style:  MLA style documentation

Essay Length:  5-8pages , double-spaced, size 12 font, standard margins.

Number of Secondary Resources:  5 minimum; 8 maximum

Resource Restrictions:  Secondary sources must fit academic criteria.

The use of electronic, web-based sources such as e-notes, Sparknotes, Shmoop.com, Bookrags, Wikipedia, student essays, personal blogs, etc. will result in a zero for this paper.

You may use literary journals, library reference materials*, newspapers, magazines, esteemed web sites, published interviews, documentaries, and sound recordings.

Audience:  Formal: Academic peers and professors

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NOTE:

1. Class members are required to and will submit their final drafts electronically to VeriCite through Canvas. A student who fails to submit the paper by the assigned due date and time will not have the paper included in final grade calculations and will not meet the IAI requirements to pass the course.

1. Upon request, individuals also must be able to demonstrate use of the writing process upon completion of the research paper (i.e. notes, note cards, topic proposals, drafts).

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Overview:  At this point in our semester together, you have learned quite a lot about the different literary genres, analysis, and research.  You should feel more comfortable about locating scholarly resources from the Moraine Valley Library and the Internet, and have a greater understanding of what kind of writing appeals to your sensibilities.

This final assignment asks you to combine these skills and create a final paper that illustrates your ability to formulate a thesis, support an essay, and incorporate research effectively.

However, you have several options to choose from for this final project.   

Steps

Step One:  Select a subject for your paper:

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  Thematic Connections: Film and Imaginative Literature

Narrowed topics:

1. select a short story that we have read together in class, about which you have not previously written, and compare/contrast it with a thematically related film for thematic critical analysis;

2. select a theme from a play, like The Glass Menagerie, and compare/contrast it with a thematically related film;

3. select a poem (s) from our anthology and compare/contrast it thematically to a

Past, successful examples:

1. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” with 13 or Mean Girls or Lovely Bones
2. “Cathedral” and Scent of a Woman.
3. “The Things They Carried” and Full Metal Jacket.
4. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and No Country for Old Men.
5. “Sonny’s Blues” and Walk the Line, Pollock, Ray
6. “Cathedral” and Gran Torino
7. “My Papa’s Waltz” and This Boy’s Life
8. “Indian Education” and Crash
9. The Glass Menagerie and Dead Poet’s Society
10. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and Batman: The Dark Knight
11. “The Things They Carried” and The Hurt Locker
12. The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, film version
13. “The Road Not Taken” and Butterfly Effect
14. The Glass Menagerie and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
15. “Sonny’s Blues” and A River Runs Through It

NOTE: You may feel free to use one of these examples. Just know that previous students have used them and have done exceptional work with them as a focus.

Where can you view films? The MVCC library has a wide array of films to choose from and you can watch them from home! For free!

https://lib.morainevalley.edu/libservices/DigitalResources.html

Goals:

Create a solid thesis to prove to your audience that meaningful, arguable connections tie the two works together thematically.

Locate, evaluate and correctly integrate appropriate secondary sources as a means of support & illustration.

Develop a well organized and substantive body with evidence, explanations, and logic.

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Step Two: Generate and record your own opinions with regard to the work or subject matter. Get feedback from peers, professor, and/or The Speaking &Writing Center (available via remote consultation).  

Step Three:  Do Preliminary Research

1. Create a list of possible search terms to use for database inquiries;
2. Try multiple databases and full-text journals;
3. Meet online with an information specialist to discuss your project;
4. Based on your results, refine your search terms or rethink your term paper focus;
5. Select the best possible sources that meet the following criteria:
6. Reliable 2. Credible 3. Relevant 4. Timely 5. Appropriate

Step Four: Review and evaluate your research, highlighting, taking careful notes.

1. “Do you agree with the writers and their analyses, or are you in disagreement with a particular critic and her theories?
2. Have you discovered a new idea? Record it and give credit to the source.
3. Have you learned additional facts that deepen your understanding of the subject?” (McKeague 265). Record it and give credit to the source.
4. Will you need different resources? Think critically about your information needs.

Step Five: Formulate a working thesis that states your claims. Submit a Formal Topic Proposal.

(See upcoming due dates)

Step Six:  Create an outline using the Literary Research Plan Sheet handout and consult with the professor via e-mail or online chat.

Step Seven:  Write a draft of your paper.

Options:

1. share your writing with peers during a peer evaluation.*
2. make an online appointment with the Speaking & Writing Center to discuss thesis development, topic sentences, and organization.

Step Eight:  Revise

1. make sure your thesis statement is clear, focused, assertive, and arguable. Avoid creating a “so what” construction!
2. follow the guidelines for creating analytical paragraphs (see handouts)
3. check sentences for clarity and appropriate word choice.
4. make sure “borrowed” ideas are attributed clearly to the original, correct source.
5. check the beginning of each paragraph for transitions or reader cues to help your reader follow your organizational pattern.
6. follow manuscript guidelines
7. make sure the Works Cited page follows MLA guidelines and is alphabetized by the author’s last name.

Step Nine:  Edit and Submit to Canvas Self-Check

1. check for frequently misspelled words/ remember spellchecker does not catch all misspelled words. (hear/here)
2. look over your paper for frequent grammatical mistakes.
3. check incorporated quotations for missing commas or misplaced periods.

Step Ten: Submit Final Draft to VeriCite. Breathe. 

ANSWER

Exploring Thematic Connections: A Comparative Analysis of “The Glass Menagerie” and the Film “Dead Poet’s Society”

Introduction

In this paper, I will delve into the thematic connections between the play “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams and the film “Dead Poet’s Society” directed by Peter Weir. Both works explore the themes of self-discovery, conformity versus individuality, and the power of art to inspire and transform lives. By examining the similarities and differences in how these themes are presented, we can gain a deeper understanding of the universal human experiences portrayed in both works.

Thesis Statement

Through a comparative analysis of “The Glass Menagerie” and “Dead Poet’s Society,” this paper argues that the works share thematic connections in their exploration of self-discovery, rebellion against societal expectations, and the transformative power of art. However, they differ in terms of the specific circumstances and settings in which these themes unfold, resulting in distinct narrative and visual representations.

Body

I. Self-Discovery as a Journey of Personal Growth
A. “The Glass Menagerie”
1. Laura’s journey towards self-acceptance and embracing her individuality
2. Tom’s struggle for independence and the conflicts he faces
B. “Dead Poet’s Society”
1. The students’ exploration of their passions and aspirations
2. The transformative influence of Mr. Keating on their personal growth

II. Rebellion Against Societal Expectations
A. “The Glass Menagerie”
1. Amanda’s desire for her children to conform to societal norms
2. Tom’s resistance against his mother’s expectations and his pursuit of his own dreams
B. “Dead Poet’s Society”
1. The conservative and conformist environment at Welton Academy
2. The students’ defiance of authority and the consequences they face

III. The Transformative Power of Art
A. “The Glass Menagerie”
1. Laura’s connection to her glass figurines as a form of escape and expression
2. Amanda’s nostalgia for her past and her fixation on her youth
B. “Dead Poet’s Society”
1. The influence of poetry and literature in encouraging self-expression
2. The students’ awakening to their creative potential and the liberation it brings

Conclusion

By comparing and contrasting “The Glass Menagerie” and “Dead Poet’s Society,” we can see how these works of imaginative literature and film explore common themes of self-discovery, rebellion against societal expectations, and the transformative power of art. While they differ in their specific narratives and settings, both works provide valuable insights into the human condition and the universal struggles individuals face in navigating their identities and finding their voices. Through the examination of these thematic connections, we gain a deeper appreciation for the ways in which literature and film can illuminate and resonate with our own lives and experiences.