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LTEA 120C Essay Writing Tips and Feedback

1. Create a title page that features your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your paper. Give your paper a title that encapsulates the essence and findings of your textual reading and analysis. Be bold! Don’tjust write “Analysis of Film x.” Also, be sure to include either the title or the author of the text(s) you are going to discuss, or both. The idea is to let your reader know what your paper is about, in a concise way.

2. Articulate your central thesis / argument at the top of your paper in your introduction, and make it as specific and concrete as possible. Create an introduction that is a true “road map” for the reader. Make it specific to then show HOW your argument is true in the text. The more specific and well-rounded the argument, the more substantial and analytical the paper will be.

3. Structure your paper in an analytical, not a descriptive way. This means that your outline should consist of a central argument, and a list of analytical points which serve to substantiate your central argument / thesis. Aim to introduce, explain and prove each analytical point by means of careful film analysis. Cite evidence from the film when relevant to support and illustrate an analytical point you are making.

4. Discuss not only the plot / content / the “what” of the film but also the visual and cinematic strategies the filmmaker uses – the “how” of the film. Focus on the tools and techniques filmmakers use to convey meaning in their works. Be less descriptive and more analytical.

5. Do showcase your knowledge of a given filmmaker, film and context, and provide some important relevant information to your reader In this way, you show that you are educated about the significance of the film you are examining, and can contribute to discourse about it. However, keep this information to a minimum, since your main purpose is to provide a new analytical reading of a limited body of films, not a re-hashing of background or facts we already know.

6. When writing about any film, always use the present tense! This is true for fictional stories, essays, poems, and films, as visual works of art. This is necessary because you are discussing a text or work of art that still exists today. When discussing events in historical time or in a person’s “real” life, use the past tense.

7. Proofread your paper! Be precise and exact in the way you use language to express yourself. Keep in mind your imaginary reader and write as clearly as possible for this reader. Re-read sentences out loud and ask yourself: 1. Is the sentence grammatically

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correct?; 2. Do words agree and are commas placed correctly?; 3. Are there any unnecessary words? Less is best!; 4. Is the meaning as clear as possible?

8. Avoid using the passive voice! If you use it, have a clear reason for using it.

9. Use firm, assertive language in your essay, and clearly define the argument and analytical points that you will prove and substantiate. Do not use weak speculative words such as “perhaps,” “maybe,” or “it could be said that…” Dare to make a clear, specific assertion/argument, and then prove it systematically.

10. Using the personal pronoun “I” in a paper is ok. However, you should not overdo it and use it judiciously when you want to emphasize a personal point of view or opinion. Most of the time, you should avoid using it.

11. Regarding format: a. Make sure that your paper is well-organized and has a clear, well-defined

Introduction, Body ofAnalysis, and Conclusion. b. Always include the dates for key figures when you first mention them in the

paper. Include the date of first publication for key texts and other works when you first mention them.

c. Always provide citations in correct citation format. Review MLA and Chicago Manual of Style citation formats, and use one of these formats consistently for in- text / footnote citations and for the bibliography.

d. Italics and “quotation marks:” italics are used for books and films; “quotation marks” are used for short stories, essays, poems and other shorter texts. Underline is almost never used today.

e. Commas and periods are always inside quotation marks.

12. Regarding Citations: a. Use MLA in-text citation style, including only the author’s last name and page

number without a comma: i.e.: (Abbas 150) or (Kam 25) b. Present complete, correctly formatted bibliographical information for each source

in the List ofWorks Cited. c. When quoting text, consider it as textual evidence, and discuss it analytically, so

that it may help to illustrate and substantiate your specific analytical points, as well as your central argument overall. Do not let the quotes speak for themselves!

d. When citing films, review and use the correct MLA format for citing films that is posted on Canvas. Example: In-Text Citation: (Enter the Dragon 29:45 – 32:37), List ofWorks Cited: Enter the Dragon. Directed by Robert Clouse. Sequoia Pictures, 1973.