Humanities
Task
- •In a 4-5 page paper (absolute minimum 3.5 pages, absolute maximum 5.5 pages), argue how Bicycle Thieves, directed by Vittorio De Sica, or The Battle of Algiers, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, represents a particular, narrowly-defined issue or phenomenon by using evidence from one or two film scenes. Your thesis should be original (entirely your idea), and it should indicate not only the issue or phenomenon in question but also the film’s point of view about that issue or phenomenon.
- To support your original, specific, focused (no lists!), and unobvious thesis, raise evidence from one or two film scenes.Your thesis ought to be insightful enough to give you enough legitimate analysis to do. Do not pad your paper with bullshit!
Objectives
- Practice engaging with a source’s ideas and using them to further your own intellectual ends
- To defend a reasoned judgment
- To quote and paraphrase accurately and gracefully
Criteria for Evaluation
- Complete: Does the paper include all the necessary parts of the assignment? (thesis, summary of the film/scenes, focusing on a few key details, two portable concepts used in service of your thesis, conclusion, etc.)?
- •Accurate: Do your paraphrases and analyses faithfully represent the source material (both the film and the essays)?
- Brief: Does the paper use language precisely and economically to say as much as possible in the allotted space?
- •Independent: Would the paper make sense to readers who have not read the essays and seen the movies? Do you define key terms, if necessary?
- •Clarity and Design: Is the paper well-written, easy to understand, and easy to follow? Is it focused on your thesis? Does it have an effective structure and an appropriate style? Are sources properly documented? Are transitions used well? Is it organized and coherent?
- Editing Skills: Is the paper free of grammatical and mechanical errors?
Grade Range
- •A – Model paper. Up to a few minor errors and no major errors.
- •B – A few minor errors and perhaps one or two major errors counterbalanced by better than average execution.
- •C – Complete assignment. One or more major errors accompanied by many minor errors. On balance, however, the paper does fair work satisfying the requirements. A “C” paper is a successful paper.
- •D – A medley of major and minor errors. Usually an incomplete assignment. Often times “D” papers demonstrate reading and assignment comprehension issues or are a product of student sloppiness and laziness.
Major Errors: Result in the loss of anywhere between 8-30 points, depending on the severity. These errors usually involve issues related to the thesis, accuracy and misrepresentation, independence, citation, evidence (analysis/portable concept execution), introduction/conclusion, and completion.
Minor Errors: Result in the loss of anywhere between 1-7 points, depending on the severity. These errors usually involve issues related to grammar and editing, organization, clarity, and neutrality. However, sometimes a problem with the thesis, accuracy, independence, evidence (analysis/portable concept execution), introduction/conclusion, or citation is insignificant enough to fall under this category.
Keep in mind that minor errors can snowball and cause major errors. For instance, minor errors in organization could conceivably make a paper very difficult to follow overall, giving rise to a work that lacks independence.
