The Assignment  Your essay should be approximately 500 words and have 4 parts:  1. Introduction Attract your reader’s attention with an interesting introduction. Identify two films you have chosen, th

Literary Analysis Essay Assignment A literary analysis essay typically requires you to write about the meaning you have inferred from a piece of literature (e.g., a novel, film, play, poem, etc.). You are expected to have a thesis and support it with evidence (examples) from the literary wo rk. Typically, you’ll analyze the idea or message, plot, characters, tone, use of symbolism, writing style, or any other devices that the author has used. Analysis of a film or play might focus on visua l effects, lighting, sequencing or how an actor portrays a character . In a literary analysis essay, you do not focus entirely on the plot. Rather, you look at how the plot was designed , why it was developed, the choices an author made and whether these choices are effective choices. Although some contex t may be needed so readers can understand, you are not being asked to write a book report. The purpose is not to give a summary of the plot to prove you have read and understood it. Instead, you will offer an idea and present it through careful examination of the author’s or director’s choices. You are expected to refer to portions of the text or film to support your ideas. The goal is to make readers learn something new about the literary piece, or watch or read it with “new eyes.” Here is a summary of a long, 15 -page paper, “Gender Roles in Disney Films: Analyzing Behaviors from Snow White to Simba,” written by a graduate student: For this Assignment: The purpose of this assignment is to help you develop your analytical skills, your ability to support an idea with evidence from a text or image, and your ability to organize logically what you want to say. With a peer partner, you will write a 500 -word li terary analysis essay in which you compare/contrast TWO FILMS. Choose your films and your topic carefully after brainstorming together. Later in the semester, both of you will present your analysis to the class in a short presentation. When choosing a topic, While television cartoons have served as focal points for researchers concerned about gender depictions in Disney wo rks, their film counterparts have received little attention. This study analyzed Disney full -length animated films to identify the gendered “world view” they provide for young viewers. Prosocial and antisocial behaviors were examined to determine the preva lence of gender stereotypes within the films. Specific attention was paid to gender issues regarding victims of antisocial acts, contrasts between heroes and heroines, and differences between female and male villains. Hoerrner, K. L. (1996). Gender Roles in Disney Films: Analyzing Behaviors from Snow White to Simba. Communications , 19(2), 213 -228. consider carefully what might be interesting to your audience. You may choose films from your own culture and language. Possible Topics: Here are some possible topics you may use. Or, you can propose your own. Special Effects : Choose two fil ms of the same genre (action/adventure, anime, horror, fantasy, sci fi, etc.). Discuss how the directors use similar or different special effects and the result of their decisions. Remake : Choose a modern remake of an older film. For example, you might di scuss what is different about the 1994 and 2019 versions of The Lion King . Director Interpretation : Choose two films that show how directors differ in how they portray a similar situation. Perhaps one film inspired the audience to be more sympathetic than the other. Maybe one is more historically accurate than the other. Social C ommentary : Choose a so cial issue like technology, consumerism, beauty standards, environment, gender expectations, or social customs and show how two films are similar or different in how they portray one of these issues. It may or may not be a primary focus of the film. It may not be intentional. It may be a type of implicit bias. (In other words, the directors were just portraying “ordinary life,” but in doing so, included racism, gender biases, etc. Or, perhaps the directors intended to address the issues to increase public awareness. If so, were they effective? Why or why not? Stereotype : Choose two films that are similar or different in how they portray gender roles, race, villains, heroes/heroines, monsters, cultures, people with disabilities or differe nces. For other examples, get an idea of what people talk about by looking at reviews of movies on the website, Rotten Tomatoes: https:// www.rottentomatoes.com/ Look at how reviewers or viewers s upport their opinions about the film Pokémon Detective Pickachu: From: https:// www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pokemon_detective_pikachu The Assignment Your essay should be approximately 500 words and have 4 parts: 1. Introduction Attract your reader’s attention with an interesting introduction. Identify two films you have chosen, their genre, and a bit about the director, the historical period, and the date, if it’s relevant. Give your thesis statement. 2. Body This part will present your comparison or contrast points and evidence to support your thesis. You will likely be providing examples or descriptions of events to support your thesis. 3. Conclusion Summarize briefly your main points and thesis. 4. Sources: Provide information about each film using this template: Producer’s last name, Producer’s first name initial. (Producer), & Director’s last name, Director’s first name initial. (Director). (Date of publication). Title of movie [Motion picture]. Country of origin: Studio or distributor. Here is an example for the old and new version of The Lion King : Hahn, D. (Producer), & Allers, R., & Minkoff, R. (Directors). (1994, June 15). The Lion King [Motio n picture]. USA: Walt Disney Pictures. (In the above case, the producer’s name is Don Hahn, so we write: Hanh, D. The directors’ names are Roger Allers and Ron Minkoff) Favreau, J., Gilchrist, K., & Silver, J. (Producers), & Favreau, J. (Director). (2019, Jul 19). The Lion King [Motion picture]. USA: Disney Enterprises, Inc. (In the above case, there are three producers: Jon Favreau, Karen Gilchrist, and Jeffrey Silver. There is only one director (wh o is also a producer), Jon Favreau, so we include him as both.) NOTE: You will probably find your topic on the web somewhere. Remember: Mention the author and source whenever you use information or ideas from some one else. Also, you will be graded on how much of your content is original – created by you. Don’t use ideas of others too much. Rubric Worth 10 points Criteria Very Good 10 -7 points Average 6-4 points Need Much Improvement 3-0 points Points Focus Good topic, with sufficient complexity; highly likely to inform and interest readers; strong, clear thesis Topic is appropriate but may be predictable; questionable ability to inform or interest readers; Acceptable thesis Topic is too simplistic and predictable; very likely not to inform or interest readers; weak or missing thesis. Organization Introduction, body, and conclusion parts are clearly recognizable; information flows nicely without causing confusion Introduction, body, and conclusion parts are recognizable but coherence is occasionally weak; some information may cause confusion. One or more parts are missing; information may be difficult to follow; organization does not serve to help audience Support Thesis is supported with strong, clear examples or evidence Thesis is adequately supported with minimal examples or evidence; may not make a very convincing case for thesis Thesis is minimally supported or not supported at all; evidence is shallow and not convincing TOTAL POINTS