A few notes on Essay #1:

• Due date: Friday, February 11^th
• Length: 3-5 pages will probably do it (700-1200 words or so); typed, double-spaced.
• What to include:
  • A two-pocket portfolio;
  • The essay;
  • A cassette tape (I record my comments to you);
  • A “Dear Jimbo” letter that lets me know how the course is going for you (plus anything else you want to say or ask).

• What are you writing: This is an essay on either Citizen Kane or Casablanca, or both. This essay focuses on the elements of film-making that are at work in these films: mise en scene, cinematography, editing, sound, acting, writing. This is not an evaluative essay (“Citizen Kane is brilliant because…”) or an interpretive essay (“The symbolism of the sled in Citizen Kane…”). Rather, this is an essay that observes in very specific ways what is going on in these movies.
• A very good essay…
  • will follow the MLA format;
  • will be closely proofread and free of mechanical errors;
    • Keep commas and periods inside of periods (I like the name “Tom.”)
    • Use the correct it’s and its;
    • Italicize (not put in quotes) the titles of movies.
  • will have an introductory and concluding paragraphs, plus body paragraphs that are stitched together with transition sentences. (These are the first sentences of paragraphs, and they express some kind of connection between the previous idea and the new idea coming up.)
  • will have a title on two lines. The first line is clever and creative (and ends in a colon); the second is more factual and informative.
  • will have a depth of understanding of the film;
  • will use some of the technical terms;
  • will be full of specific examples;
  • may focus on one specific scene;
  • will make some references to other movies for points of comparison;
  • will demonstrate a mind at work;
  • will be written with flare and vividness (yes, these needn’t be dull things).

• Grading: No less than 100 points; no more than 150. Here’s a rubric I used last semester:

/ 25            Mechanics (MLA format, grammar, punctuation, etc…)

/ 25            Essay format (intro, conclusion, body paragraphs, transition sentences…)

/ 50            Content: depth of understanding, range of terms, frequency of examples, knowledge of movie, …)

/ 50            My overall impression

/ 150          Total                                                                / 10 “Dear Jimbo” letter