Choose one of the articles that we have read in class from Near Dark through From Dusk Till Dawn and provide a careful, concise summary of the major points of its argument. Discuss the significance of the claims made by the author. What do the observations or assertions suggest about cinematic standards, cultural values, and thematic concerns, and viewer spectatorship? In other words, point out the importance of the article to an understanding of vampire films. Explain what you find disturbing, interesting, wrong, confusing, and/or compelling about the arguments by analyzing one of the films viewed thus far in terms of the article’s major premises. Your essay is not a critical review or a description of your responses or personal opinions. You may express your personal feelings about the topic, but be sure to address the concerns of the article. Do not argue or dismiss the claims of the article unless you have documented evidence to contradict them. Do not make a claim such as: “Despite what the author says, most people never think that confused sexuality is an issue in gangster films.” You need to prove a claim about viewers’ unconscious thoughts—opinions will not serve. You do not need to cite articles other than the ones under discussion. This paper is not meant neither to be a research paper, a movie review, or simply an elaboration of your personal opinions on the matter, but rather a summary analysis of the article and its pertinence to your argued interpretation of a film.

Writing Instructions (papers that do not fulfill these requirements will suffer a reduction in grade):

a) Papers must be 3-5 pages in length, double-spaced, with margins of ½-1,” numbered pages, and a title. The font size must be a standard 11 or 12 point. Do NOT use Courier New 12-point or higher.

b) Papers must include proper bibliographic citation of the article, articles and films you discuss.

c) Papers must state a thesis, argue a point, and reach a conclusion

General Rules of Essay Writing:

A) Back up your opinions with persuasive proof and specific analyses.

B) Do not make historical claims unless you cite evidence to confirm your assertions. For example, do not assert that an audience responded a certain way to a film character or film narrative unless you know it for a fact. Film historians have chronicled audience responses, and film critics have analyzed them, in a great number of books. You must be aware of this information, as well of the social and political climate of the time the film was made, if you wish to make an intelligent and convincing statement about audience response.

You may analyze the film narrative, however, to argue that a certain response seems intended by the film. You must cite a pertinent episode of the film, examine the action and characters, and explain what and how the film tells you to think and feel about the characters and action.

C) Do not reject a critic’s theoretical perspective unless you can offer convincing proof that it is mistaken. For instance, do not simply state that psychoanalytic readings are wrong or inaccurate unless you can justify your claims – a tough endeavor in a five-page paper. Instead, argue against specific points that the critic makes, offering an alternative reading of the character or scene in question. Make sure you understand the full import of the critic’s argument, however, before you tackle it.

D) Be sure that you engage with the critical article you choose. Summarize the points you agree or disagree with, formulate a thesis, and then go on to argue the thesis by addressing those points cited. Do not meditate on topics that are not part of the article in question. Be sure that you address claims made by the critic, not facts that he or she is reporting.

E) Be sure your word choice and phrasing accurately reflect your meaning. You can confuse the reader and undercut your argument if you do not use precise terminology and coherent syntax. When arguing complicated points, use words that clearly unfold your argument. Avoid vague terms (“aspect,” “thing,” “this” without a referent following it) and information that fails to forward your argument.

F) Explain each point and elaborate on your observations.

Style, Syntax, and Grammar Hints

1) ALWAYS title your papers (with a meaningful title), number your pages, and include bibliographic info. Papers must be typed, double-spaced and have regular margins (½-1”) and a standard font size (11-12 point). Do NOT use Courier New 12 point or higher.

2) Formulate a thesis. For instance, claim that the setting or tone of the work enhances (or obscures) the character’s motives, or that a close reading of a particular passage suggests that the passage does far more than merely describe or narrate.

3) Sentences should be clear, precise and succinct. Vary your sentence structure to avoid boring your reader. Edit out all unnecessary words or phrases. Read your paper aloud, preferably to a patient and alert friend. If your sentences do not read as you would speak — that is, if the points are very hard to follow, if the phrasing is convoluted and sounds pompous or pretentious, or if the words do not express simply and explicitly what you mean, reword the sentence.

4) A paragraph should develop one point. The topic should derive logically and fluidly from the preceding paragraph and lead logically and fluidly to the following paragraph. If you paragraph is shorter than four sentences or longer than eight, make sure you adequately developed your point or have not wandered from the topic.

5) Refer directly to the text under discussion to illustrate your points about it. Avoid including bulky portions of the text, however: use only as much as you need to make your arguments.

6) Commas and periods are ALWAYS placed within (inside of) quotation marks.

EXAMPLE: The authors think that Benjamin practices “self-sought isolation.”

EXAMPLE: This incident is another example of what the authors call “rebellious,” but what I think could be seen as a normal response.

7) Semicolons separate items in a long list or two independent clauses.

8) Titles of films and books are ALWAYS underlined or placed in italics.

9) The use of “however” to begin a sentence is rarely appropriate.

WRONG: However, Benjamin’s loneliness and attempts to communicate indicate his desperate desire to make true human contact.

CORRECT: Benjamin’s loneliness and attempts to communicate, however, indicate his desperate desire to make true human contact.

10) Do not use an ellipsis (those three little dots) to begin or end quoted material. Ellipses are used to indicate that there are words or phrases missing in the passage quoted.

WRONG: “…But the film, in part through the pattern of imagery here described, makes the theme more immediate and arresting”

WRONG: “But the film, in part through the pattern of imagery here described, makes the theme more immediate and arresting…”

CORRECT: “But the film …makes the theme more immediate and arresting.”

11) NEVER use the term “this” alone unless the reference is perfectly clear. When making an argument or discussing a scene, character, or claim, USE A REFERENT (a noun following the “this”). If you use a vague or unidentified “this,” your argument collapses.

CORRECT: There was a terrible snowstorm in Montreal. This caused our plane to be delayed for hours.

WRONG: Benjamin feels uncertain about the future and alienated from his parents. The film uses various visual techniques to indicate his isolation, often showing him in enclosures, such as his bedroom or hotel room, or on water. This explains his relief in discovering Elaine, who listens to and understands him. [There is no way to tell what the “this” refers to in this sentence (the uncertainty, the alienation, the visual techniques? All three? the first two? the last one?) and so the point of the remark is obscured or lost.]

12) Indented quotations should not be placed within quotation marks and should be single-spaced.

13) Once Again: Proofread your paper. Be a ruthless editor of your prose. Weed out every unnecessary word or phrase; make sure every term you have used expresses your meaning succinctly and precisely; check to see that each claim you have made is clearly stated, fully discussed, and backed up with evidence from the text (film). Make certain that you have spelled the names of characters, authors, and texts correctly, that you have employed proper grammar and accepted syntax.