For this assignment, you’re going to write a 3-4 page essay in which you evaluate the mise-en-scene from City Lights.The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to apply what you have learned from Film Studies Chapters 1-3 and in academic writing style, develop a clearly organized, specific analysis of one of the films mentioned above.

Assignment Description: Please read carefully.

  1. Purpose of this assignment is revising original analysis paper ‘City Light’. (Scroll down.)
  2. Original paper description:

For this assignment, you’re going to write a 3-4 page essay in which you evaluate the mise-en-scene from City Lights.The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your ability to apply what you have learned from Film Studies Chapters 1-3 and in academic writing style, develop a clearly organized, specific analysis of one of the films mentioned above.

 

Your essay should have a clear thesis statement. What do I mean by thesis statement? Consider the following: What claim will you be making about how something functions in the film; the film’s interpretations; its effects on audiences; its place in or interaction with the spirit of the times or, whatever other point of interest about the film that you have decided is worth investigating?

 

A substantive essay will first and foremost, be specific. That is, your essay will draw on specific details from the film you’re writing about. Your writing will demonstrate how well you can “read” or interpret the film by applying film techniques from Film Studies Chapters 1-3. Remember to review the example of a strong opening paragraph as well as the other essay samples. Notice how specific the writers are about each and every frame. They go into detail to describe but also to analyze lighting, framing, performance, etc. in order to support his/her argument. Your essay is not a synopsis; rather it is a close examination of the film, the world in which it is set, and an opportunity to properly apply key filmic language to an academic essay.

 

A successful essay will be clearly organized and include an opening paragraph, three specific examples of scenes to support your argument and a closing paragraph.

 

  1. Result: I got 85points for this paper, but I really need better grade for this assignment.
  2. Here’s feedback from Professor: ‘You chose some good examples from the film. I think to make your essay stronger you can hone in on a more clearly defined thesis statement. Don’t forget to identify shots as you list them (wide shot of the dock, etc) How do you interpret the film? How does it affect your reading of the characters and their relationship?’

Please focus on Professor’s feedback in order to get higher grade, and I think it should be slightly longer than now.