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Writing Assignment
Writing Assignment
Paper 2: Comparative Analysis
After watching a variety of films from different eras in American film history, you now have a deeper awareness of the various ways in which black women have been portrayed, and the motivations of those creating and controlling these portrayals.
In this paper, you will identify one distinctive characteristic (e.g. theme, stereotype, circumstance, “single story”) associated with the portrayal of black women and analyze the way this characteristic is reflected in two mass media sources (film, TV, video, book, etc.)
You can compare two completely different films (selecting either one or both from the titles we have seen in class), or compare different versions of the same film, or compare the film adaptation to the original source of the story (i.e. book or play). In either case, the paper must include the following sections:
• Introduction: Identifies the characteristic and the portrayals through which thecharacteristic will be analyzed; and includes an arguable thesis that explicitly states what the comparison hopes to prove
Writing Assignment
• Description or Summary: Provides a summary of the two sources, and includes enough background information (i.e. pertinent scenes, production details, etc.) to understand the context of the narrative
• Analysis: Examines the similarities and differences in the way the characteristic is used in both portrayals; and presents evidence to support claims regarding the negative or positive impact of the portrayals
• Conclusion: Summarizes your analysis and elaborates on the implications of your argument
Writing Assignment
This is a formal academic paper and thus should adhere to the following basic standards:
•2-3 typewritten pages, double spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font
•Use formal language (i.e. no contractions and limited use of personal pronouns, conversational words/phrases, etc.)
•Use of standard academic English for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and syntax
•MLA formatting, including a heading and title on the first page, pagination, in-text citations, and Works Cited page
