Write a research paper seeking comparative analysis of several films and incorporating material from external reviews, academic articles and course readings.
Discuss in the Word file, but make sure that the overall text still equals to 12 typed pages (Format: 12 pages + bibliography; Times New Roman, *12 font size, 1,5 spacing).
Subject line: FINAL PAPER + Russian Film + your name.
Preamble: The choice of topic is entirely yours! Out of nine topics on Russian cinema you are welcome to select either one, or a combination of several themes, and explore them in depth using what triggered your interest as a springboard. You can make your own case study. Or feel inspired by a certain figure – be it a director, an artist, or a topic touched upon by any of these movies. Moreover, feel free to use other films not screened in this class, including those produced in Hollywood or Bollywood, as long as you can convince me that they help us to understand certain issues within the framework of this class (examples: see in my video essays how I have incorporated Western MTV aesthetics into analysis of Parajanov’s “The Color of Pomegranates” or formalistic analysis of “I Am Cuba” to draw parallels between various international cinematic schools, or even my Instagram posts).
I particularly welcome interdisciplinary research, so you can bring into this class your own expertise from a different field and enrich the argument. Be original and bold. If you wish to discuss your topic with me, feel free to email.
Do you want to produce a video essay instead of writing a standard paper? Yes, you can! However, this should be approved by instructor first. If you have an idea and wish to explore it, again, just message to me directly and we will discuss the length, the topic, as well as whether you have technical capabilities to accomplish it.
Below is a summary on how to write an academic paper. Also, I attach a PDF copy of an article specifically devoted to researching movies:
1. The first paragraph of your paper should always contain a clear thesis statement. You should give the reader an indication here of how you are going to proceed with the argument. This section outlines the main points of your paper and the direction of your argument. You may like to sustain some curiosity and surprise, so you don’t have to tell the reader everything at the beginning but tell us enough to make the paper readable and the transitions smooth.
2. If you are so inspired, it helps to give your paper a descriptive title. If you can think of something that reflects your main argument and that is catchy, all the better. It focuses the reader’s attention on the essentials immediately.
3. Structure your essay around your main argument, coming at it from different directions throughout the paper.
4. Do NOT write an “And Also” paper. In other words, make sure you don’t allow your paper to read like a laundry list or a grocery list of different items. Integrate the ideas by laying out your argument in the first paragraph, always considering the implications of each part of your discussion in relation to the main argument and summarizing your analysis at the end. Frequently in such papers students realize their main argument when they get to the conclusion. If this happens in your first draft, and you find your conclusion is particularly succinct and clear, transfer it to the first paragraph.
5. One good way of organizing such a paper would be by thinking of the sub-parts of your main argument. For instance, you may want to show the reader how your argument is supported by your analysis of the film’s (a) narrative devices and structure (b) character portrayals (c) themes. You could divide the paper up into sub-sections, perhaps giving a title to each of the sections if you can think of good, relevant, descriptive subheadings. (But please don’t get subheading-nappy either, i.e., where every paragraph starts with a separate subheading and there are three double spaces between those paragraphs. In other words, don’t use it as a space-filling device.)
6. You are encouraged to refer to the reading material from class or relevant material from outside class, paraphrasing or utilizing direct quotes where needed. Integrate your quotes with the rest of your paper, and DO NOT use very large block quotes.
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY: If you use the Internet sources, cite them properly.
8. Don’t forget to spell-check, proofread, and number the paper. Underline or italicize book and film titles.
