Nelson, English 101
Fall 2007
Unit Three: Research Like a Rock Star
Overview:
As we’ve discussed many times, research is not our favorite part of the writing process. Unfortunately, it can also be a necessary part. How do we make it fun? Well, for starters we pick a topic we want to research. Then, don’t we feel inclined to ask questions, to dig further? For this project you will each select a movie or album of your choice. Then you’ll research like a rock star.
Reading:
Handouts:
“Writing the Arts” (handout), Tell it Slant by Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola
“Organizing and Writing Research Arguments” (handout), Envision, persuasive writing in a visual world by Christine Alfano & Alyssa J. O’Brien
The Everyday Writer
pp. 369-372
pp. 374-397
Explorations:
Explorations are informal. They give you space to think through ideas and questions. For each Exploration you should write for about 30 to 40minutes [1.5 pages typed, single spaced]guided by the questions or topicslisted below.
Exploration 1:
1. Having watched your film/listened to your album, what are your initial impressions?
2. What did you like and why?
3. What didn’t you like and why?
Be sure to be specific and really explore the “why’s” in these answers. Saying, “because it’s funny” or “cool” or “great” “or makes you dance” isn’t enough. If it’s funny, explain why (which is tough…) but how did they do it? What might they have done differently that could have diminished or improved the quality according to your own personal sensibilities.
Exploration 2:
Please bring in an annotated bibliography, with at least five sources, including at least two academic sources and at least two non-internet sources. Entertainment magazines, film/television interviews, scholarly journals, film/music textbooks and film/music criticism are welcome sources.
Exploration 3:
1. Think about your research. What have you learned about the “techniques” in your particular genre (movie/music)?
2. How has this changed your initial impressions to the film/album? How has this reinforced them?
Unit Writing Project:
For this project you will closely analyze a movie or album of your choice. (That’s right, choice!) It doesn’t have to be something you already like or have already seen, but it can be. Remember it can be just as interesting to look at something that doesn’t work. Questions you’ll be wanting to answer are:
a. What goes into the making of a film?
b. What goes into the making of an album?
c. What techniques does your particular film/album utilize and to what effect?
A note on sources: Of course, your first source will be the movie/album that you’re writing about and throughout your paper you’ll want to refer back to the this, your primary source. You can also look at interviews with directors, producers, actors, musicians, talking heads. You can look at special features in movies, liner notes in albums. But you’ll need academic sources as well. These are the sources that will tell you what the tricks of the trade are, and what you’ll need to be looking for as you’re analyzing your particular album/film. Throughout the paper you’ll want to integrate the sources, using all three methods that we’ve discussed and read about: paraphrase, summarize, and direct quote. Again, you’ll need a total of at least 5 sources.
What’s due the day this is due:
In a stapled packet, you’ll want to turn in
· [written last, but first in the packet:] a Cover Letter, addressing some/all of the following: what was your writing process like as you wrote this unit’s writing project? What challenges did you encounter? How did you address, or attempt to address, those challenges? What breakthroughs did you have? What do you wish you’d have done but perhaps you ran out of time, or you didn’t quite know how to do? Also, revisit the strategies (below) that we worked on this unit. What strategies did you especially gain confidence in, do you think? What made that happen? [3/4 page, single-spaced]
· Your Writing Project (4-5 pages, double-spaced, normal fonts and margins, Works Cited page if applicable.)
· Your class colleagues’ written response
· Explorations 1-3
· Any in-class work connected to this unit project
Writing Strategies We’ll Be Working On Throughout This Unit:
We will be extending our understanding of:
· writing that is clear, focused, and organized
· providing strong details
· providing effective feedback and learning from the feedback of others
· writing as part of the learning process
· research methods and using research to support and extend ideas
· writing for an audience
But we’ll also be looking at:
· serious analysis: not just the what it is, but the why and how as well
· organizing, developing & supporting the focus with gathered evidence
· understanding the purpose of citation and documentation practices (using print & online sources)
Homework Schedule:
In class music exercise. 3 step song analysis. 1. Gut Reaction. 2. What it is specifically that makes them like or not like this piece. 3. Why those specific things make them feel that way. To get them thinking about analysis. 4. How could they have done differently to get a different reaction. / .Read: “Writing the Arts” (handout)
Week Eight
Monday October 15 / In-class film exercise (like music but with film.)
Freewrite, choose a media. Album or Film. Why did you pick this media? What about this media appeals to you as compared to another? Discuss the merits of each. / Choose a specific album or film. Have it written out for me by next class.
Wednesday October 17 / Read: Doing the Thinking for All of Us, critical essay about Casablanca / Watch your film, or listen to your album. Be prepared to “explore” in-class on Friday.
Friday October 19 / Meet in Education: 107
Exploration 1 in class.
Week Nine
Monday October 22 / Meet in Library Rm. 203
Library Day with Kim Leder? / Begin Library Research.
Wednesday October 24 / Library research day.
Friday October 26 / In-class/internet research day. / Exploration 2.
Week Ten
Monday October 29 / Exploration 3 in-class. / Skim/be aware of: The Everyday Writer on MLA format.
Wednesday October 31 / MLA format workshop. / Read: “Organizing & Writing Research Arguments” (handout)
Friday November 2 / Optional Conferences (Dave borrowing computer lab)
Week Eleven
Monday November 5 / Discuss “Organizing & Writing…” / 1st Draft
Wednesday November 7 / 1st Draft due. Peer workshop.
Friday November 9 / Unit 3 due.