Essay Paper Assignment

Students in this class must write an essay paper to satisfy one of their course requirements. The assignment is worth 80 percent of the course grade. The essay paper must constitute original work done exclusively for this course. The essay paper serves as a comprehensive evaluation of a student's course performance, thus any breach of academic integrity, e.g., plagiarism, shall result in the assignment of a failing grade for the entire course and additional sanctions as set forth in University rules.

Your essay paper assignment for this course is deceptively simple. We will view five films and complete five readings that address five separate topics on contemporary Africa. Your assignment is to write an essay that relates each film to its associated reading as well as to the topic it addresses. To complete the assignment satisfactorily, you will need to keep a film journal with thoughts about and reactions to the individual films that you can then integrate with the readings. Extensive plot summaries are unnecessary since we both already have seen the films. Material from the films should be used to support the arguments you develop in your essay. Superior essays will take the next step and explore connections among the films, readings, and topics. Initiative will be rewarded. Outside research is not required to receive a passing grade, but obviously would enhance the final product.

You should refer to the following reading on reserve at the Cullom-Davis Library for guidance in writing your papers: Thomas E. Valasek, "Writing About Films," especially the sections on writing reaction and expository papers.

There are no intervening deadlines for submission of tentative thesis statements, outlines, rough drafts, etc.; they are not required. Of course I will be happy to discuss the assignment with students at any time during the first five weeks of the semester and will review outlines and rough drafts on an individual basis if students wish. Remember that you must allow adequate time for me to review outlines and drafts, i.e., do not expect me to turn them around during the night before the assignment is due!

The final draft of the essay paper is due no later than 12:00 noon on Friday, October 19.

Late papers will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Papers should be between eight and ten pages in length. Length may exceed the ten-page limit slightly.

You should double-space your papers and select a font no smaller than 10 points in size. Standard one-inch margins apply to all sides.

Make certain that you document quotations and any information that you may use from sources other than the film in either footnotes or endnotes. Adopt and use whichever accepted system of citation you prefer, e.g., APA, APSA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

Any paper containing more than a total of THREE spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors PER PAGE (i.e., a TOTAL of thirty errors for a ten page paper) will receive a failing grade for the assignment.

Paginate your essay, i.e., number the pages.

Please turn in TWO copies of each essay paper. One copy will be returned with comments; the other copy will remain with the instructor as a check against academic dishonesty, e.g., plagiarism.

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