LTEA 120C Hong Kong Films
Hong Kong Cinema Through a Global Lens
Fall 2024
Final Analytical Paper and Optional Peer Review (30%)
This assignment is an opportunity for you to showcase the knowledge you have acquired in this course as well as your strengths in research; critical thinking; and articulate, concise writing.
Choose a topic that you are interested in and craft an essay of about 1000 – 1200 words (4-5 pages double-spaced in length using Times New Roman Font Size 12) in which you present a central argument and close reading of a limited body of primary sources (Hong Kong films). Your essay should be based on research you have done about your chosen topic, and you are welcome to study and write about any of the films we are examining in this class. Your paper should present a clear thesis and sufficient proof to substantiate your argument. You must present a close analytical reading of at least one film and engage at least one secondary source in your paper.
You may choose from a broad variety and options of paper topics, depending on what you are most interested in. You may trace a key idea or theme in several films of your choosing. Or you may choose to focus on only one film and carefully explain one or more key elements within it.
As part of this assignment, all students are highly encouraged, but not required, to participate in the Optional Peer Review process, during which you will give and receive constructive criticism from one of your classmates.
There are three steps you should follow in completing this assignment:
1. Write a good, complete draft of your analytical paper by Monday, December 2 at the latest.
2. Participate in the Optional Peer Review Writing Workshop December 2 – 6 and swap your paper draft with a classmate to receive feedback on your paper prior to final submission. You will be matched with a peer review partner.
3. Write, revise and submit your paper by Monday, December 9 on Canvas. I highly recommend you follow all guidelines stated in this assignment sheet and make use of all resources posted on Canvas regarding good research and writing skills, as well as the posted sample papers.
In order to write a strong and successful research paper, do the following:
1. Look on the syllabus and Canvas, and choose a topic you find interesting and would like to learn more about. This can be a topic/session we have already studied in the course, or one that we will study in the coming weeks.
2. Spend some time “marinading” by researching and reading about your chosen topic by using the resources posted on Canvas, the materials on course reserves, and other resources, such as JSTOR.
3. Choose a imited number of films you wish to analyze in your essay. You may choose to focus on only one film, or more than one.
4. Craft a central thesis / argument about your chosen topic that can be substantiated with evidence from the film(s) you are focusing on.
5. Organize the essay by presenting a clearly-defined introduction, body and conclusion.
6. Present a careful, rigorous analysis of the film(s) you are focusing on. Rather than merely citing or paraphrasing the story or plot of a given film, analyze the ideas you want to highlight in the film and show how they substantiate and strengthen your central argument / thesis. Focus and closely examine specific scenes in the film(s) you are discussing. Discuss not only WHAT you see in those scenes (plot, story, theme, characterization) but also HOW the scenes are put together by analyzing key elements of cinematic techniques (camera angles, lighting, sound, costume, make-up, mise-en-scène, color). Paying attention to cinematic techniques will allow you to focus on the aesthetic elements of the film(s) and to trace the affective power of the film(s) upon the viewer.
7. Choose at least one secondary scholarly source and engage with the ideas in this text while citing it correctly. If you wish, you may also read another secondary source that is not on our syllabus, and engage it in your critical reading of the primary text.
8. Utilize correct citation format, using either the MLA or Chicago Manuals of Style.
9. Provide footnotes (if needed) and a correctly formatted bibliography at the end of your paper. Clear guidelines regarding the format for direct quotes, paraphrased text, footnotes and bibliography can be found in the section entitled “How to Write Excellent Papers” in the “Assignments” folder on the Blackboard course web site.
10. Always write in your own voice and never “appropriate” another scholar’s texts, ideas or points as your own, as this is a form of plagiarizing. Whenever you cite a primary or secondary source, it is always important to give appropriate credit to the author of the work.
11. Carefully spell-check and proofread your paper so as to avoid spelling or punctuation mistakes.
12. Provide a cover page that features the title of your paper, your name, the date and the title of the course.
Your analytical paper will be graded according to the following criteria:
1. The content, substance, accuracy and depth of your argument, discussion and analysis.
2. Your analysis of at least one film, as substantiation of your central thesis / argument.
3. Your citation and critical engagement of at least one relevant secondary scholarly source in your essay
3. The organization and structure of your essay overall, as well as the clarity, style and format of your work.
The paper will be due by the end of the day on Monday, December 9 on our Canvas website. Points will be deducted for every day that you are late in submitting it. Good luck and enjoy this process of exploration, study and critical analysis!
