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Writing workshop #2

Writing workshop #2. PLAIGIARISM. Don’t do it! .

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Writing workshop #2

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  1. Writing workshop #2

  2. PLAIGIARISM • Don’t do it! 

  3. Among the tactics of minority authorship, Van Sant shows evidence of frequently using at least four of the six. If he has chosen silence at times, my limited research has not accessed that tactic. For the tactic of creating an alter ego, Van Sant has indicated that he identified with Scott in Idaho even though, J. Hoberman remarks, “he satirizes him" (60). However, in public interviews, Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch. Janet Staiger, “Authorship Studies and Gus Van Sant,” Film Criticism 29:1 (2004)

  4. “However, in public interviews, Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch.”

  5. My paragraph • Though many films about Columbine would likely focus on only the killers, Van Sant’s film pays attention equally on an assortment of characters both major and minor. Thus, while most viewers want to know about the motives of the murderers, Van Sant is more interested in the victims.

  6. Paragraph (Bad Citation) • Though many films about Columbine would likely focus on only the killers, Van Sant’s film pays attention equally on an assortment of characters both major and minor. Thus, while most viewers want to know about the motives of the murderers, Van Sant is more interested in the victims. “However, in public interviews, Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch” (Staiger 10).

  7. Slightly Better • Though many films about Columbine would likely focus on only the killers, Van Sant’s film pays attention equally on an assortment of characters both major and minor. Thus, while most viewers want to know about the motives of the murderers, Van Sant is more interested in the victims. “Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch” (Staiger 10).

  8. Suggestions • Never close a paragraph with a citation. • Instead, explain how the quote relates to your point. • Don’t quote the entire sentence if only parts of it help your argument or if it disrupts the flow of the paragraph. • Quote just a portion or paraphrase

  9. Paragraph w/ segmented quote (better) • Though many films about Columbine would likely focus on only the killers, Van Sant, “a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch,” (Staiger 10) pays attention equally on an assortment of characters both major and minor. Thus, while most viewers want to know about the motives of the murderers, Van Sant is more interested in the victims.

  10. Paragraph with quotation leading (better) • Janet Staiger describes film director Gus Van Santas “a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch” (10), which helps to explain the long tracking shots in Elephant that focus upon both major and minor characters.

  11. Paragraph w/ paraphrased quote • The long tracking shots in Elephant follow an assortment of characters in the hour before massive violence ensues. These long shots are characteristic of Van Sant’s voyeuristic style of filmmaking in which he watches with intrigue outsiders and marginal figures (Staiger 10).

  12. Quoting and Clarity • You may use brackets to indicate that you have substituted words. • Original quote: • “However, in public interviews, Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch.” • Paragraph: • Elephant’s focus on the nerdy high schooler reflects tendency to “[pose] himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch” (Staiger 10).

  13. Clarity, cont’d • Original quote: • “However, in public interviews, Van Sant has mostly posed himself as a voyeur to alien cultures he finds intriguing to watch.” • Paragraph: • Elephant depicts a seemingly normal day in an American high school before a Columbine-like massacre. However, the film doesn’t focus solely on the killers; instead, it takes as its subject just the sorts of “alien cultures [that director Gus Van Sant] finds intriguing to watch” (Staiger 10).

  14. Introductions • The preview of main points does not have to be built into the thesis statement. • Example: • In Elephant, Gus Van Sant attempts to [blank] by [blank]. First, he [blank]. Second, he [blank]. Finally, he [blank].

  15. Formatting • MLA Citation style (see blog) • 1” margins on all sides • This MUST be adjusted in MS-Word (default: 1.25”) • No spaces between paragraphs • This MUST be adjusted in MS-Word (default: 1 space) • Film titles should be either italicized or underlined.

  16. Formatting, cont’d • Give director and date the first time a film is mentioned. • After that, title alone is sufficient. • Examples: • One of the most controversial films of 2003 was Gus Van Sant’sElephant. • The Columbine massacre serves as the inspiration for the independent film Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003). • Gus Van Sant’sElephant (2003) is an intriguing and frustrating film…

  17. Academic Sources • Remember: 2 of your sources need to be scholarly/academic. • Good place to start: Schirmer Encyclopedia of Film or International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. • See “getting started” tab of the research guide • Check Film & TV Literature Index, JSTOR, and Project MUSE for journal articles. • See “finding articles” tab of the research guide. • Be sure to click “peer-reviewed” when searching.

  18. Popular articles • Time, Newsweek, newspapers, blogs, etc. • Popular reviews: • Check RottenTomatoes.com or MetaCritic.com

  19. Support/Evidence • Each of your main points should have some form of evidence. • quotation, paraphrasing, or reference to idea or theory. • Is it an academic source? • University presses • 15+ pages • Footnotes/Endnotes • Unsure? Email me (attach document or send citation)

  20. Sources on recent films • New movies rarely have academic work available • Other possibilities: • Genre • Author • Theory (Narrative, Ideology, etc.)

  21. Theses • Break into groups of three • Read and critique each other’s thesis statements • Goal: tighten them up; make them better. • Is it too obvious? • Do all main points relate to one central argument? • Is it too “main theme”-oriented? • BE POLITELY MEAN!

  22. Conclusion • This is your last opportunity to sell me on your argument. • Don’t simply re-state your thesis; re-word it so that it is compelling, fresh, and effective. • Bad: “So, in this essay I have proven my point that the non-linear structure of The Sweet Hereafter is necessary to withhold information from the audience.” • Better: Given that most Hollywood films are structured in a way

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