This essay is to be both a research paper and a formal analysis of a film. If you are unsure how to search for books, journal articles or other resources, feel free to contact the campus library. Reference Librarians are very helpful and will direct you to other necessary resources you will need to satisfactorily complete the research essay.
Due Date: Tuesday, May 18th by 11:59pm
Submission Instructions:
Paper must be submitted electronically on Blackboard via the submission link.
The submission link can be found on the Blackboard homepage under the tab titled THE FINAL PAPER.
Paper must be submitted as a Microsoft Works document.
The submission link will expire at 11:59PM on the due date. You will not be able to submit your paper after the link expires.
Essay Format and Length:
Essays must be typed and double spaced in MLA format.
5-7 pages (including a required Works Cited page).
Citation
Please refer to the MLA Handbook for more information on how to cite references MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Helpful links:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
https://style.mla.org/
Proper credit must be given for any citations, quotations, or ideas that are not your own that are cited in your paper.
Improper or absent citations are automatically considered plagiarism.
Film Source:
Lumet, Sidney. “Network [film].” United States: Metro Goldwyn- Mayer (1976).
A Note on Plagiarism:
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are subject to investigation by the office of Academic Integrity.
Any evidence of plagiarism will result in an automatic failing grade for the entire class.
All papers will be scanned through SafeAssign- anti-plagiarism detection software.
Final Paper Grading:
The essay will be graded as a complete exam -100 points total/ 30% of the final grade
The essay will be evaluated based on content, grammar, organization, and general style.
If you have any questions or concerns about this assignment, please do not hesitate to ask via email or during weekly online office hours.
FINAL PAPER CONTENT INSTRUCTIONS
This assignment is based on Sidney Lumets film, Network (1976).
Students are responsible for locating and watching the film. It is in print on DVD and is widely available on video streaming platforms.
You are to construct your essay based on the following questions and discussion points:
Briefly describe and summarize (in your own words) Mr. Jensens famous forces of nature speech to Howard Beale?
Give an example of how the worldwide corporate and financial domination that Mr. Jensen spoke of continues today. Name a specific company or corporation that owns and controls several media outlets. How much control does that particular company have over its media content?
Briefly summarize Howard Beales turn off your television setturn them off sermon / speech during his first revised newscast.
Did audiences perceive this film as pure satire or fantasy in 1976? How has this film become less of a satire and more of a prophesy about the current state of reality television?
(NOTE: This question will require you to locate original 1976 newspaper and magazine film reviews as well as other relative material to support your answer).
Valid sources for an academic research paper include:
Original film reviews (New York Times, Variety Magazine, Cinema Today).
Books about specific films or directors (filmographies, biographies, and autobiographies).
Interview transcripts (with directors or actorsEx: Hitchcock / Truffaut).
Video and audio interviews (must be cited properly and written transcription-style in your finished essay).
Critical essays by notable film historians (Robert Osbourne, Roger Ebert etc).
Sources that are not valid include:
Personal blogs, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter
Wikipedia or any other facsimile
Product reviews from commercial retail sites (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)
IMDB (Internet Movie Database) reviews and plot summaries
