Write a paper summarising the differences between The Notebook (the book) and the movie.
Your Argument paper should be at least three to four pages (700-1000 words) with your Works Cited on a separate page at the end. Your Works Cited should include at least three sources that you used in your paper ( and make sure to include in-text citations in your paper that match your works cited). Please read the guidelines below carefully.
Argument Synthesis
Using the elements on Argument Synthesis (review pages 168-171 in EA book), create an argument synthesis paper by stating a claim, using your sources as evidence or support for the claim, and then give your assumption of what the sources have evidenced. (Review slideshow at top of this moodle page for help as well).
First, find a book that someone has turned into a movie. Second, decide whether the book or the movie was worse. Yes, worse! Your purpose for writing the paper is to make a claim about which was worse, and support your decision by referring to the book and movie as support for the claim.
What was especially weak or poor about the book vs the movie that you did not like? Did the book or the movie have a more interesting plot twist? Did the book or the movie tell the story in more unique ways? Did the book or the movie have more suspense, get the reader more involved, or create more conflict?
You will argue these claims by proving which other parts of the other stories do a better job. Use at least three of the following criteria, or come up with your own three.
Does the book or the movie showcase the characters at their best?
Is the book or the movie more interesting, involved, or effective?
Does the book or the movie have more conflict or suspense?
Does the book or the movie have more interesting (and logical) twists and turns in the plot?
Does the book or the movie have a more logical plot that takes the reader along smoothly?
Does the book or the movie have a better/worse story telling style?
Your job in the paper, of course, is to show how the other story “did it better.” You are not finished by merely stating that the conflict in Story A was better than the conflict in Story X. You must explain! But, be careful that you don’t tell the reader a plot synopsis of what happens in Story A. Instead, refer to the story parts to make a point.
Here are the steps in the process of writing this argument synthesis:
1. Make a claim / formulate a thesis.
2. Develop an organization plan.
3. Write a draft. I would suggest beginning with your first body paragraph in which you discuss your first criterion in the worse adaptation of the story and contrast it with better story. Continue to draft the body of your paper.
4. Choose appropriate quotations or paraphrasing from your notes (or go back to the stories). Introduce and cite your quotations or paraphrasing correctly in your paragraphs.
5. Write an introductory paragraph. You may choose to be as creative as you want here. Remember that your first paragraph is your first opportunity to make a case for the claim you are arguing – that the version of the story you selected is terrible. So you will want to introduce your topic, maybe introduce what you see as the value that genre of book/movie and then move to how expectations should be met in that type of a story. End the intro with your claim or thesis statement. Remember: this is just a suggestion for the intro. You are encouraged to use any strategy that works best for your paper.
6. Write a conclusion paragraph. Now it is time to wrap up this paper in which you have tried to convince your reader to agree with you: Story X is bad! The one thing you do not want to do is re-state all your ideas. You have one final opportunity to make your case – in case your reader is still not convinced! If you choose to summarize, do so in a different way. Exercise the many options for bringing this discussion to an end. Here are some ideas:
Write an introduction in reverse! – Start with your claim, and then work from there.
Discuss your claim’s importance – why is it necessary that the bad version of the story such as the one you chose should be eliminated?
Offer a solution or recommendation that someone re-write the story – offer specific suggestions for improvements
Discuss why nothing (no re-writing, no improvements) could save this story
Or, use concession – concede that Story X may have been good for its original audience (you will need to research a bit here), but not today (This tactic would also work for an introductory paragraph, don’t you think?) Explain.
7. Type your paper in MLA Format. Don’t forget your Works Cited page on the last page of the document containing your paper, listing all your story variations you referenced and any other sources.
8. Proofread, revise, and edit. Look carefully for floating quotations – correct any you might have missed in an earlier reading. Check your paper for strong topic sentences in your body paragraphs. Have you used transitions (words or phrasing) to move your reader through your paper? Moreover, don’t forget to check the intricacies of MLA format.
By the time you have finished, you should have a paper that is 700-1000+ words, which synthesizes cited information into your paper by pulling from at LEAST 3+ sources to back up and give examples for your claim.
This assignment will serve two purposes: first, it will better develop your skills as a selective writer and it will serve as a template for the campus-wide final assessment essay.
