VARIATION/ADAPTATION ESSAY
5 – 7pgs, 150 pts
An easy way to practice your analyzing skills is to look at the same material in a new medium. Because analyzing requires honing your critical thinking skills, a written exploration of the similarities and differences of one source material, can lead us to perfect our analyzing skills. The purpose of this assignment, then, is for you to analyze and explain how one adaptation or variation has affected your sense of the source material.For example, scores of movie industries are remaking older films to reach the younger audience. Why watch the new one, or the original? Why not?
Keep in mind that the emphasis here is on analysis rather than summary or personal opinions of the adaptations. While you may have loved the original song “Make Me Feel Your Love,” what type of emotions/feelings does Adele’s cover provide for you? What are those decisions, and how did you arrive at them? You may have decided against watching the new IT adaptation, in favor of the original movie. Why? While these examples are based on a song and a movie, you may also write about poetry, literary adaptations, art, etc. Why did you choose one of these adaptations over others, whether it lay in personal preference, peer-pressure, or sheer curiosity?
Dig deep.This paper is intended for you to think about your decisions and how you arrived at these conclusions.Use inquiry to really decipher your adaptation in a largersense.
Expectations of this essay:
I suggest working on a strong thesis statement first. Make sure to take another look at the Thesis Presentation on Harvey to help you formulate a strong thesis statement. Also, within the body of your paper, I ask that you use textual evidence to support the claim you are making. Use direct quotes and paraphrases from either the source material or the adaptation/variation in order to prove your thesis statement.
Within this essay, you must provide a clear picture of the specific adaptation and the source material. You must explain the similarities and difference between the two that pertains to your overall argument. You should also tell me how the differences or similarities influence the adaptation.
You must provide an in-depth analysis of how the adaptation/variation has affected your sense of the source material and provide effective and well-supported reasons and evidence to argue for your analytical position.
I expect your essay to exhibit sentence-level stylistic clarity, reflecting carefully selected word-choice and demonstrate effective sentence structure. You should also have clear, well-edited writing that is free of proofreading mistakes, distracting grammatical errors, and your papers should adhere to MLA formatting conventions.
Finally, you essay must exhibit global coherence and cohesion and leave the reader with a dominant impression of the significance of this variation adaptation material in the context of popular culture.
Essay Life Cycle
The Brainstorm,which will be turned in when you submit your entire Process Folder, is just like what it sounds. It may consist of a freewrite, a list of ideas, or a mindmap or any other form of brainstorming.Write at least one page of notes/bullet points of adaptations/variations you are considering.The initial draftconsists of an entire written page which includes your introduction and thesis statement and bullet points for the remainder of your essay. The rough draftmust be at least three full pages AND a detailed outline of what you plan to write for the remainder, if not the full five pages. Bring a hard copy to class for peer review and self-evaluation. The final draftshould be submitted to Harvey and a physical copy turned in, in your process folderon the appropriate due date. The final draft should be well-edited writing without any grammatical errors and adheres to all MLA formatting conventions.
To begin, consider the following angles and questions:
- Explain why you chose this particularvariation/adaptation. Address how this adaptation has influenced how you view the source material, the way you view other variations.
- If this is an adaptation that you felt particularly drawn to? Why do you think that is?
- Investigate the source material in-depth. Analyze the original text, its unique qualities, and compare it to the new variation/adaptation.
- When was the original released? What are the major themes and ideas presented in the source material? Are they similar or vastly different from the variation/adaptation?
- Was the variation/adaptation better received than the original?
- Are there certain things the adaptation does that the source material do too? Why was there no change?
- Is the variation/adaptation now offensive to certain groups of people? Meaning, is the adaptation pejorative now?
- Analyze and explain the extent to why it was important to look at your chosen variation/adaptation.
Format
All papers besides the Brainstorming part (which we will do in class) should be created on a Word document (.doc or .docx). Any other formats will not be accepted. This paper should adhere to MLA standards, which includes, double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1” margins, header with last name and page number, correct heading and a Works Cited page (that is NOT included in the 5-7 page requirement). You MUST cite source material and adaptation in your Works Cited. Failure to cite a source counts as plagiarism, so cite your sources. You should also have one additional source that provides background for the adaptation/variation and/or source material. So altogether, you should have 3 sources at the very least.
You should bring ALL papers printed out to class on their due dates.For the Final Draft, make sure to upload it to Harvey as well as bring a printed copy to class.
Process Folder:
All students will be required to have a two-pocket folder for their papers in addition to their other folder that holds syllabus and assignments. We call this the Process Folder. Each Paper will have a Life Cycle which includes: Brainstorm, Initial Draft, Rough Draft, and Final Draft (in that order with the Final Draft being the paper on top). As you produce each draft, you should put a copy inside your Process Folder. When you turn in your final draft, you will turn in the entire Process Folder that includes the Life Cycle of your paper (four drafts).
Each draft should have an initial on the back of the paper (it can be in pen) to tell me what draft it is. Use the following legend for marking papers:
Brainstorm: B
Initial Draft: ID
Rough Draft: RD
Final Draft: FD
Each Process Folder MUST have your name in Sharpie on the front of your folder.
If the Process Folder is not in the state it should be, meaning it is missing a paper, points will be deducted from your grade.
ENG 1033: Variation Adaptation Essay Grading Rubric
Name _______.______________ Essay Submitted on time ____
Aspect of Assignment Sheet Possible Points Earned Points
| Essay creates a clear picture of a specific adaptation and the source material for said adaptation, explaining the similarities and differences between the two and the influences represented in the adaptation.
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/30
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| Essay includes an assertive thesis statement that takes an analytical position regarding the adaptation as it compares to the source material. | /25
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| Essay engages in a deconstruction of the adaptation, and an analysis/explanation of how the adaptation or variation has affected the student’s sense of the source material, and displays effective and well-supported reasons and evidence to argue for their analytical position | /35
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| Essay exhibits sentence- level stylistic clarity, reflects carefully selected word-choice and demonstrates effective sentence structure | /15 | |
| Essay exhibits clear, well-edited writing that is free of proofreading mistakes, distracting grammatical errors, and adheres to MLA formatting conventions | /20 | |
| Essay exhibits global coherence and cohesion and leaves the reader with a dominant impression of the significance of this variation adaptation material in the context of popular culture. | /15
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| Essay comes out to a full five pages or more. | /10 | |
| 150 points possible
/150 |
Grade = % |
*If Initial Draft, Peer Review Sheet, or Rough Draft with my feedback is missing from Process Folder -5 points each
