HUMA 1780APentadic Analysis Essay Assignment
For your first assignment, you will be writing an analytical essay of approximately 3 pages (700-1000 words) that explores the ways that a book, film, television program, or other fictional mediated narrative displays the combination of elements (agent, scene, act, agency, purpose) from Burkes pentad. The major focus of the assignment will be on the ways that these elements work in concert and contrast to produce meaning within a particular work of storytelling.
Steps to completing the assignment:
1. Select a story that you wish to analyze. The choice is yours but find a work that is complex enough to provide material for an essay of this length. The film, novel, or other form of story should be primarily fictional in character (can be based on real events but non-fiction prose, documentary films, and the like should be avoided). There are no restrictions on the choice of story, with the exception of the following:
The Great Gatsby
Any novel/film/television program created primarily for children (e.g, Frozen, Finding Memo, Moana, Dr. Seuss, etc.). Examples do not have to be created exclusively for adults (family friendly material is fine) but it should be written/directed/created at a level suitable for mature, sophisticated adults.
Please provide a bibliographic entry for the book or film at the end of the essay. MLA, APA, Chicago Manual of Style, or any other widely accepted citation system is acceptable for the entry.
2. The first section of the essay, after a brief introduction, should provide a short synopsis of the plot of the novel or film. Please limit the synopsis to one paragraph, as the essay is short and space should be reserved for analysis of the structures of meaning-making within the film/novel.
3. The next section (several paragraphs) of the essay should analyze the elements of pentadic analysis as they are relevant to the work in question, exploring which elements are dominant and which are less important, how the importance of a given element is communicated, and how the particular medium assists in emphasizing particular elements of the work in question. You should also consider how these creative decisions impact the message that work is communicatingwhat is the larger theme or themes of the story and how is the thematic structure related to the combination of pentadic elements?
Details:
1. Your essay should be approximately 3 pages (750-1000 words), double-spaced. This is very brief for a scholarly essay so you will need to be concise; a thoughtful revision and editing process is important here. You should and upload a digital copy to the course Eclass assignment submission portal. The title of your digital file should include your name and the title of the work you are analyzing, e.g., JoeBlowRemembranceofthingspast.docx. You can use pdf or word files, depending on your preference.
2. Remember to stay focused on the text and try to include as many details as possible to support your analysis. A fundamental question should be: How does the story produce meaning through the use of the five elements of the pentad?
3. No external sources are required but you are welcome to consult scholarly work in the process of writing the essay. Please cite any work that you use in accordance with proper academic practice.
4. Do not hesitate to contact your tutorial leader or course director if you have questions or would like feedback on ideas. Usually, in person meetings are best for extensive consultation (check with tutorial leader for individual preferences).
The recommended deadline for the essay is Friday, October 23. Submitting by this date will ensure that you receive detailed feedback. The final date essays will be accepted is Tuesday, December 15.
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