WRITING WORKSHOP #2

PLAIGIARISM Don’t do it!

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)

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

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.

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).

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).

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

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.

Paragraph with quotation leading (better)

Janet Staiger describes film director Gus Van Sant as “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.

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).

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).

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).

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].

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.

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’s Elephant. The Columbine massacre serves as the

inspiration for the independent film Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003).

Gus Van Sant’s Elephant (2003) is an intriguing and frustrating film…

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.

Popular articles Time, Newsweek, newspapers, blogs,

etc. Popular reviews:

Check RottenTomatoes.com or MetaCritic.com

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)

Sources on recent films New movies rarely have academic work

available Other possibilities:

Genre Author Theory (Narrative, Ideology, etc.)

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!

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