YOUR TERM PAPER

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YOUR TERM PAPER

• RUS2104

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What do I have to do?

• An analysis of an aspect of one or several
  Russian films post 1945.
• Length approx. 2000 words.
• A bibliography page citing at least three
  academic secondary sources is required.
• Due date November 21st.

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Choosing a film

• Choose a film from the lists on the following
  slides.
• Look up the film on the Internet Movie Data Base
  (IMDB).
• Find the film online, in the library, or at
  Glebe Video.
• Watch the film carefully at least twice.

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Suggested films pre 1991( more difficult film)

• Ballad of a Soldier
• Lady with a Little Dog
• I Walk Around Moscow
• Solaris
• Stalker
• Slave of Love
• Oblomov

• Autumn Marathon
• Five Evenings
• Moscow does not believe in tears
• Hedgehog in the Dark
• Cruel Romance
• Taxi Blues
• Adams Rib

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Suggested films post 1991

• Brother or Brother II
• Captive of the Caucasus
• The Wedding
• The Cuckoo
• Night Watch
• Boomer

• Moloch
• The Return
• The Twelve (12)

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I want to write about a film not on the list!!!

• Check with the professor before choosing a film
  not on the list.
• You will need a cogent reason to write about a
  film already discussed in class.

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Choosing an approach Narrative

• If you find the narrative (story) important,
  examine how it is presented. (Do not simply
  retell the story!!!)
• Are there flashbacks, flash forwards, ellipses?
  Why?
• What meanings could this story have in the
  Soviet/Russian context?

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Choosing an approach character and acting

• Examine a characters role in the film How is
  s/he presented?
• How does the character relate to the other
  characters?
• What means does the film-maker use to present the
  character?
• How does the acting enhance the presentation of
  the character?

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Choosing an approach editing and camera work

• Examine what is important and interesting about
  how the film is shot and edited.
• How does the editing enhance the rhythm of the
  film?
• Are there any striking examples of camera use and
  editing jump-cuts, point of view, detail shots,
  panning, dolly shots, etc.
• What does the editing tell us about the meaning
  of the film?

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Choosing an approach Film and literature

• If you are interested in literature, you may
  choose a film that is based on a piece of
  literature (e.g. Lady with a Little Dog,
  Solaris).
• Is the interpretation the story receives in the
  film faithful, or does it take liberties?
• How do changes to the story affect the meaning of
  the film?

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How will my paper be evaluated?

• Here are the main criteria
• Originalityand quality of analysis
• coherence of organization
• quality of sources and appropriate source
  referencing where required
• quality of language (English or French)
• neatness of presentation.

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Physical presentation and form

• Typed double-spaced in 12 pt Times Roman with 1"
  margins
• all pages numbered and author identified
• initial page with all pertinent information
  (student name, number, course number, name of
  professor, title of paper, number of words)
• all sources and statements referenced
• references keyed to a list of works cited
• system of referencing should be consistent.

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Tips

• Titles of films and books should be in italics.
• Your final paragraph should not be a summary of
  the content of the paper it should contain a new
  observation or comment that opens a new
  perspective.
• Be careful with the apostrophe. Here are some
  traps its it is whose (whos who is).