Research Guides: COMM 4856/6856: Women &amp; Film: Writing Assistance

How to write about film

Hunter College Writing Center: Writing about Film
A quick guide that helps you plan your paper about film.
Dartmouth Writing Center: Writing about Film
Another excellent guide that helps you think about the difference between writing a movie review and writing a research paper about a movie. Also details several approaches to film analysis.
The Language & Style of Film Criticism
Connect to this ebook to read about the style and rhetoric of film criticism, to understand its place in higher education, and to understand intricacies in language choices.
Film Art: an Introduction
A classic in Film Studies, this title also discusses stylistic concerns in written film criticism in great detail.

Style Guides

Need help with MLA or APA?

The OWL: APA
The Online Writing Lab from Purdue provides quick access to the fundamentals of APA Style/formatting with lots of examples.
The OWL: MLA
The Online Writing Lab from Purdue provides quick access to the fundamentals of MLA Style/formatting with lots of examples.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Need more than quick examples? Consult the most recent edition of APA Style at McWherter Library, 1st floor RIS Desk.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Need more than quick examples? Consult the most recent edition of the MLA Handbook at McWherter Library, 1st floor RIS Desk.

An exercise

Here's a formula for crafting a clear and specific argument:

[Name of film] + [verb] + [concept/theory/problem] + [clause identifying something specific in the film] + [optional clause] = your thesis statement/argument

Useful verbs: demonstrates, exposes, suggests, reveals, supports, illustrates, upholds, denies, belittles, reflects, minimizes, subverts, critiques, dismantles, reinforces, props up, is informed by, is narratively structured/shot in such a way that

Example: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me reinforces the gendered double-standard of sexuality through the pending ritualized murder of Laura Palmer, yet the characterization of Laura is informed by a latent feminist understanding of incest and sexual abuse evidenced by her secret 'bad girl' persona.

Convenient Citing?!

Most article databases, as well as the Library Catalog, have built-in tools that format citations of the material you find in them. You can select the style of citation you need (ASA, APA, MLA, etc.) and then copy/paste the citation into your Works Cited/References page.

In the Library Catalog, look for Cite this next to the title of the book you want to cite:

In the database Communication & Mass Media Complete, look for Cite:

Tutoring

Visit the English Learning Center in Patterson Hall for help with your papers, or contact the Educational Support Program for information on tutors.