Compare and Contrast Research Paper
Your task is to compare and contrast two primary course examples from different “eras” and form an argument around that analysis. Your argument should incorporate the conversations we’ve had about the Western.
As for what exactly you’re comparing and contrasting, that is entirely up to you. A straightforward approach would be to compare the Western thematic elements of your two chosen examples to show how the genre has or hasn’t changed over time based on this small sample. You could pick a single genre element we’ve discussed over the semester, from character traits to plot choices to the level of violence present and analyze how the two examples handle that element. Please contact me if you have any questions or want help brainstorming. Happy to help where I can.
Requirements:
-
1,000-1,500 words in length.
-
Compare and contrast the Western elements in two primary course examples, forming a thesis around your analysis.
-
Please do not select a topic with a huge scope and just use the course examples as evidence. All research you bring in should be used as silver bullets; in other words, your analysis of the two texts needs to be the star of the show. Please contact me if you have questions or want feedback on a topic. Happy to help!
-
Please do not include textual examples from outside this class (e.g., Batman movies, other Westerns that aren’t on the course list, etc.). The examples must be from two different eras on the course list (e.g., Sci-Fi Western and Classical Western, Revisionist and Neo-Westerns, etc.).
-
Please do not provide plot summaries. It’s important to give context to scenes you’ll be analyzing, but be as concise as possible and keep the focus on the analysis.
-
Include three credible outside sources. I strongly suggest that you don’t use extra sources for this paper for the reasons stated above.
-
Properly formatted in-text citations and a Works Cited or References Page must be included. Use either MLA or APA style. Make sure to cite your primary course examples as well. If you’re quoting from a movie, you should be including a time range in the citation. For example: “This town isn’t big enough for the two of us” (Generic Western 1:00-30). Please see the link below for more examples.
-
Use 12-point, Times New Roman font; double-spaced; one-inch margins. Include page numbers.
-
Include a thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph. The rest of the paper should provide textual evidence, analysis, and outside research to support that claim.