Week 7

Week 7, yes, it is week 7. I know because, for one, I spent a good part of the weekend looking at student essays, and I must say I was very pleased with the work you all have done thus far. The midterm essays were particularly strong and often memorable. If you should like clarification or any explanation of the midterm grade that appears this week, just ask and I'll be glad to help. The strength shown thus far puts us in a good position for the remaining weeks of the quarter. I'd like to finish some verb tense and agreement work, review sentence patterns and punctuation, and other uses of the parts of speech. As for assignments, as the syllabus indicates, I have in mind a film review of a recent work. To that end this week I'll have two film choices, each a biopic, one of the heavy weight fighter Mike Tyson, and the other of an eccentric animal rights activist named Timothy Treadwell. We'll take a vote as to the one we watch. Each will provide us an opportunity to write about an interesting character whose life and work have provoked the admiration and scorn of many people and who resists easy judgement.

The plan then is for the first hour or so of class to be dedicated to the summary work from last week, and the grammar and punctuation review; and the last hour or so to the film and discussion of how to proceed in writing about it.

ENC0020/Week 7: Writing a film review or commentary requires you to introduce the film by title (in italic letters), release date, and director. The subject of the film or story line must be summarized briefly and your thesis, too, should appear early on or up front in the introductory paragraph. The thesis is your considered opinion, an idea that unifies the whole essay. The body paragraph(s) serve to provide the evidence and examples needed to support the thesis. The conclusion puts the finishing touch on the essay, and reminds readers of the significance of your subject and your claims.

Grizzly Man (2005), directed by Werner Herzog, is about a man named Timothy Treadwell, the “kind warrior,” who lived and died in defense, he believed, of his ideals. He strove to protect and to know familiarly the grizzly bears living in Katmai National Park, Alaska. He spent 12 summers there, living among the bears, photographing them, loving them in his way. He drew admirers and critics. For filmmaker Herzog, he appears a symbol of humanity’s conflicting feelings about nature and civilization.

Essay 6: Describe Tim Treadwell­­­--his appearance, personality, aims, desires, and work. Tell what makes him remarkable, bringing him to life in the way the film does, whether as idealistic, brave, kind, funny, strange, angry, tormented, paranoid, scary, wise or unwise. Pick a few moments from the film to illustrate the man’s character in a balanced way, including if you like some of the opinions of those who appear in the film. Title the essay. Compose 350 words at a minimum.

Or: Discuss the film Tyson (2009), directed by James Toback, in terms of its presentation of the heavyweight fighter Mike Tyson. Describe the man’s life history, his particular strengths and weaknesses and particular personal challenges. Select revealing highlights from the film to illustrate something of his fundamental nature, as you see it, and he shows it us in his words and actions, triumphs and defeats.

Three paragraphs at least, 350 words, include film title and director’s name up front in the opening paragraph. Underline your thesis idea.