Instruction
Write an analytical essay about See You Yesterday (dir. Stefon Bristol). An analytic or critical piece is not primarily a summary; rather, it comments on and evaluates the work in the light of specific issues and theoretical concerns.
1200 words minimum. Times New Roman font. Double-space. Four sources minimum. You may choose scholarly sources such as those found through library research. You may also select posts from the discussion forum posts and “tweets.”
USE THE FOLLOWING AS A GUIDE TO HELP FRAME YOUR ANALYSIS:
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH:
The introductory paragraph has 3 major elements: the background, your opinion on the work as a whole, and the thesis. The background includes all of the relevant information (especially who, what, when, where, and why) leading up to the thesis. The thesis includes the subject and your opinion of the piece followed by the main points.
The most important element in writing a critical analysis is a workable thesis statement. Below is a sample thesis statement:
SUBJECT: “A Raisin in the Sun”
OPINION: shows Hansberry’s skills as a writer
MAIN POINTS: because of the intense dialogue, strong characters, and memorable messages.
DEVELOPMENT PARAGRAPHS:
These can vary in length and in number. If you state 3 main points in your thesis, you should have at least 3 development paragraphs (aim for more than three paragraphs; this is a 1200 word essay). For this assignment you should have from 3-5 main points. Here are a few ideas to choose from:
Opening
Hook - Is the film attention-grabbing within the first ten minutes? Does it make you want to continue watching?
Introduction of Major Characters – Are the major characters introduced early in the film?
Problem Description - Can you tell what problem confronts the main characters soon enough or are you left wondering what the film is all about?
Characterization
Major and Minor Characters – In what ways do they contribute to the theme(s) of the film?
Which characters are relatable to the audience?
Dialogue
Does the dialogue sound authentic?
Is it meaningful?
Setting
Does it seem the right place for the film?
Have the writers/director researched it enough?
Conflicts
Are the conflicts in the film authentic or do they seem artificial?
Are the conflicts timely?
Ending
Is the ending clear?
Does it need a lot of explanation?
Does it seem flat?
Plot
Is it original?
Does it seem authentic?
Is it contrived?
THE CLOSING PARAGRAPH:
Here you give your general impression of the film. Did you enjoy it? You should also briefly summarize all the issues. Any additional opinions on the subject would be appropriate at this time as well as any final conclusions.