This document provides instructions for a mid-term analysis paper. Students must choose between a literary analysis of Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, a scene analysis of a significant scene from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet, or a translation analysis comparing Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Romeo and Juliet and Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet. The paper should be 5-6 pages double-spaced with a clear thesis and effective organization, supporting all claims with evidence from the texts. The analysis should focus on understanding the chosen texts rather than outside research.

1. Mid-Term Analysis Paper
Choose one of the following options for your analysis:
1. Literary analysis of Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet. A literary analysis makes an
argument about how a text(s) makes meaning or what meaning it makes. It
focuses on the text itself, often paying attention to patterns or themes. There are
two handouts in “Reading & Writing About Literature” section of our Bblearn
site that may help as you brainstorm ideas for this type of analysis: “Asking
Literary Questions” and “Questions About Drama.”
2. Scene analysis of a significant scene from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Baz
Luhrmann’s Romeo+Juliet. I suggest this option for students who have taken a
film as lit course and are familiar with this analytical approach. A scene analysis
explores how a visual text makes meaning using the language of film. It focuses
on issues of editing style and techniques, camera movements, and mise-en-scéne
of a shot sequence. See Literature into Film, Chapter II for detailed description of
these elements.
3. A translation analysis of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern or Romeo
and Juliet and Luhrmann’s Romeo+Juliet. A translation analysis explores the
relationship between a source text and one of its translations. It focuses on how
the language of literature is translated into the language of film, how the
translation replicates or changes aspects of the source material. Review
Literature into Film, Chapter I for examples of this approach. I am open to a
translation analysis of one of these Shakespeare plays and a movie we’re not
studying. If you are considering a translation analysis of a different film, email
me for approval before you begin.
Requirements
Five to six pages (give or take), 12-point Times, double spaced, including Works
Cited (not included in the five pages)
An arguable thesis: a strong thesis includes one specific claim that is debatable –
that is, it must be able to be proved with evidence from the text(s). It should focus on
elements from the text, not on unsupported opinion or issues outside the text. Some
analysis papers make arguments about the context of a text that uses outside
research, but this assignment is about your understanding of these texts. I want to
know what you think, so you don’t need to use outside sources. A strong thesis also
needs to be proved since it should make a thoughtful claim not obvious to a casual
reader. It must make a claim appropriate to the type of analysis – literary (how a
text makes meaning or what meaning it makes), scene (how a scene uses the
language of film to make meaning or what meaning it makes), translation (the
relationship between a source text and a translation of it).

2. Effective Organization: The essay includes an effective introduction and
conclusion. The sections/paragraphs of the body are in a logical, purposeful order
that is signaled with clear transitions. Each paragraph starts with and develops a
topic sentence that supports the thesis.
Adequate Support: Claims are supported with evidence from the text(s) and
significance of all direct quotes and examples from the text are explained.
Correctness: The surface characteristics of the essay meet expectations for college
writing. Elements specific to literary analysis are correct (such as citing plays by act
and scene numbers instead of page numbers in-text citations). MLA style for in-text
citations and Works Cited.