A Critical Analysis of Children of Men

The Research Project requires you to compose a critical analysis of 4-5 pages that argues for either a hopeful or dystopian reading of Children of Men. You will analyze key moments in the film and present how they reflect either a dystopian or hopeful message. This project is broken down into a few key sections. Each section will have its heading and complete its task. Here are the three sections:

• Literature Review (at least 500 words)                              

This section asks you to summarize what is important about the research you have read and found. You will write about TWO sources. You will be asked to select ONE source from the materials in the Children of Men Reading Material on Blackboard and find ONE source on Children of Men on your own. After reading (and finding) these TWO sources, you will write the following:

         1) One paragraph for each source that summarizes its main idea (using no quotes)

                     *Two Paragraphs Total

• Scene Analysis (at least 500 words)                                     

This section asks you to write about two scenes from the movie and explain how they reflect a dystopian or hopeful message. You can write about one scene we discuss in class and then choose one scene that we did not discuss in class. You will not use outside sources for this section. Only your interpretation of film techniques will be developed here. Your thoughts or feelings should not be present. You will write the following:

         1) One paragraph that introduces, describes and analyzes a scene discussed in class

         2) One paragraph that introduces, describes and analyzes a scene that WAS NOT discussed in class

• Defend Your Analysis: Hopeful and Dystopia (at least 500 words)        

This section asks you to defend your analysis—is the film hopeful or dystopian—by reflecting on everything that you have analyzed and read for this project. You will describe your reading of the film to prove an argument that the film is hopeful or dystopian. You may use any of the above research if you want but are not required. This is the only section where you may use I and your opinion.

Format

• A 1500-1600 word MLA paper with proper format, font, and spacing.
• All sections will be typed and must be uploaded to Blackboard.

Deliverables

• Create a thesis statement that clearly states why the overall message of the film is hopeful or dystopian
• Analyze two key scenes from the film and reference film techniques in your analysis
• Properly summarize your texts (both the film and the secondary readings).
• Have TWO outside sources that help you defend your thesis
  • Two sources from the material on Blackboard
• Use the Quotation Sandwich for interpreting evidence that requires direct quotes
• Use proper Summary Language for evidence that DOES NOT require direct quotes
• Write a grammatically clean copy, with no errors.
• Create an MLA Works Cited Page
• Use proper MLA in-text citation to avoid confusion or plagiarism