ENG 281-002
First Major Writing Assignment
Length: 4 pages minimum (5 pages for W students)
Format: MLA (Don’t forget a Works Cited page)
Due Date: Rough Draft 9/21 (3 page minimum), Final Draft 10/05
For writing guidelines, see the grading rubric and class
syllabus. You must develop an arguable thesis: one that is supported with
documented evidence (scenes, dialogue, and/or film technique – remember to
“show” how something is true rather than just “tell” the reader that it is) and
can be reasonably debated by the reader.
For example, do not argue that the Smith children do not want to leave
Choosing either The Kid, Meet Me in
1) What
narrative function does parent-child conflict play in this film? Why must this happen in order for the
narrative to continue? Is there a
cultural background to this conflict?
For example, you might want to think about Jim Stark’s rebellion and
isolation in the face of 1950s post-war prosperity in
2) Think about the role of geography in relation to family stability in this film. Is geographic mobility a threat to the stability of the family, or a tool to ensure its survival? In what ways is location or “place” tied to the family identity? Why does it follow that location and identity/stability are so closely linked?
3) Look for gender conflict in this film. In what ways does the family inform issues of gender, be they gender roles, identities, social or cultural construction? For example, you might want to look at Jim Stark’s expectations of the role that his father should assert in relation to him and his mother, or the social and cinematic expectations placed on the Smith sisters which define their roles as young women. Make sure that you explain the relevance of this issue in the context of the family. You may consider cultural background in the context of this conflict, as well, but be careful to form an arguable thesis.