Fall 2002:: ENG 1131: Writing Through Media
Extra Credit!
Free response papers can be used to drop the total number of response papers, or for general extra credit at the end of the semester. If used as general extra credit, each of these equals 1% of the final grade (this could easily cover a missed quiz or a failed quiz).
1. Write 150 words on an animation short. This can be from a film, television, or the internet. If it is from a film, include the name of the film (MIB2 has a short, Monsters Inc, and The Powerpuff Girls Movie also have animation shorts); if it is from the internet, then include the website where it can be found; if it's from TV, then include the station you saw it on. Write 150 words on what the short was, what it was about, and how it contributed or did not contribute to the main program.
More questions to help you write:
If this is from a website, how does the short work with the website? Many website shorts are flash animations that are basically advertisements for the website. How does this differ from animation shorts before movies, or does it? How much experience do you have with animation shorts before movies? Any, some, with which films have you seen animation shorts and what did you think of them? Why?
2. Write 150 words on the use of digital animation in a movie. Examples of films that use digital animation would be The Mummy, Final Fantasy, Blade 2, X-Men, and Spiderman (there are many others, check each movie's website to see where digital animation was used if you aren't sure). Write about how digital animation was used in the film and why and if you think it worked or hurt the film.
More questions to help you write:
Did the digital animation contribute or hinder the film? In a case like Lord of the Rings, producers were unwilling to make the films with live characters (there is a cartoon version of the books) until technology allowed them to make the films as they believed they needed to be. Do you think the digital animation is always necessary? How about with the initial Star Wars movies which uses puppets, claymation, and other technologies?
3. Write 150 words on The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship ofthe Ring movie or Book.
4. The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre presents an "Evening with Tom Stoppard" on Sunday, October 6th at 8. For tickets or details call 352 378 9166. Write a response paper on this and get credit for 2 response papers.
5. Write 150 words on the movie 8 Mile, which opens Nov 8.
7. Get an absence free/taken off if you watch Spirited Away and bring in the ticket stub. Spirited Away is an anime, but one that's nice and friendly and easy, like a Disney film. So, if you want to watch this instead of one of the violent movies in class, you definitely can - just remember to bring in the ticket stub. Or, if you want to miss a general class or have an absence made up, that's also a possibility.
8. Watch Army of Darkness and write 150 words on it to get credit for 3 response papers, or general extra credit.
9. Write one response paper on "Bowling for Columbine" and get credit for 2 response papers.
10. Get credit for 2 response papers by writing one response paper on the Vietnam War Memorial Replica that will be on thethe Reitz Union north lawn from through Sunday 11-24.