English 1301 Essay 2
5th Edition of
Purpose, Pattern Process
Due Date
16-week session: Thursday, September 19 (by
12-week session: Monday, October 6 (by
Reading Assignment for Essay 2:
Note: If no page numbers are given, you must read the entire chapter. If page numbers are given, only the specified pages are required reading.
Read the following in Purpose, Pattern, and Process (PPP, 5th edition):
1.Chapter 3:Persuasive Writing
2.Chapter 5:Comparison and Contrast, 128-145
Read the following in The Little Brown Handbook (LBH):
Chapter 7:Writing An Argument
Writing Assignment for Essay 2:
v Purpose: Persuasive
v Pattern: Evaluation using comparison and contrast
v Length: Approximately 500 words
v Objective: Your mission in Essay 2 is to persuade someone to see one movie, rather than another one. An adult friend of yours wants to watch a movie this Saturday night, and he (or she) needs some help from you in choosing between two movies that have been recommended. The two films can be motion pictures that are currently showing in a local theater, or ones that are out on video. He knows that you have seen both films, and he wants you to compare the films and tell him which one you think he would enjoy more, and why. Bear in mind that you are not going to give away the details of what happens in the movie. That would spoil it for him. (And it wouldn't be an evaluation, so you would have to rewrite this paper.)
You must select three criteria for evaluating the films, such as acting, script, and visual effects, and compare the two films on these criteria, while offering him your conclusion as to which is the better film. The criteria will be influenced by the type of film. For instance, visual effects might be important in a science fiction movie, whereas costume design might be more in a historical film, or music (obviously) in a musical. This is very important: Choose to compare two films that are either both comedies, both dramas, both adventure films, or both science fiction, etc. Do not try to "compare apples to oranges" by comparing Stars Wars to Shakespeare in Love. One might be just as good as the other, but they are so different that it would be hard to come up with criteria. A good comparison might, for instance, be made of two war films such as Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line or two films with a Shakespearean theme, such as Shakespeare in Love and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Helpful hint: Put titles of movies in italics, like this. Do not put them in quotation marks.
Happy movie viewing! I hope you enjoy this assignment.
v Title: Your essay must have a title. The title of your paper will immediately follow your heading. Do not put quotation marks around your own title
v Heading: Your paper must have a heading that includes your name, the course name, and the essay number. The heading must appear in the top, left corner, as in the following example:
Ann Rice
English 1302
Essay 2
v You must cut and paste your essay to the message part of an email. I do not accept attachments. Directions for cutting and pasting a document to an email message are given on the assignment for Essay 1.