Guidelines for the Final PapersHuman Rights and the Body in Law & HumanitiesPrepared by:Dr. Caroline (Kay) PicartAssistant Professor of English & HumanitiesCourtesy Asst Prof. Of LawFlorida State University

Things to Avoid!

Things to Avoid (1): Extremely general statements: “Since the

beginning of time . . .” or “All humans. . .” Blatantly obvious statements: “Women are

eye-candy in films.” Papers that are a loose collection of

interesting facts, but do not make a coherent argument.

Plot summaries that do not further the argument significantly

Things to Avoid (2): Confused theoretical frames (I.e., moving

from a critique concerning the social construction of representations of criminality, with an eye to gender, sex, sexuality, race, etc.) to a REALIST model of criminality/the body (criminals/bodies really have the following properties), without addressing the representational properties of realist accounts (e.g., documentaries).

Things to Avoid (3): Not making a clear and compelling connection to

the central theme that binds the course together: representations of the body, crime, criminals, the law, witnesses in film.

Not documenting texts, films, actors, characters cited, using an official method of documentation (APA, MLA, Chicago)

Not having a well developed introduction and conclusion

Things to Avoid (4): Structuring your paper as if it were a

checklist for the various criteria outlined in the syllabus. The paper should flow and argue effectively for a definite position.

Not checking for spelling, grammar or overall coherence

Not using film form and specific scenes to illustrate key argumentative points.

Things to Avoid (5): Not having a bibliography/filmography or

works cited at the end. Not having a cover page with the

requirements specified in front. Not providing proof or insufficient proof

for claims (if you are making historical claims about certain periods, then document evidence that these claims are true; avoid large historical leaps)

Things to do!

Things to do: Have a clear and compelling thesis statement

that connects to the theme of representations of human rights, the body, crime, criminals, witnesses, the law in film, and legal and fictional texts (your interpretative voice, and a clear methodological framework, are crucial to this)

Use film form in analyzing specific scenes to provide proof for your claims

Document all sources properly using an official citation system (APA, MLA, Chicago)

Things to do (2): INTEGRATE theory into the flow of your

argument. Don’t just insert a quote, and think that that insertion is sufficient to integrate the theory with your argument.

Try to argue along intersectional lines (I.e., don’t focus on gender alone, or sex alone, or sexuality alone, or race alone, as these are always interacting with each other)

Things to do (3): Illustrate abstract points by citing specific

examples. Cut down on broad generalizations concerning 10 or so movies in favor of in-depth characterizations of say 2 or 3 movies, with specific scenes analyzed thematically and formally in keeping with the argument you wish to put forth.

Things to do (4): Spend the majority of the paper analyzing,

rather than describing. Have a well developed conclusion that

flows from the exposition.

FINAL GUIDE-LINES

Don’t Forget (1): Have a cover page that specifies: Which 10 texts (critical articles, films, legal texts,

scripts or press kits) Which 10 are new Have at least one legal text, one critical text and

one film used in class

All these should be cited completely, using either the APA, MLA or Chicago systems (specify which you are using)

Don’t Forget (2): That cover page should also specify an abstract

(100 words at most) that summarizes the findings/argument of the paper.

That cover page should also summarize any major changes you have done, in response to my comments, or if you have chosen not to do any changes, a justification for why you have chosen not to. You may use as many pages as you need to cover this well.

Don’t Forget (3): You are REQUIRED to hand in your

original draft with the final paper. NO final papers will be accepted without the draft.

Don’t Forget (4): Within the body of the final paper itself,

BOLDFACE OR UNDERLINE:your thesis statementany changes (grammatical, theoretical,

argumentative, etc.) done from the draft to the final paper

Don’t Forget (5): You will need a final bibliography or works

cited, with the entries alphabetized, and done in keeping with a standard format (APA, MLA, Chicago).

The TOTAL number of pages allowed are:25-30 pages, all double spaced, 11 point font, 1 inch margins all around. Any deviation from these results in deductions.

The best of luck!