1. Guidelines for the Final Papers Human Rights & the Politics of Traumatic Memory: Visualizing the Holocaust through Film Prepared by: Dr. Caroline (Kay) Picart Associate Professor of English Courtesy Associate Prof. Of Law Florida State University

2.  Things to Avoid!

3. 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

4. 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).

5. Things to Avoid (3):  Not making a clear and compelling connection to the central theme that binds the course together: representations of the Holocaust, memory, genre, the body, race, class, gender, sexuality, monstrosity 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8.  Things to do!

9. Things to do:  Have a clear and compelling thesis statement that connects to the theme of representations of the Holocaust, memory, the body, race, sex, gender, class, sexuality, and monstrosity, among others, in the various genres we have taken up—documentary, fiction (and its subtypes—melodrama, romance, comedy, etc., propaganda); 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)

10. 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)

11. 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, for examples a scene each from three movies (two used in class, and one new), with specific aspects of form analyzed critically and formally in keeping with the argument you wish to put forth.

12. Things to do (4):  Spend the majority of the paper analyzing, rather than describing.  Have a well developed conclusion that flows from the exposition.

13. FINAL GUIDE- LINES

14. Don’t Forget (1):  Have a cover page that specifies:  At least two required texts listed in the syllabus, two movies we have used in class, one movie that we have not used in class, and three new references, which you must research on your own.  All these should be cited completely, using either the APA, MLA or Chicago systems (specify which you are using)

15. Don’t Forget (2):  That cover page should also specify an abstract (100 words at most) that summarizes the findings/argument of the paper. It should also have an effective descriptive title.  That cover page should also list the movies and texts chosen, using a bibliographic format, indicating which has been discussed in class, and which is new.

16. Don’t Forget (3):  You are REQUIRED to hand in your final paper during the day of your mock conference presentation. NO final papers will be accepted late.

17. Don’t Forget (4):  Within the body of the final paper itself, BOLDFACE OR UNDERLINE: your thesis statement key subheadings illustrating major categories

18. 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: 8 pages minimum, 6 pages maximum, all double spaced, 12 point font, 1.5 inch margins all around. This does not count the Bibliography or the front matter. Any deviation from these results in deductions.

19.  The best of luck!