For your first paper, you will write a 1000 word minimum analysis of an adaptation of a work originally published in a different medium (i.e. a movie based on a book), arguing whether the work is a good adaptation of the original source material or not.
First, choose an adaptation of a fictional work to review:
– Most of you will probably choose a film adaptation, but it doesn’t have to be. The only requirement is that it must be an adaptation of a work that was originally published in a different medium. You can look at a film based on a book, a TV show/miniseries based on a book, a film based on a game, a game based on a TV show, a TV show based on a comic, a film based on a stage play, a stage play based on a film, a stage play based on a Greek myth, a high school rom-com based on a Shakespeare play, etc.
– Your adaptation must be a retelling of the original story, and not a sequel or prequel. That said, since some adaptations take great liberties with the source material, if you are unsure whether the work you chose is acceptable, just ask me. After you have chosen your adaptation, write a persuasive essay arguing whether or not the
adaptation is a good representation of the original story.
– Your whole paper should be centered around your claim, which is the overall point you are trying to prove. Your claim should be a statement about the quality of this adaptation: is it a good or bad adaptation? Is it faithful to the original story? Does it improve upon the story, or change it in detrimental ways?
– Support your claim with evidence and reasoning:
– You must include a specific definition of what you think makes something a good
adapation.
– Offer detailed examples as evidence to support why you feel this work is a a good
adaptation or not. Look at elements such as the writing, the acting, the visual designs, the music, the editing, etc. How well does the adaptation represent the original work’s
characters, plot, themes and overall message? How well does it match your definition of a good adaptation?
– Consider how well this adaptation makes use of its medium. Every medium has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, books have the advantage of being able to give detailed descriptions of a character’s thoughts, while films have the advantage of visual language such as facial expressions, lighting, camera shots and clever editing.
