This essay should be about the mental health of the movie shutter island
Formatting: 5-7 pages, 8th Edition MLA, including in-text citations and a Works Cited Page
Sources: The original text, as well as at least five outside sources
Justification: In this class, we are attempting to explore the representation of mental illness in narrative form. It is important to explore how accurately the state of mental healthcare is being represented, in order to understand the greater narrative being conveyed to the general public. If you are living with one of these mental health conditions, what are the popular books and movies saying about you as a person or about treatment options?
Argument: For this paper, you should establish an argumentative thesis about the text. This thesis should present itself at the end of your introduction and identify the overriding argument which will guide the rest of your paper. This overriding argument should be supported by evidence from the text, as well as at least five outside sources (although feel free to provide more).
Structure: Your paper should not merely be a presentation of quotes from the text and outside sources; it should not be a pointing paper. Your analytical voice should come through strongest. Always return to the question: why does this information matter?
Your Essay should have as follow…
Introduction (Purpose: It should provide the reader with background knowledge on the text, as well as provide context for the rest of the analysis)
Provide a very basic summary of the story– Imagine your reader hasn’t read or viewed the text. What information would they need in order to understand the overall concept? Avoid summarizing the entire story. Considering providing a concise 3-4 sentence overview.
Transition into the thesis– Identify the conversation about the book into which you are entering. Basically, what is the reason you are telling us about this book? (Hint, hint: it relates to the assignment descriiption)
Thesis– At the end of your introduction, identify where you stand on the text’s ability to accurately represent mental illness. What is the larger argument under which all sub-arguments within the essay fall? You can either provide a closed thesis (one wherein you identify the reasons to defend the larger claim) or an open thesis (one wherein you simply present the claim and don’t identify the reasons to support the claim). Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Keep in mind that your thesis does not have to be an all-or-nothing argument. You might come to the assertion that, based upon your research, the representation in the text is accurate in certain areas but flawed in others.
Body paragraphs (Purpose: Usually, but not always, a paragraph focuses on one argumentative reason at a time. Always ask yourself this question: what am I trying to say in this paragraph that I haven’t said in previous paragraphs)
Topic Sentence(s)– Identify the argumentative purpose of this paragraph. What does everything in the paragraph help to support?
Elaboration Sentence(s)–Tell us what that sentence means. Avoid jumping right into evidence. Unpack that topic sentence a little in your own words. What does that topic sentence mean?
Outside Evidence Sentence(s)–Insert evidence from an outside source that provides support for the argument in this paragraph. Make sure to set up the quote/summary/paraphrase appropriately (ex: According to psychologist Tom Wells…) and to provide an appropriate in-text citation when you are done with the source (ex: first name we see on the Works Cited Page and the page number- if applicable (Wells 95)).
Evidence Context Sentence(s)–Tell us what this evidence implies. Avoid allowing the source to speak for itself. What does the information provided mean? How does it assist your argument in this paragraph?
Textual Evidence(s)–Identify specific sections from the text that support your assertions. How can you show your audience that this argument is supported? Once again, make sure to set up the quote/summary/paraphrase appropriately (ex: This is not the case, as displayed when Charlie talks with Sam after the fight….) and to provide an appropriate in-text citation when you are done with the text (Chbosky 99).
Evidence Context Sentence(s)–Once again, tell us what this evidence implies. How is this connected to the information presented in the outside source? Why does this evidence support your assertions?
Conclusion (Purpose: This should provide a takeaway message. What do you want your audience to leave your analysis knowing? What do you want them to do with this information? Why is all this information important?)
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