Read the attached assignment file carefully. Be sure you fully understand the expectations of the assignment before you begin (consult the rubric for more information) and ask your facilitator to go over any questions you may have.

Your response should be typed in 12 pt. font, double spaced.

Workshop 3: The Outline

Film 3440J: Film Criticism Practicum Fall 2015

Select a character from the film Dead Man (Jarmusch, 1995). This may be a Central Character, a Secondary Character, or, if chosen carefully, a Group of Characters (for example, the “townspeople of Machine”).

Write an outline of an essay you may write about this character and their role in the film Dead Man (Jarmusch, 1995). Your outline should include at least 4 sections (you can think of each section as a single paragraph of an essay) not including the introduction (where you present your thesis statement) and your conclusion (where you sum up). Remember that you are not writing the actual essay! For each section below, you should have between 1 and 3 sentences explaining what the central idea of each section will be.

Use the following as a guideline:

I. Introduction. Your thesis: what do you want to teach your reader about this character, and why it is important.

II. Section 1: Character Description. Describe the character. What is the character’s overall place in the narrative? How does the character’s physical and mental attributes help to define them within the story?

III. Section 2: Function. Discuss (in broad terms) how the character is connected to other characters in the film. What is their overall role?

IV. Section 3: Scene 1. Describe an important scene in which the character’s actions can help you prove your argument from the Introduction.

V. Section 4: Scene 2.

VI. Conlcusion. Sum up why this character is important to the film.

Please refer to the Sample Outline in the Module 3 folder for an example of an outline that you can use as a reference.

Feel free to read what others have written about the film to get some ideas. Keep the following in mind:

1. You do not need to write the essay, only to create an outline that includes a thesis statement (what is the main thing you want to teach the reader about the film), at least 4 sections (or paragraphs) and a conclusion.

2. Each section (including the thesis and conclusion) should express the central idea of that paragraph in complete sentences.

3. When writing your sentences, keep in mind that we will be particularly looking for how well you utilize the lesson on concrete characters in the Writing Spotlight.