Blog

BASIC DIRECTIONS:
Your goal is to analyze the film based on interpersonal concepts presented in chapters 8 and 9. (Chapter 8 = Types of Interpersonal Relationships,Why We Form Relationships, Managing Relationship Dynamics, Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Relationships, Stages of a Relationship) (Chapter 9 = Understanding Conflict, Conflict Triggers, Factors Affecting Conflict, Strategies for Managing Conflict, Reconciliation, Back To: Sibling Rivalry) The concepts you select should be driven by the film itself. That is, some concepts may be more relevant than others. However, be selective as the chapters cover many concepts, and you don’t want your paper to be all over the place. I suggest that you limit yourself to THREE concepts/theories found in the text. Note: DO NOT select types of relationships, such as family, friendship/social, and romantic as your concepts/theories. While you can label types of relationships, do more than just categorizing. This college-level essay should have more substance than that. Consider the other subheadings you can find in the text’s Table of Contents. 3. Within your selected film, you have free range about which interpersonal relationships you want to discuss. That is, you don’t have to use the same duo to illustrate interpersonal concepts. For example, if you select The Proposal, you don’t have to use the Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock characters throughout your essay. You can also use the Ryan Reynolds character and his father (played by Craig Nelson). 4. Warning: Your paper should NOT be a plot summary of the movie. If you wish to provide a quick synopsis of the plot, limit yourself to one body paragraph and devote subsequent paragraphs to explaining and illustrating the interpersonal concepts you have selected.
PAPER FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:
1. For this paper you will need at least ONE credible source based on some aspect of interpersonal communication in addition to material from your text and from your selected film. That means you will have a total of three sources.
2. It is important to be ethical in your writing. Part will involve using accurate and current information. Material (quotation or paraphrase)
from your text and selected source must be incorporated in your essay, cited with in-text attributive tags, and included in your Works Cited or reference page. (Examples can be found in the Research link from the Course Menu.) You may not receive credit for questionable sources (Wikipedia, .com websites, blogs, etc.), so be sure to check their credibility; when in doubt, email me. 3. With the final draft of the paper, you will need to include a typed bibliography (reference list) of ALL 3 sources set up in APA or MLA format. Note that the communication discipline uses APA. However, I recognize that many of you have learned MLA, and I don’t want to force you to learn a new documentation system at this

time. Whatever system you choose, you MUST use the most recent version and use it consistently throughout the paper. Do NOT use the Reference feature in MS Word to create in-text citations or Works Cited or References as it is incorrect. Your Works Cited (MLA term) or References (APA term) must appear as the last page in your essay. Do not send it to me as a separate document. 4. Your paper is due in a traditional, college-level essay structure. Please include: a. An introduction with a thesis statement. Remember to grab readers’ attention BEFORE presenting your thesis. Avoid phrases like “In this paper I will discuss…” Your thesis should be more sophisticated than that as you may have learned in your writing courses. Please do not use “I am going to write about,” “The purpose of this essay is…,” or any similar phrasing. Include your three concepts at the end of this paragraph.
b. Body paragraphs that elaborate on your main ideas. You can present one concept per body paragraph, elaborate on the concept by using references to the film, the text, and to your selected research. c. A conclusion with a thoughtful reflection on your main points as well as any insights you gained as a result of your analysis. The conclusion of the paper should summarize your main ideas about the film and close the paper. A suggestion for thinking about how to conclude a paper is to answer the question So What? In other words, how can this film/concept help me/others in our relationships or communication behaviors? 5. Follow the MLA format to set up your essay. 6.
You MUST compose your essay with MS Word.
SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS: 1. Before submitting, be sure that you check out the grading rubric below and that you have addressed each part of the rubric.
GRADING RUBRIC for INTERPERSONAL Essay TOTAL PTS/YOUR PTS AREA TO BE EVALUATED 5/Introductory paragraph begins in an interesting way, such as with an example or a quote. Selected film is mentioned and a specific position (thesis) is included along with 3 interpersonal concepts from the text. (Do not discuss “relationships” as that is too general.) 5/Body paragraphs 1. Support the writer’s position. Specific chapter concepts are named. Points are developed with Examples from the film. Textbook Research 2. Are logically arranged and connected with transitions. 5/Concluding paragraph stems from body paragraphs and appropriately closes the essay by reinforcing the writer’s position. 5/Essay is easy to read because of command of sentence skills, punctuation, phrasing, etc. Overall, the writer uses sophisticated language. Essay follows the MLA format in terms of date, title, spacing, etc. 5/ Research is Credible Smoothly integrated throughout the essay. Documented according to MLA or APA. Identified in the reference/Works Cited page and in the appropriate format. Includes film. Includes text. 4. Includes selected source