ENGL 1102-37
Spring 2006
Essay Assignment II
The 25th Hour
Compose a college-level essay (of at least five pages in length) that first describes a sign
(or a relational field of signs) presented in the film, The 25th Hour and then “hinges” into
an critical/semiotic discussion of the sign in relationship to one of the larger (macro)
themes presented in the film. The structure of this essay is similar to the one that you
wrote for your first essay assignment. If you are unclear about the expectations of the
assignment, re-read the assignments (and your paper) from the first essay assignment,
review the homework assignments on The 25th Hour that we have been discussing in
class, and/or set up a time to meet with me to go over the assignment.
Guidelines:
(Note: there are no cut-and-dried answers to the following questions; my hope is that the
responses will serve as useful guidelines.)
Q: Do we need research for this paper?
A: It’s not required, but research can often help you support your analytical assertions
and interpretations. Consequently, research may help you effectively persuade your
reader of the points you intend to make. Also, research can help you set the context—or
give some of the factual background—of the cultural phenomenon (the sign) you want to
explore with regard to its multiple meanings. Students often find it useful to include
factual evidence in their hinge and response paragraphs. For example, in this paper some
background information on 9-11 or New York City may prove useful. Just make sure you
consult reliable sources.
Q: What’s the basic structure, or form, of this first essay?
A: It may be helpful to think of this first essay as having a three-part structure:
1) A filmic description of your sign (or field of signs), using RENNS, climbing the
Ladder of Specificity (LOS), and employing active voice (verbs). This section should be
introductory and richly descriptive, noting all of the relevant details. It may include more
than one paragraph.
2) A hinge paragraph(s), giving some pertinent historical background on the sign and
raising the essay’s driving theoretical question(s).
3) An in-depth semiotic analysis that answers your DTQ in several organized response
paragraphs. In other words, these response paragraphs offer organized and linked
interpretations of the multiple meanings of the sign you’ve chosen to analyze. Each
paragraph should have a theoretical or critical statement that pushes the analysis from what is
visible (the sign) to what is hidden beneath it.
Q: Should the paper follow any particular presentation format?
A: Follow Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Note that essays must be
submitted in either Times or Times New Roman typeface and should be double-spaced.
Q: How much writing should we devote to each of the essay’s three main sections?
A: A general guideline for your final version might be to devote:
* 1 page for the description of the sign.
* 1/2 to 1 page to the hinge, and
* at least 2 1/2 pages to the cultural/semiotic analysis. I’ve noticed that many
students neglect to devote sufficient time and effort to this third vital part of the essay.
My advice is to budget enough time so that you can offer several well-developed and
persuasive paragraphs that response directly to your driving question(s), as the student
does in her essay on tattoos.
Q: Should we include a bibliography or Works Cited page?
A: Whenever incorporating researched information that is not common knowledge, you
must cite your sources in the body of the essay and in a Works Cited page at the end of
the study.
Q: What should I do if I run into trouble on my paper?
A: If you’re having trouble at any stage in the process, don’t panic. Take action: email
me or make an appointment to see me during office hours. In addition, visit the Writing
Center on the first floor of the TLC building (making sure to bring with you this
assignment sheet with you).
Due Dates:
Tuesday, February 27:
Signs for analysis and driving theoretical questions due for Essay One.
(5% of grade on paper)
Thursday, March 8:
Five response sheets due. (20% of grade on paper)
Thurs., March 15:
Paper II due. (75% of grade on paper)