Homework 10

 

 

 

 

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE FILE-NAMING CONVENTIONS FOR THIS COURSE (5% penalty if you do not).

All files should be saved on your computer as: your last name, followed by an underscore ("_"), followed by the first two letters of your first name, followed by an underscore ("_"), followed by the assignment number. So if a student named Saddam Hussein were to submit assignment number 10, the file name would be:

hussein_sa_10.doc

Short Script Writing Activity Based on the Reading

Length: 800 words of dialogue

Question:

Using the script writing tools you have acquired, write 800 words of dialogue between two characters from The Wire discussing whether or not the show is too cynical and why (yes, that means you will have characters from The Wire discussing The Wire). Your characters should reflect the two sides of the debate found in your readings for today (that is, the two readings on "Is The Wire Too Cynical?")

Your grade on this script will depend on:

I. How well you demonstrate that you've acquired the script writing skills.

(BE SURE TO READ AND FOLLOW THE "FORMAT FOR SCRIPTWRITING" DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON BlACKBOARD UNDER COURSE DOCUMENTS--NOT ELECTRONIC RESERVES)

II. How well and closely your script reflects the contours of the debate contained in the two readings and considers all sides. Use of specific examples from the series will make or break your dialogue and the grade we give it. (yes, that means you will have your characters from The Wire discussing things they or others said or did onThe Wire.)

 

Accordingly, when your dialogue reflects a position from the readings, you should cite that position using the following method:

A) Place a number in paranthesis after the relevant dialogue.

B) At the end of the dialogue, copy verbatim the relevant lines from the article next to the respective number. You do NOT need to create this text; simple copy-and-paste the relevant sentence or two from the article.

 

So, for example:

Bodie

When crackers in da 'burbs watch dis sh*t, they gonna think all nigg*s do is clock and kill. (1) Yo, I'd light up that sorry mother-f*cker writer, what's his name?

Poot

Simon (beat) David Simon at HBO.

Bodie

Yeh, him. He better not be bringing his fat ass down to the pit if he wants to see a sixth season. You feel?


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1) The Wire reinforced white middle-class stereotypes of inner-city life.

 

note: this line is taken verbatim from the assigned reading at:

http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=1236



KEEP IN MIND THE "Format for Scriptwriting" document on Blackboard's "Course Documents" (not electronic reserves). You will need to structure your script around the guidelines detailed in that document.

see also ELEMENTS OF SCRIPT WRITING (delivered to desktop as ms-word file) we discussed

 

EXTRA-CREDIT POSSIBILITY (potentially an extra 15%):

Instead of the above assignment, you can choose to do the following extra-credit assignment.

Write a 1000 words of dialogue following the instructions above including including the use of the assigned readings, but add an additional five points made by your characters that bring in arguments from both"Inequality and the New American City" and "Why do Drug Dealer Still Live with Their Moms?" You will need to cite these five additional points in exactly the same way as noted above.


"END OF ASSIGNMENT"