MUSL 3332, Music and Film
CHARLES FRANCIS LEINBERGER, PH.D.
Interlude Essay 1
Week Topic Assignment
4 Buhler, Neumeyer, Deemer: Interlude (pp. 114-27) Interlude Essay
Assignment Code: 3332IE1
Interlude Essay 1 is a 400- to 500-word essay that discusses the following details of a film of your choice. Students may choose a film that is fiction or non-fiction, but may not choose a musical or a documentary. Also, students may not use the film used in the Interlude Essay example, A Fistful of Dollars. The purpose of this project is to develop your skills at communicating, in proper written English, your observations on a film and its sound track, including music, sound effects, and speech.
  1. Before the body of your essay, include the following information, single-spaced, aligned left:
    1. Your name
    2. Your UTEP student ID number
    3. The course number and title (MUSL 3332, Music and Film)
    4. The instructor's name (Dr. Leinberger)
    5. Title and Assignment Code (Interlude Essay 1, 3332IE1)
    6. The essay's due date (Fall/Spring: Tuesday of Week 7) See Deadlines for Students
  2. Opening Paragraph (double-spaced)
    1. Title of the film, including year of production
    2. Name of the film's director
    3. Name of the film's composer(s)
    4. Name of the film's star(s)
  3. Second Paragraph (double-spaced)
    1. Specify genre of the film: drama, historical drama, science fiction, western, romantic comedy, etc.
    2. Summarize the film's plot.
  4. Third Paragraph (double-spaced)
    1. Choose a scene in which the film's use of music has some characteristics that you think makes it noteworthy.
    2. Discuss the use of music, diegetic and non-diegetic, in that scene.
    3. Discuss other elements of the soundtrack as diegetic/nondiegetic as well as onscreen/offscreen.
    4. Discuss how the elements of the soundtrack coexist in a way that benefits the viewing/listening experience.
  5. Concluding Paragraph (double-spaced)
    1. Express your opinion the soundtrack and its effect on the viewer/listener (audience).
See "Response Paper that Describes Music's Narrative Functions" on pages 123-25, and "Concluding Comments" on pages 126-27, of Buhler, Neumeyer, and Deemer.

Use the font Times New Roman, 12-point, for your essay. Space between paragraphs is acceptable. Include page numbers in the header, preferably not including the first page. Indent the first line of each paragraph one-half inch (the default tab in Microsoft Word).

See this Interlude Essay for an example of how the finished essay should appear and read. Much of the additional information needed can be found at The Internet Movie Database (dates, names, etc.). Write in complete sentences only. Use proper English grammar and spelling. Students may want to consult the University Writing Center, located in room 227 the Main Library. Please visit http://academics.utep.edu/writingcenter for more information.

Visit "Academic Writing" for important advice on proper style, formatting, grammar, and punctuation.

Do not submit a printed copy of your essay.

Email the file as an attachment, following the instruction on the MUSL 3332 Fall Syllabus or the MUSL 3332 Spring Syllabus.

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This page was updated 14 August 2013.
All of this information is subject to change.		 UTEP Department of Music UTEP