Research Paper: Equilibrium and Fahrenheit?

[dimshum]

hey guys,

It hit me just recently that I have an enormous paper due in a month. The problem?--It's MUST be around 4000 words long.

I'm pretty much limited to writing an English-related paper, and as of now, the only book I that I believe I would enjoy writing about would be Fahrenheit 451, a relatively simple and short book.

Since I need a comparison for this paper, I figured that comparing both Fahrenheit 451 and Equilibrium the movie would be an extremely interesting paper to write.

Yet, as fun as it might be to write, I have to take into account its feasability; would I be able to write approximately 4000 words?

What do you guys think? Is it possible? Are there enough similarities/contrasts (symbolism/characterization, etc) to write about?

help me out guys--this seems like one of my few options.

[Sicwitit]

I believe you can get 4,000 words out of comparison and contrast, but I can be a longwinded individual when I want to be.
Plenty of time can be spent comparing Montag's and John Preston's journey from disciple's of their artless worlds to champion's of the resistance. And the governments can also be compared. Also, you can cover how the book people in 451 and the Resistance hid their precious wares and how far they would go to keep them. Plus, Montag's and Preston's family reactions to their changes would be good. And, the trigger that changed our heroes' minds.
Just a few thoughts to throw out for the paper. Good luck!

[Observer]

Sicwitit's right. There's more than enough for 4000 words.

But as much as I like Equilibrium, I'm going to caution against using it as the basis for comparison with Fahrenheit 451.

Why?

First, I'm willing to bet most English professors haven't seen Equilibrium or are familiar with it.

A basis of comparison is understandable to the reader only if they are familiar with both objects being compared.

If the professor isn't familiar with Equilibrium, a lot of what you'll be describing in terms of characters and plot will be lost on them. Puzzled professors tend to grade accordingly. Remember, not everyone out there shares our love of the film.

Second, many (if not most) professors seem to take a dim view of literature being compared with something so mundane as a contemporary science-fiction movie, especially "action" sci-fi. I'll be the first one to admit there's an enormous amount of politics in the film, but for most of the professors I've known, it would be lost in all the gunfire.

It would be like trying to compare Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" with the movie "Predator." Are there comparisons? Sure. Will a professor appreciate a famous short story being compared to an Arnie movie? Nope.

My suggestion would be to compare "Fahrenheit 451" with Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four." 1984 is also a short book and it's been made into a very good film (William Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzannah Hamilton) that's extremely faithful to the book. Watching the film before reading the book will provide a good deal of insight. It's like "watching the book", so to speak.

Here's a sample outline of subjects you could cover. I've ensured they segue into each other since professors adore papers where it's done well.

Dystopia: war as the basis of eroding rights and establishing totalitarian systems. There's enough material on that subject alone to fill up a 4k word paper. Definitely enough to pad out a nice intro. From there, move into their respective focus on:

Totalitarian governments and the need to destroy information: their stated vs. true motives, justifications, end goals, the means they use, and its overall effects on the invidual citizen.

Then expand on the role of the individual in the state: The use of ignorance as a means of control (with apropos references to your earlier points on destroying the past). The role both protagonists played in their respective governments in furthering that end and how their work affected them.

Then bring the focus on how each book should affect the reader and the respective message each author was trying to convey.

I've deliberately designed this outline so that it breaks down into four sections. That way, you'll be able to churn out 1k a piece, tie them together, and be done with this pesky assignment once and for all.

Best of all, there's been a bunch of essays (and at least one fully completed term paper, 1340 words long) done on the subject already! Gives you a great place to start and helpful ideas from others.

home.cwru.edu/~jmf34/198451.html

www.123helpme.com/assets/16278.html

www.codoh.com/F451.HTML

education.yahoo.com/homework_help/cliffsnotes/fahrenheit_451/38.html

www.termpaperslab.com/term-papers/56413.html

Hope this helps!

[Libby]

Nice reply Observer...hope it does help.

I would caution against too much reliance on others' 'published' works, though, as tutors are well aware of what's around and there's some serious comeback for using chunks out of such papers (even dressed up to look like one's own work, the syntax and style give it away) Also, you'll probably find that your own ideas are much better anyway!

I do have to smile though...when I went for my interview to read English at Uni (in the days when my friends studying CompSci still used punch cards!!) the Professor was marking some 2nd year essays on this very subject and asked if I'd read the books (which included Brave New World). Being a sci-fi-natic I said I had indeed read them...so my whole interview became a verbal paper on the nature of dystopian society. He told me that my presentation was better than half the papers he had in front of him...and offered me a place there and then!

Some things never change.

(Oh and I got an A in the second year essay!)

[NoClockThing]

You're right, sources are good for citing, but not for copying. If they catch you at plagiarism, you're in trouble.

[jayz]

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[Aedh]