Final comparative essay
A comparative essay across at least two dramas, arguing for a theme or pattern that runs across the semester
Due: 21 May 2027 · Weight: 50%
The brief#
Choose a thread that runs through at least two of this semester’s dramas, and argue what putting them side by side actually shows.
Twelve weeks built a shared vocabulary — hierarchy, representation versus dramatisation, generational change, visibility, nostalgia — that shows up across very different dramas and subjects. This essay asks you to pick a thread of your own and follow it across at least two weeks, arguing for what the comparison reveals that neither drama shows on its own.
A strong essay does not treat its two dramas as two separate mini-essays glued together. It states a comparative claim early, and every section of the argument works for that claim specifically.
What you submit#
A 2000–2500 word essay comparing at least two dramas from the semester, citing specific scenes as evidence and naming the course concepts it draws on.
How it’s marked#
The comparative argument itself carries the most weight, followed by how precisely the essay uses concepts from the course rather than generic film commentary. Originality — a thread we didn’t hand you directly in lecture — and clear writing round out the criteria.
The spec
The brief poses the problem and leaves room for a response. The spec is the fixed part: what a marker checks. Some lines can be checked mechanically; the rest call for judgement.
- submitted by the deadline, in the format named below
- compares at least two dramas from the semester against a specific, stated theme or question
- draws explicitly on concepts introduced across the weeks it uses, not just plot description
- reaches its own position, rather than only summarising each drama in turn
How it is marked
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Comparative argument | 40% |
| Use of course concepts | 30% |
| Originality and voice | 20% |
| Writing clarity | 10% |