College of the Canyons

English 281, Delaney

Final Project
Better World OR Film Adaptation
Project Due: Tuesday, December 7 by 11:59 p.m.
Point Value: 150

Our final project for English 281 will not be a standard essay. Instead, you’ll be writing in the style of a business
proposal (I’ve included guidance on writing business proposals below). There are two prompts that you can choose
from: Better World or Film Adaptation.

Better World Project:

Science fiction and fantasy can introduce us to worlds that have elements better than our own. We may watch
transporter scenes in Star Trek with envy, wishing it could be so easy to move from one place to another. Or, we may
look to the ease that characters use singular they/them pronouns in The Empress of Salt and Fortune without making
mistakes or saying they/them pronouns are “too hard.” While the worlds we’re introduced to in science fiction and
fantasy aren’t perfect, they can show us ways that our world can be better.

If you decide to work on the Better World project, pick a work of science fiction or fantasy that we’ve studied for class
that includes one element you think we should work towards (like transporter travel or ease with pronouns). Then,
explain how we can work our way towards that element. The proposal might not get us all the way there (for example,
it could be difficult to present a viable plan for transporter travel), but it should get us closer.

The proposal should answer the following questions:

• Literary Text: What literary text inspired you? What element within the text should we work towards? Why?
What problem(s) can this element solve?
• Process: What steps do we need to take to work towards our goal?
• Impacts: How will achieving our goal make the world a better place? Why should we focus on this goal?

Film Adaptation Project:

As we discussed in the week we studied adaptation, science fiction and fantasy are genres that are especially good at
keeping texts in conversation with one another. Think about a work like Wizard of Oz that goes from being a book to a
movie. Then, the movie is reimagined for a Black cast in The Wiz and the events are reimagined from the Wicked
Witch of the West’s point of view in Wicked (which later becomes a musical). Science fiction and fantasy texts morph
to fit the needs of a new time, a new audience, and a new medium.

If you decide to work on the Film Adaptation project, pick a written work of science fiction or fantasy that we’ve
studied for class. The text could already have a film adaptation (like Frankenstein), but that isn’t necessary. Then,
explain how you would adapt the text for release as a film in the 2020s.

The proposal should answer the following questions:

• Literary Text: What literary text did you select? Why do you think it is a good idea to adapt this text into a
film?
• Adapting to Film: What decisions about the film have you made? For example, who is your ideal cast? What
parts of the story will you include in the film and what parts will you remove? Be sure to explain your
decisions.
• Audience: Who is your ideal audience? What do you hope the audience will get out of the film? How will you
try to appeal to your audience?
Audience Considerations:
These considerations apply to both projects.
When writing your proposal, select a specific audience. Your audience should be the person or group that could
approve the proposal (not me). Assume that your proposal is unexpected and provide all the background information
your audience will need to understand your ideas.

Assignment Requirements:
These requirements apply to both assignment options.
• Include a discussion of one literary text that we studied for class, but go beyond the literary text.
• Persuade your readers to adopt your proposal. Why should we agree with your ideas?
• Incorporate credible research and direct quotes from the literary text to support your points.
• Address an uninformed but influential audience. They can decide whether your proposal will be adopted.
• Use business report structure and format (more info below).
• You may include visuals to support your points.
• There is no set page count for this assignment. Take as much space as you need to make your case
persuasively.

Business Proposal Structure:

1. Title Page: The title page tells the reader the title of your proposal, the name of the proposal writer, and the
date.
2. Table of Contents: Provide a table of contents to help readers find the information that is most useful to
them. Include detail; a section called “Discussion” isn’t as helpful as “Schedule of Trainings.”
3. Introduction: Provide an overview of the whole proposal. This section is meant to help readers who are busy
and important decide if they will read the entire proposal. The intro should also include:
• Statement of Purpose: Briefly explain the purpose of your proposal. What do you hope to
accomplish? Why?
• Needs Analysis: Explain what situation led to your proposal. What problem are you trying to solve?
4. Discussion (can be split into multiple sections): In an essay, we would call this section the body. This should
be the longest and most specific part of your proposal. Use the discussion to explain your plan in detail. It
should:
• Explain your plan in detail
• Sell your ideas persuasively
• Use thorough, credible research
• Be clearly organized
5. Conclusion: Sum up your proposal and provide closure for your readers. Restate the problem, your solution,
and potential benefits.
6. Works Cited Page: List all the sources you cite in the proposal using MLA style.

*Keep in mind that a professional audience may not read your proposal in order (or all the way through). Be prepared to have some repetition
in your sections.

Other Formatting Concerns:

• Single space in a business-appropriate font
• Use short paragraphs (4-6 lines of text)
• You may include visuals (photos, charts, etc.)
• You may use bullet points, numbered lists, bold text, text boxes, or any other method you choose to make
information stand out
• Overall, be sure the text looks good on the page and won’t overwhelm the reader
TLC Tutoring Session (Optional):
5 extra credit points per session, 25 points maximum
TLC tutors can help you on this paper! Tutors can assist at any point in the writing process, from talking with students
to develop ideas to reviewing a polished draft. I recommend that all students seek feedback from a tutor before
submitting their final essay. I almost always ask for a second (or third or fourth) opinion on my writing projects, and I
encourage you to do the same! For more information about tutoring, go to www.canyons.edu/tlc.

Final Draft:
Due Tuesday, December 7 by 11:59 p.m., 150 points
The final draft should be a polished, complete essay that responds to one of the prompts above. You should be proud
of the work you turn in!

I highly recommend that you complete your final formatting on Microsoft Word, which you have free access to as a
COC student. Google Docs often has margin errors that make the paper look longer than it actually is.

Late Assignments: Assignments are due at 11:59 p.m. on Canvas. An assignment is considered late ten minutes after
the official deadline. You should also know:
• Major projects (150 points or more) are the only work I will accept late. Late work must be submitted
within 24 hours of the original deadline and will be graded for half credit. But…
• Life Happens! I recognize that you have additional responsibilities and concerns outside of our class, and that
sometimes life happens. To help you succeed even when life intervenes, you have a one time, no questions
asked free late project. You may turn in one essay/project late (within 24 hours of the original deadline) with
no penalty.