Essay 1: American West Artist (2-3 pages)                  50 pts

This is an essay in which you pick one artist and work that fits the Western genre. In your essay you will provide 1). a brief background of the artist; 2) an analysis of the work in terms of style, technique and use; 3) and finally the works ability to convey aspects of images and/or identities of places and/or people of the American West. Your choice may come from classical art of the Old West or may be a  newer piece depicting the New West.

Create a header at the top of your first page with the following:   [top left} Artist Name (date of birth and date of death)    [top right}    Your Name

                                                                                                               Title of Work and Year produced                                          Course and Semester

At the end of your essay include the references used. You may use text citation or not.

Essay 2: Film Comparison (2-3 pages)                          50 pts

In this essay you will choose one film considered of the Western genre. In your essay you will give 1) background of the film studio, director, and actors of the film; 2) analysis of major themes in the film, style and special techniques used (avoid a long plot synopsis); 3) compare the film you are doing to any of the films covered in your films covered in your The Hollywood West (Etulian & Riley) text. You might keep it down to one-three comparative examples discussed in the text. Obviously you need to view these films. You can rent films from public libraries, Palomar College library (I will put some on reserve), commercial rental stores and of course netflick. Pick films that represent certain styles or time periods for better, more dramatic, comparison. Unless you are a real film buff you might stick to post WWII sound films of the Western genre.

Create a header similar to the essay above: [top left] Film Title, running time, studio                                          [top right]     Your name

                                                                                Director; principle actors                                                                      Course and Semester

 Include references. You must use the text cited and your viewing of the film, but you may use outside references.

Essay 3: Regional Assessment (3-5 pages)                                   100 pts

Your final essay involves the assessment of one region in the American West. In this essay you first task is to 1) define a specific region of the American West that you have some experience with living or visiting, or one covered in your Many Wests (Wrobel & Steiner) text.; 2) evaluate how the region (place) you chose influences human culture and identity; 3) conclude with some comparison to other regions of the American West in terms of influence, quality of life or perspectives on the future. When you define your region of the American West you may use a general region or zoom into a very specific 'sub region'.

Create a simple header:                        [top left]    Regional Assessment: (name of region)                               [top right]       Your name

                                                                                                                                                                                             Course and Semester

Include references. Again you must use the text cited and your own experiences, but you may use outside references.