An Adaptation Study is a look at how a novel has been turned into something else (adapted).
Types of Adaptations you can use for this assignment:
Novel to Film
Novel to Television
Novel to Graphic Novel
Choose a novel that has been turned into a film, TV show, or graphic novel. Read the novel and watch the adaptation. You will then compare and contrast the two versions of the story and analyze how and why the film was adapted. Give a live or recorded presentation where you detail your findings.
There will be essentially 6 parts to your presentation. I would recommend working on gathering evidence for these parts throughout the course of the semester.
Part 1 - The Overstory:
What is the general story that is being told across these two mediums?
Introduce the two texts of the adaptation. Which came first? (Note: Books don't always come first)
What is the main plot that is shared between these two stories?
Who are the protagonist and antagonist?
What is the main conflict of these two stories?
Part 2 - Adaptation Change 1:
Pinpoint what you believe is a major difference between the two versions. Be sure to use quotations to really highlight the point you are making.
Detail a major change in the adaptation
Discuss the impact of this change on the story
Theorize why you believe the story was modified in this way.
Part 3 - Adaptation Change 2:
Pinpoint what you believe is a major difference between the two versions. Be sure to use quotations to really highlight the point you are making.
Detail a major change in the adaptation
Discuss the impact of this change on the story
Theorize why you believe the story was modified in this way.
Part 4 - Adaptation Change 3:
Pinpoint what you believe is a major difference between the two versions. Be sure to use quotations to really highlight the point you are making.
Detail a major change in the adaptation
Discuss the impact of this change on the story
Theorize why you believe the story was modified in this way.
Part 5 - Adaptation Fidelity:
Describe how similar the adaptation is to the original.
Give the adaptation a score of 1-5 stars.
Give a thorough and reasoned analysis of why you gave this score to the adaptation.
Be sure to really look at what makes the adaptation better or worse than the original.
Part 6 - Your Adaptation:
Imagine that you were in charge of adapting this book into a movie or TV show, what would you change or keep the same.
Detail 5 examples or changes that you would make.
You may instead also talk about changes that the current adaptation made that you would not.
Discuss why you would or would not make these changes and the impact they would have on the story.
Assignment Prohibitions
Students may only complete one adaptation per school year... don't expect to do one each year.
Graphic novels/Manga that are adapted into TV/Movies are not permitted.
The following Series are not permitted for this assignment due to them being too close to the original:
The Hunger Games (Book 1-2)
Harry Poter (Books 1-3)
Holes