Reference no: EM132295729
Political Film Evaluation
Introduction:
View one film that is of personal interest from the list provided below. The films have been screened by the instructor and have been found to be of considerable value as it pertains to the content of this Learning Community course. The final work product is to be a high quality report using the specific guidelines provided.
The films listed can be obtained at your local video store or in some cases at your local library. It is suggested that you carefully examine the requirements for this activity prior to selecting a film. Then as you watch the film, create a detailed set of notes that you can refer to as you prepare your paper. Again, examine your notes and carefully consider the project guidelines. Spend some time developing your ideas before typing up a report.
The final work product is to have a minimum of one page annotating the history and politics involved in the plot of the film and a minimum of two pages analyzing the film using each of the questions/prompts provided for this activity. The minimum writing requirement for this project is three full pages in your own words (this does not include the cover page, extensive quotes, opinion section or the works cited page). Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in the report being marked incomplete, thus receiving a zero.
Grade Value: The grading scale is based on a maximum value of 50 points of extra credit.
Submission: The assignment is to be submitted to the appropriate online dropbox on e-campus prior to the deadline. Remember, you may only submit one file. Be sure all parts of the project are submitted together in one file (cover page, annotation, analysis, opinion section and works cited).
Deadline:The extra credit is due by 11:55 pm on Sunday - 04/29/2018.
List of Approved Films:
Civil Rights:
• Malcolm X(1992): Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader.
• Selma (2014): Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1965 march for voting rights in Selma Alabama.
• Ali (2001): A biography of sports legend, Muhammad Ali, from his early days to his days in the ring.
• Cesar Chavez (2014): Biographical story of labor leader and civil-rights activist Cesar Chavez.
• Walkout(2006): HBO movie about the East Los Angeles student civil rights protests.
Domestic Policy:
• V for Vendetta (2005): A shadowy figure known only as "V" uses violent tactics to fight against a totalitarian government in a futuristic England.
• The Siege (1998): A hypothetical plot examines how various government entities would respond to a series of terrorist attack in New York City and how they would deal with complex Constitutional issues in the effort to fight terrorism.
• J. Edgar (2011): J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life.
• Good Night, Good Luck (2005): broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow vs. Senator Joseph McCarthy.
• Too Big to Fail (2011) (TV): HBO movie chronicling the financial meltdown of 2008, and centering on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.
Foreign Policy:
• Lions for Lambs (2007): Three parallel storylines unfold to share a common bond and a powerful message. One story tells the journey of two soldiers in Afghanistan, another takes place in the office of a professor at a California University, and the third is a dialogue between a reporter and a Congressman.
• Charlie Wilson's War(2007): The political side of the United States covert activities during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979-1989.
• Thirteen Days (2000): A dramatization of President Kennedy's administration's struggle to contain the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962.
• The Good Shepherd(2006):The tumultuous early history of the Central Intelligence Agency is viewed through the prism of one man's life.
• Dr. Strange Love or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964): Cold War paranoia erupts into possible nuclear war.
Guidelines for the Film Report (Steps 1-10):
Page 1 - The Cover page
1. Follow all of the general formatting guidelines for this course. Place the title of the project, your name, course and section number, instructor's name, current semester and word count on the cover page.
2. Use the full MLA or APA citation for the film as the title of your report. Once you do this, it will not be necessary to cite the film on your works cited page. See this link for the specific set of rules (using MLA).
Page 2 - Starting on a new page, under the heading "Annotation" address item # 3 (using one full page only):
3. Provide a high quality annotation of the film using the following criteria:
a. The annotation must be in your own words, using the language of a political science student. Do not submit something like the film abstract found online or on the back of the DVD (a summary). The purpose of the annotation is to demonstrate your ability to identify the political ideas being conveyed in the plot of the film. In other words, what are the political points being made and how did they evolve during the plot of the film?
b. Someone reading your annotation should get a general feel about the political issues being engaged in the film without having to see it. Writing a good annotation is challenging, this is very different from a "book report" or summary type activity. You may want to review the film more than once before you begin writing. You are to use your own judgments, no one is permitted to use outside sources for this aspect of the project.
c. Do not express your feelings, reactions or personal views in the summary. That is the purpose of the opinion page, a separate requirement within this project. Be sure to keep your opinions separate from your report (stay objective).
d. The annotation for each film report must be 1 full page in length. If too short, it doesn't provide enough information; if too long, you are probably trying to put in all the facts or details, which is not the purpose of annotating.
Pages 3 and beyond - Starting on a new page, under the heading "Analysis" address items # 4-8 (using a minimum of two full pages in your own words and a maximum of 4 pages for this section):
4. Clearly identify how the film engages four (4) different course topics covered this semester. You are expected to make four (4) specific references using different scenes from the selected film.
5. Indicate whether the film provided sufficient evidence or facts to support the main idea(s). There is always a little truth in fiction. Give specific examples to support your answers. You will need to cite historical or current events to address this prompt. List all outside sources on a works cited page.
6. Explain whether or not the content was biased or objective (films use bias and objectivity intentionally to convey ideas). Provide at least 2 specific examples from the film to support your analysis.
7. Provide the writer's / director's / author's qualifications on the subject matter. Who you investigate depends on the source of the film. If it is based on a book, you would research the author. If you find the qualifications are in another subject area, be sure to mention what you found and where you found it. List your sources on a works cited page.
8. Identify at least 2 things you learned from the film about the world of politics that were not specifically addressed in the formal course readings, lectures or videos.
Starting on a new page, under the heading "Opinion" address item # 9:
9. The purpose of the opinion section is to express your affective thoughts separate from your objective thoughts. In other words, simply state your personal opinion of the film. Think of your audience, try to rate it in terms that would appeal to your fellow students. Would they find it useful or interesting? This is where you get to play the role of a film critic. The opinion section should be no more than one paragraph on a separate page.
Finally - Proof and Edit
10. Proofread to ensure the final product is grammatically correct and logically structured. It is your responsibility to find someone (friend, fellow student, English teacher, English tutor, relative, neighbor, etc.) to go over your rough draft and make corrections before your final copy is submitted. I do not expect perfection, but I do expect college level performance. Thus, your writing should demonstrate what you have learned in class through your written analysis. Suggestion: sometimes it's a good idea to read your draft copy out loud to yourself to hear if it makes sense.