writing about film
TRANSCRIPT
What can writing about film can do for you?
What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker or a group of movies
What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker or a group of movies
Make comparisons and contrasts between films
What can writing about film can do for us?Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a movie, filmmaker or a group of movies
Make comparisons and contrasts between films
Make connections between a film and other areas of culture that produce it
“Perhaps more than any other arts and entertainment, the movies frequently elicit a strong emotional or intellectual reaction.”
“Perhaps more than any other arts and entertainment, the movies frequently elicit a strong emotional or intellectual reaction.”
“Analyzing our reactions to themes, characters or images…can be a way not only of understanding a movie better but also of understanding better how we view the world and the cultures we live in.”
Timothy Corrigan~
Critical Analysis
Assume your audience or reader is familiar with the film you are writing about, this means there is no need to give a full plot summary.
Each Response Question is a mini-critical analysis that asks you to focus your response by providing evidence to support a claim.
Each Response Question is a mini-critical analysis that asks you to focus your response by providing evidence to support a claim.
It’s not about whether you liked or disliked a film. The Response Questions allow you to analyze a particular element in a film and write about it from an objective, third person, point of view.
Forget about terms like GOOD/BAD or LIKED/DISLIKED
Taking notes is an essential component of writing a critical analysis.
Taking notes is an essential component of writing a critical analysis.
Consider which question you wish to answer and then take notes.
Taking notes is an essential component of writing a critical analysis.
Consider which question you wish to answer and then take notes.
for example: In what ways might the character of Joe Gillis be considered an Anti-hero?
First consider the definition of an anti-hero
anti-hero
protag. who lacks traditional heroic attributes (courage, idealism, etc.)
instead has opposite attributes (ineptness, stupidity, dishonesty, etc.)
An anti-hero acts heroically, yet in an underhanded and deceitful way
Joe is an anti-hero because
Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for the security and material possessions she gives him
Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for the security and material possessions she gives him
He goes after his friend’s fiancé.
Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for the security and material possessions she gives him
He goes after his friend’s fiancé.
He lies to Betty about his situation with Norma
As you begin to construct your Response Paper it is important to use proper format.
As you begin to construct your Response Paper it is important to use proper format.
Type the question you are answering completely at the top of the page and begin your response in a new paragraph
Be specific in the first sentence of your response
Do not begin with a vague sentence like, “Joe Gillis is an anti-hero for many reasons.”
Your introduction should be strong and set up your response.
In what ways might the character of Joe Gillis be considered an Anti-hero?
Unlike the prototypical hero or good guy Joe
Gillis embodies the quintessential characteristics of
an anti-hero.
10 questions to ask yourself
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually around a single idea?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence clear and are the sentences varied?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence clear and are the sentences varied?
8. Are general or abstract observations supported with concrete example?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence clear and are the sentences varied?
8. Are general or abstract observations supported with concrete example?
9. Did you proof read your paper?
10 questions to ask yourself1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a specific thesis that anticipates the main points of the argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect a logical development of the thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions between paragraphs and sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence clear and are the sentences varied?
8. Are general or abstract observations supported with concrete example?
9. Did you proof read your paper?
10. If you have sources are they supported with proper MLA format
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half page (10-12 lines) long?
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-text citations for sources?
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar and terminology properly?
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar and terminology properly?
9. Have you proof read your paper?
Do the following 10 things to earn full credit1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the page
2. Double Space your word document
3. Put the film title in italics and capitalized the first letter of each word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective and AVOID using pronouns as subjects, "You can see" or "Our protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction (with a thesis sentence), a body and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar and terminology properly?
9. Have you proof read your paper?
10. Did you write about the action (plot) of the film in the PRESENT tense?