History 261 Film Review Details 15% Students are responsible for writing a film review, 1250 to 1500 words in length (double spaced), excluding footnotes

History 261 Film Review Details 15%

Students are responsible for writing a film review, 1250 to 1500 words in length (double spaced), excluding footnotes. If you write fewer than 1250 words, you will be penalized. It is suggested that students use the maximum amount of space provided to them (1500 words) to do a full and excellent job. Please list your final wordcount, excluding footnotes, on your cover page.

The assignment is intended to help students hone their scholarly analysis and critical thinking skills when responding to films. Students are expected to watch the film, think about its argument, and reflect on the efficacy of its claims. Students will first summarize the film. Students will then analyze the main argument, discussing its key claims, the evidence that was used to support them, and any issues that may have been overlooked. Students will be graded on the clarity of their argument, their use of evidence from the reading to support their claims, and their attention to detail in analyzing the work. A rubric is provided for marking clarity.  Due Friday, February 5, 2021 at 11:59PM.

List of Films to Review (choose one):  

Dr. Matthew Wildcat, Dr. Tracy Bear, Dr. Paul Gareau, and Dan Levy. Indigenous Canada Module 3, 2020. Running Time: 1h 3min

Roger McTair, National Film Board of Canada, Journey to Justice. Running Time: 47 min

Marquise Lepage, National Film Board of Canada, Martha of the North, 2008. Running Time: 1h 23 min

Marie Clements, National Film Board of Canada. The Road Forward, 2017. Running Time: 1h 41min

Details to Consider Before Writing:  

• What is the thesis—or main argument—of the film? If the director/producer wanted you to get one idea from the film, what would it be? How does it compare or contrast to the world you know? What has the film accomplished?
• What exactly is the subject or topic of the film? Does the director/producer cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? What is the approach to the subject (topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive)?
• How does the director/producer support her argument? What evidence do they use to prove her point? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why or why not? Does any of the information (or conclusions) conflict with other information you have about this subject or your previous assumptions?
• How does the author structure their argument? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense? Does it persuade you? Why or why not?
• How has this film helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend the film to your reader?

Beyond the internal workings of the film, you may also consider some information about the director/producer and the circumstances of the film’s production:

• Who is the director/producer? Nationality, political persuasion, training, intellectual interests, personal history, and historical context may provide crucial details about how a work takes shape. Does it matter, for example, that the biographer was the subject’s best friend? What difference would it make if the director/producer participated in the events she writes about?
• What is the film’s genre? Out of what field does it emerge? Does it conform to or depart from the conventions of its genre? 

** Above excerpt taken from (and modified): https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-andtools/book-reviews/ 

Assignment Submission

Please upload your assignment to eClass on the due date. Your assignments will be accepted until 11:59PM on the due date. Given the problems in eClass during the Fall 2020 semester, I strongly recommend that you upload your file before 11:59pm to accommodate for eClass glitches or slow upload speeds. Assignments that are received after 11:59PM will be penalized by 10% per day (including weekends). Assignments later than three days will not be accepted and given a grade of zero.

All files will be prepared as though you would be handing in a paper copy – you must include a title page (listing your title, your name, and the course information and word count), numbered pages, and a properly formatted document (double-spaced, 12pt New Times Roman font). ONLY MS Word files will be accepted: .doc or .docx. MS Word software is available to all UAlberta students, for free. This course uses the Chicago Manual of Style. All written work must be referenced in this manner, students should consult the information below for writing papers. 

When submitting, please name your file: LAST NAME, FIRST NAME FILM TITLE.docx. For instance, if I wrote a film review on Martha of the North, my file submission would appear as follows: FRASER, CRYSTAL MARTHA FROM THE NORTH.docx.

Your graded assignments will be uploaded to eClass for your viewing. After receiving your grade from a marked assignment, please wait 24 hours before contacting me for additional feedback or clarification. I will not respond to email queries about graded assignments until at least 24 hours have passed.

FILM REVIEW MARKING RUBRIC

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