Do you use an expert film critic’s work as a way of showing that you have done some critical analysis?

CRITICAL THINKING: ANALYZING FILM AS VISUAL NARRATIVE
Orientation and Explanation: Use what you know about genre, purpose, audience, and the rhetorical situation to write a critical movie review. Keep in mind that even though this is a “fun” assignment (or I hope it is) you must still think of your voice and be professional and scholarly. No, this is not a research paper so do not incorporate any outside sources other than one piece of support from an expert movie critic. The whole idea here is that you are able to know who is an expert and who is not. Who should you trust when it comes to engaging in analytical discussions about films/movies and who should you not trust? This is the start of the research process. This is a way to see movies as visual narratives and then add on one more element: critical thinking. Narratives are all about emotion. Movies are too. Critically reviewing a movie, though, requires careful and deliberate analysis. What separates your essay from any number of personal reviews out there on the internet? The answer: your ability to clearly state WHY you are arriving at certain conclusions about certain core elements of visual narrative. Please keep in mind that the definition of “analysis” is to break down complex material into its elements. For this type of analysis, you have to think about what makes film distinct from a written narrative. Every genre has its own special elements. If you don’t talk about certain things in your critical movie review, it can’t be a movie review nor will it be “critical.”
Objective: Watch a movie you know very well. After doing some research on its genre, etc. (as discussed and shown in my lecture video), work through the following elements for pre-writing and invention so you can think clearly about what to say in the review:
Why is [insert your movie title here] still worth watching by a wide audience (who already appreciates the general genre of the specific movie you chose) now? The answer will become your argumentative thesis.
After comparing your movie with others in its genre (category), rank it as an example.
Summarize the plot of the story (one sentence) and then identify the elements of its plot structure: identify the problem, evaluation of the problem (causes and effects) and the resolution.
Are the characters believable and who do you identify with most? Why?
Are the actors appropriately cast?
What is the theme (the point, lesson, moral) of the film? Do the plot, acting, and other elements in the film successfully impart the theme to the viewer?
Is the setting/locale appropriate and effective?
Is the soundtrack effective? Is the music appropriate and create emotion in you? How does the music add to the overall experience of the plot and how much you enjoyed the movie (or not)?
Finally, write down a clear and specific list of your favorite things about the movie and what you would have liked more (weaknesses). In a “critical” movie review, you have to be able to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses (your topic sentences need to be clear about which you’re discussing so you can follow the template/diagram in the textbook).
Then, write a full three-page essay following the textbook template with a subsequent fourth page for as a Works Cited page citing the movie and one expert film critic as evidence to support your critical analysis. Keep in mind that “analysis” is not summary.
Assessment/Point Distribution:
30 points: Proper general essay structure (introduction, body, conclusion with appropriate indenting) with a properly constructed and placed argumentative thesis and corresponding topic sentences.
40 points: Understanding the rhetorical situation as it pertains to an academic, scholarly and critical movie review. All of your body paragraphs should follow the template(s) on p. 94. You must dissect different subjects like casting, screenplay, soundtrack, characterization, etc. What makes this “critical” is that you are not writing a “rant” or a “rave” but something balanced. You must clearly write about strengths and weaknesses.
10 points: Do you use an expert film critic’s work as a way of showing that you have done some critical analysis? This is where you begin to apply some of your understanding of research.
20 points: Attempting to apply basic MLA formatting (a proper heading, proper spacing, an original title, etc.). In addition to exemplifying your knowledge of general guidelines, this essay requires that you try to begin applying your understanding of citation. Remember that your essay needs two in-text citations (naming the movie and using one outside expert movie review as support) and then two corresponding full citations on the Works Cited page. ***As stated on the syllabus, if you plagiarize (commit any of the six (6) listed types of plagiarism on the syllabus), you will earn a non-negotiable F.***

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