Film Responses

After each film, I will post a discussion prompt. Most of your film responses are required. For some of the films, the film responses are optional, meaning you can replace the grade of a required response that you previously completed (check the calendar to see which are required and which are optional). The response you write must be two paragraphs of EQUAL length that together total 300-400 words. Each paragraph you write must be half the total length of your response (shoot for having paragraphs with the same number of lines). Google Drive has a built-in word counter. Make sure your total falls between 300 and 400.

For each film response, write a substantial and intelligent response to my prompt in a Google Drive document that you create and properly name in the folder you shared with me for this course. To receive a grade of "quality effort,"

• Focus your discussion on two detailed examples from the film (one per paragraph). Avoid generalization and summary.
• Elaborate on each example by looking at camera work, editing, etc. in order to explain how they created meaning for you.
• Stick to my prompt, "first" for first paragraph, "second" for second paragraph. However, take my questions as parameters, not a list.
• Show me your unique thoughts. Tell me what YOU think, not something you found on a website or any other source external to you or the film itself.
• Write two paragraphs of equal length and be sure the total word count is 300-400 words.
• Write clearly and proofread, just as your would for an essay. Your grammar and sentence structure should follow the conventions of standard American English.
• Compose and revise in your Google Document. DO NOT paste ANYTHING into your Google Document.

Poorly written responses will receive a grade of "falls short," and while you will have chances to improve your grades on required film responses by doing optional ones, you will create more work for yourself if you rush. I would say you need to give each one at least a solid, concentrated hour of your time. Less time spent now means more time spent later. Stay on topic with my prompt. I will set up parameters, so you must be careful to spend your FULL two paragraphs operating in that topic space. Using up words by building up to your response is not a good idea--plan ahead so that you can start specific. Summaries of the film or general discussions about your opinions will count as "falls short," resulting in more work for you down the road if you want to raise that grade. Again, you must devote the bulk of each paragraph to a specific example from the film so that you can show me you are interpreting deeply and focusing on film-making techniques.

Scoring Guide:

"quality effort" --> skillful, focused, impressive, and invested
"falls short" --> complete, on topic, but lacking in content, depth, or clarity
"incomplete" --> short, off-topic, or poorly written; must finish or redo