Are we still waiting for superman?

Are We Still Waiting for Superman?

Reaction Paper due April 1st (hard copy)

Directions:

In this 4-page essay, share your reaction to and analysis of the 2010 documentary Waiting for Superman. Your essay should include the following:

1/4 of the paper - Brief summary of the film (what was depicted in the film?) and your reaction to what you saw (what did you think/feel upon viewing the film?)

1/4 of the paper - Fact checking/ critique/ controversy surrounding the film - did the film accurately portray the state of the American public school system? Were the problems portrayed accurately? Is there another side to the story? What have critics challenged about this film?

1/2 of the paper - Informed analysis of whether “we are still waiting for Superman” -- in other words, how much progress have we seen in education reform since Waiting for Superman was filmed in 2010? Be specific in addressing educational policy and reform initiatives since that time. Include information about how the U.S. stacks up against other countries. Draw from the scholarly literature (at least 2 articles) and the popular media (at least 2 articles).

As stated in the syllabus, you could focus this third portion of the essay on an educational system in another country besides the U.S. Please discuss with Prof Butler to get approval before choosing this option.

Be sure that your essay is well-written and free of mechanical errors. It should have a clear organizational structure (intro & conclusion paragraphs, topic sentences, etc.). APA style references (both in text and on a separate references page) are required.

Are We Still Waiting for Superman?

Scoring Sheet

Film Summary _____/ 15

Personal Reaction/ Reflection _____/ 10

Fact-Checking & Film Critique/ Controversy _____/ 15

Educational Policy/Reform Analysis _____/ 30

Paper Organization _____/ 10

Writing Quality & Mechanics _____/ 10

APA Style _____/ 10

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