doc daimler !!

3

Documentary Film Review

Directions

You will write a critical review of one of the three documentary films:

The Gilded Age (PBS)

Influenza 1918 (PBS)

Into the Amazon (PBS)

You will write a 700-word review that incorporates scenes from the documentary film and relevant historical content about the period discussed in the documentary. Your review should expose the reader to important issues raised in the film. If you fail to adhere to the guidelines, you will receive a zero on your review. The review is worth twenty-five points and 10 percent of your final grade.

Questions for the Review

The following questions have been included to guide your writing. They should not appear in the text of the review i.e. do not type them into the body of the review. And you cannot merely answer the questions in chronological order. You should write at least five paragraphs, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.

· What content does the documentary portray?

· What is the context of the issue presented in the film? What history must the viewer know so that they can better understand the context? Provide specific details.

· What specific theme in the film do you wish to analyze in detail?

· Is the viewer’s worldview challenged and /or expanded by the film? Explain.

· What scenes are particularly noteworthy? What scenes do you think did not add to the overall quality of the film?

· Does the film expose the viewer to issues, social, political and/or moral that you think are important?

Structure of the Review

Introduction

Tell the reader what you will tell them. Begin with the basics: what is the title of the film, who made the film, the culture presented in the film and short synopsis of the film. The reader must know exactly what they are reading about. Two or three sentences that inform the reader what position you are taking in regards to the films.

Body

Tell the reader. Here you address the questions that must be answered and select one or two other questions. Be sure you inform the reader which aspect of the films you wish to analyze and then give your analysis. Spend some time working out a logical order of the questions you will address in your review.

Conclusion

Tell the reader what you told them. Summarize your position and demonstrate how your analysis and responses to the questions supports your position. Make concluding remarks and include any after thoughts.

Policy on Late Papers

I do not accept late papers. If you fail to submit the paper by the due date, then you will receive a paper grade of zero (0).

General Guidelines

1. You must use one-inch margins all around. Do not use larger margins. Exaggerated margins give papers an awkward appearance. More importantly they do not compensate for brief or incomplete ideas.

2. You must use a cover sheet that provides the paper title, your name, Montclair State University, and date. Begin typing your paper one-inch from the top of the second page. All tabs should equal a half-inch. The cover sheet does not count as a page of text.

3. You are required to use Times New Roman, size 12. If you are unable to meet the minimum length do not resort to using size 14, 16 or larger fonts. Large fonts give papers a comical appearance.

4. You must write at least 700 words of narrative text.

5. Make sure you double-space your paper. Single and 1.5 spacing give a crowded appearance.

6. Proofread your work with care. Spelling errors will weaken your grade significantly. Do not rely on spell checkers since they are of limited value. Spell checkers cannot distinguish between homonyms like wood and would.

7. Avoid using contractions. Instead of writing “don’t” and “won’t” write out the words so that they read “do not” and “will not.”

8. Avoid using “I think,” “I believe,” “we,” “you” and other forms of the personal in your essay.

9. You are also responsible for grammatical errors. Poor grammar weakens your message. Some common errors are subject-verb agreement, incorrect use of irregular verbs, and run-on sentences. You can find more information on this topic in A Pocket Guide to Writing in History by Mary Lynn Rampolla and The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.

10. Avoid using slang and profanity in your papers. Unless you are quoting directly profanity does nothing else but turn off the reader.

11. Instead of writing “back in the day” try something like “in the past” or “during the 1920s.”

12. Write in the active and not passive voice. Instead of overusing is, are, and were try to write in a different manner. Here are two examples:

a. Instead of “He was always trying to find work and he went to new areas where he could find it” use “Constantly searching for work, he traveled to new areas to find high-paying jobs.”

b. Instead of “My first visit to Miami will always be remembered by me” use “I will always remember my first visit to Miami.”

13. Avoid long quotes. Instead of using an entire paragraph incorporate sentence length (or shorter) quotes into the text of your essay. The latter method will facilitate analysis. Make sure you correctly cite the author of the quotes.

14. If you decide to use outside sources you must cite them using accepted footnote models. Please see the Chicago Manual of Style for citation rules.

15. Use clear and precise sentences for your thesis statement and the beginning of each paragraph. This will make it easier for your reader to follow your ideas.

16. Do not plagiarize the work of others. For further details on what constitutes plagiarism see the AHA website at www.historians.org.

17. Prepare a detailed outline. Instead of relying solely on your memory use an outline. Outlines make it easier to organize your ideas.