The Notebook Movie

Project Text: Film Analysis

English 113B – Fall 2014

Movies, television shows, and books often play a role in shaping the way we look at the world. Fiction or non-fiction, they can teach us about important social issues, make us see something from a new perspective, or give us insight into lives and experiences that are not our own. This is precisely our focus for Project Text.

Project Requirements:

· Topic and Research Plan – Due November 10

· Annotated Bibliography – Rough Draft (2 sources) due Nov. 17, Final Draft (4 sources) due Nov. 26

· Individual Essays (1200 words) – Rough Draft due Nov. 17, Final Draft due Nov. 26

The Essay

Directions: For this essay, you will choose a film, a television series, or a book, and analyze its connection to a social issue or its influence on a particular aspect of society.

The following is a list of questions to get you started. You are not limited to these questions. They are just to get you thinking. Feel free to come up with your own issues and ideas to write about in connection with your chosen media (film, tv, or book).

Questions to Consider:

· Does the film/book/tv show deal with a social issue?

· In what way does it connect to the social issue?

· What does that say about how we view that issue in society?

· Discuss the qualities that make this particular work noteworthy, and/or discuss its negative aspects. Are there specific scenes, characters, or observations that go against particular stereotypes?

· Does this work influence the audience positively or negatively? In what specific ways?

Examples: Our class readings—“Juno: Not Just Another Teen Movie” by Ali Heinekamp, “Undocumented Lives: Migrant Latinos in America” (textbook, page 260), “Lost: Making Viewers into Critical Thinkers” by Daniel Shevelin, “Superheroes Not So Super” by Alejandro Anguiano (Wings pg. 17), "Twilight: Harmless Fantasy or Dangerous Obsession?" by Amanda Morrison, "Degrassi and its Influence on Teens" by Luz Prado

Requirements:

1. 1200 words minimum, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font in Times New Roman and 1” margins.

2. Your essay must include a thesis that makes a claim about the text (film, book, show) you are analyzing and how it connects to a social issue.

3. Your essay must follow MLA format and must correctly cite all sources it uses (see the example in your textbook and the handout).