2. Essay Topics
• Similarities and Differences in reference to
Narrative (character and events) and Genre
features (including technical conventions)
• Similar Messages, Values and Themes
• Wider Contextual Studies
• Similarities and Differences in the
representation of Masculinity and
Femininity
3. What should you be writing
Revision notes on?
• Genre features
• Narrative Structure and Characters
• What the key themes, message and values are
• Representation – ‘gender’ and ‘America’
• America in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s
• America in the Post 9/11 Age
• Central themes of the films
• Detailed notes on key scenes (esp opening and
closings) – at least 4 (homework)
4. What are they looking for in the
exam?
• A clear sense of comparison (contextualise
and clearly discuss similarities as well as
differences by comparing and contrasting)
• Specific reference to key scenes in detail
esp if they specify one.
• Central argument or point of view that
guided and helped structure the response.
• High Level of written communication
skills (paragraphing , grammar, spelling,
essay structure)
5. How would you answer the
question?
• Around the room different essay questions
have been glued on to big sheets of paper.
• Walk around and add you ideas to each
one. You must write on every sheet and
you must write several points.
• Include examples of scenes that you could
refer to (and say why)
• Choose one of the questions. Type up
ALL the information on that sheet (adding
any more points you think of)
• Create a Essay Plan for that question.
6. What to include in the essay
plan• Central argument
• Key scenes from both films that you
would talk about and why –at least two
scenes per film. Give details about the
specific scenes
• Four key points you would cover in your
essay. You could either write two points
for each film or 4 general point and
explain how each films address the point
• Key terminology you would used and
define the terms
• Write the introduction.
7. What goes into an Introduction
• Title/Date/Director of the films (both)
• Your central argument based on the
question
• A quick summary of the main points you
are going to make
• Key words from the question
• Key media terminology you are going to
use
• Persuasive language
