This document outlines the requirements for an interpretive analysis essay assignment on a course film. Students must: 1) Develop an argument about the central meanings and commentary on the human condition communicated through the film's style and narrative. 2) Write an essay that analyzes a screened film using research, critical analysis, and close examination of techniques to support a thesis. 3) Incorporate discussion of the humanities, context, style, narrative, and meaning into a persuasive scholarly essay between 1000-1200 words.

1. 1#
homework
Interpretive Analysis Essay
PurposeThe purpose of this assignment is to produce an essay
that critically analyzes a course film by synthesizing what
you’ve learned this quarter about how film comments on the
human condition and how film style and narrative communicates
this message. The synthesis of research, critical analysis, and
close textual/formal analysis in this essay is one of the primary
skills needed in all Humanities writing, and the argumentative
and writing skills required for this assignment will be essential
for succeeding in your post-graduate career(s).1)
Skills/Knowledge: As a result of completing this assignment,
you will be able to:a. Critically analyze a film by understanding
how it communicates through formal and
narrative techniques.b. Relate film to topics in the humanities.c.
Conduct research specific to the field of film studies.d.
Synthesize research, critical analysis, and close textual/formal
analysis into a cohesive argument about the relationship of a
film to the human condition.e. Create a strong example of
persuasive scholarly writing.
Assignment Requirements
1) Develop a topic and argument of your choosing, but consider
the following questions: What are the central meanings of the
film and how does the film create them? How does the film use
style and narrative to produce these (potential) meanings? In
making these meanings, how does the film relate to and provide
commentary on the humanities and the human condition? Use
our previous assignments (Annotated Bibliography; Thesis and
Shot

2. Analysis) as examples of how to begin writing this essay.2)
Requirements for the essay:
a. Choose any screening from this quarter of Film 214 to
analyze.b. Include a thesis that makes a strong and clear claim
about the meanings of the film. It should look something like
the following: “Boyz n the Hood (Singleton, 1991) draws on
techniques of neorealism, including location shooting and the
casting of non-professional actors, in order to provide a harsh
commentary on the black experience in 1980s South Central
LA.”c. A title that clearly and accurately reflects the content
and argument of the essay.i. A strong title should clearly
indicate the topic of your essay, and it should include the title
of the film you’re analyzing. Be as specific as possible here.d.
Pay attention to organization. The essay should be logically
structured, with each body paragraph providing support for
essay’s central thesis. Each paragraph should feature smooth
transitions and clear topic sentences.e. Research/Sources: Use
everything at your disposal to make your argument more
persuasive. You will find it helpful to refer to lecture/discussion
notes, PowerPoints, and class readings. The strongest essays
will also make reference to outside research.
Research is not required, but it is strongly encouraged. “A”
level papers will
incorporate credible research.i
. Extra Credit Opportunity: Annotated Bibliography
1.
Up to 5 points for each new annotation that wasn’t included in
the Annotated Bibliography assignment (up to 15 points)f.
Consider all of the major units we explored this quarter: the
humanities, context, style, narrative, and meaning. The
strongest essays will find ways to incorporate all of these topics
in a clear, focused manner.g. Length Requirement: 1000-1200
words. Please include a word count on the first page.

3. 2# Homework
The Topic: What roles did African American Women
play during WW2.
1)
Choose a broad topic
2)
Identify a problem associated with your topic
3)
Raise a question to explore from the identified problem
4)
Make an hypothesis that directly addresses the question raised
from the identified problem
5)
Analyze the assumptions made within your stated hypothesis
6)
Divide areas of research into subtopics among group members
to explore in greater details aspects of your hypothesis that will
be developed into a thoughtful argument
7)
Discuss the conclusions drawn from addressing the assumptions
made in your research with the empirical data, (i.e., evidence)
provided from your research
8)
Five sources each from either primary, secondary sources, or
peer reviewed scholarly journals must be used by each student
contributing to the project

4. 9)
Although this is a collaborative effort, each student is
responsible for his/her own research and reference page
10)
APA format is required
11)
Research should be presented in Power Point or Prezi format
and groups should present their slides collectively with each
participant identifying his/her area of research within the
contributing subtopics related to the project
12)
The topic should be properly introduced, the problem clearly
identified, as well as the question raised concerning your
problem and the hypothesis to be explored that forms the basis
of your research
13)
Conclusions should be drawn from addressing the initial
assumptions made about your research and the eventual
outcomes received that were either supported or rejected by the
evidence retrieved by your research
14)
There should be an average of four to five slides contributed per
student in addition to a reference page
Example
Topic: Racism in America
Problem: Racism persists in America despite slavery having
ended 150 years ago
Question: How does America’s colonial past effect race
relations today?

5. Hypothesis: The institutionalization of slavery within the
colonies was due in part to Eurocentric thinking, the desire for
profits, an existent slave trade in Africa, and a newly conquered
vast and undeveloped land; these factors contributed to the
development of a stratified society built on a color caste system
that was never fully eradicated and continues to effect black
Americans today
Subtopics: Could include exploring how racism and
institutionalized slavery was created in America, making
connections between America’s historical past and racism
embedded within the nation’s institutions, examining current
racial disparities within various social institutions, analyzing
the effectiveness of civil rights’ legislation in addressing racial
disparities, exploring the treatment of blacks in America as well
as the perception of how they feel they are treated, and making
a comparison between white perceptions of racism and actual
outcomes and disparities between the races
Conclusion: Compare the results of your collective research
against your hypothesis. Does the evidence gathered support or
reject the assumptions made by your hypothesis? Discuss why
the research conducted was valid in proving or disproving your
stated hypothesis. Were there any assumptions or evidence that
may have been overlooked that would have affected your
outcomes and produced different results?