This document provides guidance for writing a comparative analysis of the films "Knocked Up" and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" focusing on how they represent gender. The analysis should include an introduction briefly describing the characters and narratives. The main body should analyze how the films similarly and differently represent the male gender through specific scenes, using relevant film theory. It should then analyze female representation in the same way before concluding by looking back at points made in the introduction and focusing on a stereotype example for each gender. Relevant film theorists like Mortimer and Gauntlett should be referenced throughout.

1. 1
Unit B321: Foundation Portfolio – Comparative Analysis
Topic two – Film Genre’s – “Romantic-Comedy” Genre
How do the contemporary romantic comedy texts ‘Knocked Up’ (2007 - Dir. Judd Apatow) and
‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (2008- Dir. Nicholas Stoller) represent similar and different views
on the Male and Female gender?
Introduction – 150 -200 words MAX – Remove subheadings
 Briefly introduce each text (x1-2 sentences per text) – Focus on Characters and Narrative
e.g “The contemporary romantic-comedy texts ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’
establish the expected representation of two protagonists, male and female, in conflict with
one another. ‘Knocked Up’ presents a ‘well meaning, but immature’ (Gauntlett – 2008) male in
the form of Ben (Seth Rogen) who’s ‘hedonistic, carefree’ (Mortimer – 2010) lifestyle is
changed when he meets high flying TV presenter Alison (Katherine Heigl), not long after
becoming pregnant” – Then do the same for ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’.
 Link sentence – “This essay will focus on…” or “This comparative analysis will focus on…”–
1) Use language from the title
2) State what scenes in particular will be focused on in developing your argument.
Main Body – 1,000 – 1,250 words – Remove subheadings
Tips for success!
 Lots of Media Language (denotes, connotes, verbal/non-verbal/technical code)
 Structure – “PEA”
Make your POINT – back it up with EVIDENCE – then ANALYSE how this is relevant to the
title and what impact this would have on the audience OR what theory this conforms to.
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
Candidate Name: Your Full name
Candidate Number: 4 digit code

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1) Male Gender FIRST!
YOU MUST refer to specific examples from Knocked Up AND Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Key scenes to refer to – Knocked Up
Chapter (3) – The morning after the night before
Chapter (5) – Pregnancy revelation
Chapter (5) – Doctor reveals pregnancy
Key scenes to refer to – Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Chapter 1 – Break Up and Introduction
Chapter 3 – Post-Break up
Chapter 11 – Cracks in Aldous’ and Sarah’s relationship
Chapter 14 – Sarah’s home truths to Peter
YOU SHOULD look through your notes and decide what scenes are worth mentioning when
discussing how they represent similar and different views on the Male Gender and consider how
theory such as Claire Mortimer (2010) and David Gauntlett (2008) can be included in your
analysis.
YOU MUST include theory that is relevant to the “Rom-Com” genre’s representation of the Male
Gender to support your understanding.
2) Link sentence – BEFORE you write about the Female Gender
Example:
“The female gender also represent similarities and differences to the target audience in the case
study examples Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. For example, in….”
3) Female Gender LAST!
You MUST refer to specific examples from Knocked Up AND Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Key scenes to refer to – Knocked Up
Chapter (3) – The morning after the night before
Chapter (5) – Pregnancy revelation
Chapter (5) – Doctor reveals pregnancy
Key scenes to refer to – Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Chapter 1 – Break Up and Introduction
Chapter 3 – Post-Break up
Chapter 11 – Cracks in Aldous’ and Sarah’s relationship
Chapter 14 – Sarah’s home truths to Peter
YOU SHOULD look through your notes and decide what scenes are worth mentioning when
discussing how they represent similar and different views on the Male Gender.

3. 3
You MUST include theory that is relevant to the “Rom-Com” genre’s representation of the Male
Gender to support your understanding.
Conclusion – 100 words MAX
Example Sentence starters–
“In conclusion, this analysis has established….”
“Having deconstructed each moving image text from the romantic comedy-genre, it can be
concluded…”
“To conclude, this comparative analysis has been able to establish…”
 Look back at what you said in your Introduction – Did the analysis address the aims
well?
 Focus on and conclude on x1 example for EACH gender that represents a stereotype to
the audience.
 Closing sentence – Refer to theory such as Tamar Jeffers-McDonald’s (2007) views
on the genre OR how the representation of each gender provides “mass
entertainment” (Mortimer – 2010) for the audience for example.
 YOU COULD refer to other Mortimer theory for specific films such as how “The film
(Knocked Up) endorses the underdog” (YOU MUST look in your exercise book)