This document provides guidance on writing essays that compare two films. It includes suggested topics to compare narratives, genres, themes, and representations of masculinity and femininity. Revision notes should focus on genre features, narratives, themes, and representations. Exams will look for clear comparisons drawing on specific scenes, a central argument, and strong writing skills. When answering questions, students should write points on topic sheets, choose a question, and create an essay plan including the central argument, key scenes from each film, four comparison points, and an introduction stating the argument, main points, question keywords, and terminology.

1. Essay Writing
Topics
Techniques
Marking
Revision

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