1A plus class 4

1. Director:
Chris Columbus
Writers:
J.K. Rowling (novel),
Steve Kloves (screenplay)
Stars:
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert
Grint, Emma Watson
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s
Stone. Directed by Chris
Columbus, performance by
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint,
and Emma Watson, Warner
Brothers, 2001.

2. EWRT 1A CLASS 4

3. AGENDA
• FILM 70 MINUTES
• A FEW TECHNICAL DETAILS
• INTRO TO ESSAY 1: JUSTIFYING AN EVALUATION
• A WELL-PRESENTED SUBJECT:
• WRITING THE DIRECTED SUMMARY
• DISCUSSION:
• CRITERIA: STORYLINE, CASTING AND ACTING, SPECIAL
EFFECTS
• A CLEAR OVERALL JUDGEMENT (THE THESIS)
• APPROPRIATE REASONS AND CONVINCING SUPPORT.

4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
• Active participation in class discussions and regular
attendance. You will earn real points for your participation
in activities.
• Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading.
• Formal writing: three in-class essays and four out of class
essays (including your reflection essay).
• A series of homework posts to the class discussion board
• Reading quizzes and in-class assignments.
• A final portfolio of your passing work
• One in-class essay, one out-of-class essay, and your
reflection essay

5. Your grades will be
available via canvas
You must satisfactorily complete ALL of the
required work in this course to submit a
portfolio. That means you must write and
submit all seven essays and your reflection.
You need a final score of 720 points to pass the
class.

6. SYLLABUS CALENDAR
• THE SYLLABUS CALENDAR PROVIDES A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE.
• IT MAY BE REVISED DURING THE QUARTER.
• USE IT TO DETERMINE HOW TO PREPARE FOR CLASS. THERE
IS A LINK TO THIS DOWNLOADABLE CALENDAR UNDER THE
SYLLABUS LINK
Days and
Class #

Homework due
before next class
 Project Title
What we
will do 
in class
Time and
Room # 

7. This class is
going to be so
easy!
Is this class
too hard?
Will I be the
teacher’s
favorite?
Is this class
History 10?
I will be the
favorite!

9. ESSAY #1: THE IN-CLASS WRITING ASSIGNMENT
• Write an essay evaluating the film Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s
Stone. Examine your subject closely, and make a judgment about it
in a clear and concise thesis statement. Give reasons for your
judgment that are based on at least two widely recognized criteria
or standards for evaluating a film like this one. Support your
reasons with examples and other details from your subject.
• Your final essay should be between 500 and 1000 words. Your only
source for this essay is the film Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s
Stone. You may copy quotes from the movie into your outline if you
so choose. You can find a link to the screen play under “pages,” “all
pages,” and “The Sorcerer’s Stone: The Screen Play” and under
the class 4 presentation.
See the complete assignment under “Assignments” and “Essay #1”

10. A Well-Presented Subject: writing the
Directed Summary
THIS IS AN IN-CLASS ESSAY, BUT WE WILL STILL REVIEW ALL OF THE PARTS OF THE ESSAY
TOGETHER. ULTIMATELY, YOU WILL BRING AN OUTLINE, BASED ON YOUR DRAFTING AND
BRAINSTORMING, AND WRITE THIS ESSAY IN THE COMPUTER LAB. TODAY, WE START AT
THE BEGINNING: THE INTRODUCTION

11. DIRECTED SUMMARY
• A directed summary provides readers of your
paper with the information they need to
understand your argument and explanation.
• State the title and author of the literary work
near the beginning of the first paragraph,
perhaps in the first sentence. This is essential
so that the reader knows which work you are
discussing.

12. • Hook the reader. In the first sentences, write what
is particularly interesting about the work. This
thought-provoking information must also be
relevant to the topic you will discuss in your
essay.
• Assume that the reader is familiar with the work
about which you are writing. Do not include too
much plot summary in the introduction or in the
rest of the essay. Do include the part(s) of the
story that will support your thesis.

13. • Use transitions throughout the introduction. Because
there are so many aspects of the work that have to be
included, the introduction can end up fragmented and
confusing. Make sure that it makes sense on its own as a
paragraph. Clearly transition from your introduction into
your thesis.
• You will eventually state your thesis near the end of the
introduction (your introduction might be more than one
paragraph). The thesis should clearly state what the
essay will analyze and should be very specific.

14. TRY WRITING YOUR INTRODUCTION
1. Title and director; original studio; date of release
a. Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone. Directed by Chris
Columbus, Warner Brothers, 2001.
2. Hook the reader with a thought-provoking aspect of the
movie, one that connects to your essay.
3. Assuming the reader is familiar with the film, include a
brief summary that provides support for your evaluation.
4. Use transitions to keep the introduction clear and
organized.
5. Transition to your main argument.

15. HOMEWORK
 Read: HP Chapters 3-4, pages 24-64
 Read: See the complete essay
assignment under “Assignments” and
“Essay #1”
 HW Discussion: Finish/Write your
directed summary of the film Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
 Link to The Sorcerer’s Stone: The
Screen Play