Film Analysis Viewing GuideAnswer the following questions during.docx
1. Film Analysis Viewing Guide
Answer the following questions during/after you watch your
film selection.
General Information:
1. Title of Film:
2. Year Produced:
3. Principle producers/filmmakers:
Specifics
1. What is/are the central message(s) of this documentary? Be
specific. Use examples from the film to support your answer.
2. Discuss the bias in the film (point of view of the
filmmakers).
3. Consider the effectiveness of the film in communicating its
message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths
and weaknesses? (include both)
4. How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to
respond?
5. How does this film appeal to the viewer’s reason? Does it
use evidence, data, and statistics? Are sources cited? Describe
how well you think the filmmakers used reasoning and logic.
17. (NCHS)http://www.cdc.gov/nchsUS Bureau of Justice
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs US Bureau of Labor
Statisticshttp://www.bls.gov US Census
Bureauhttp://www.census.gov USDHHS Healthy People
2020http://www.healthypeople.gov
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1940 1970 1980 1990
Neonatal
Postneonatal
Figure 7. Infant, neonatal, and postneonatal mortality rates:
United States, 1940-2010
1950 1960 2000
Infant
NOTE: Rates are infant (under 1 year), neonatal (under 28
days), and postneonatal (28 days-11 months) deaths per 1,000
live births in
specified group.
SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System,
Mortality.
2010
National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 61, No. 4, May 8, 2013
68
19. Persuasive film analysis
Choose a film from the list and view the film. As you are
watching, please make notes so that you can fill out the film
analysis viewing guide.
For this assignment, you will view a suggested documentary and
complete the film analysis viewing guide. Then, you will write
a 3-4 page paper summarizing the effectiveness of the
documentary as a tool of persuasion. Your paper should
specifically address the following items:
· Introduction: What film did you watch? Who made it, and
when was it made? What is the central message of the film? Be
specific, and try to articulate, in one sentence, what the
filmmaker is trying to say in the film.
· What types of emotional appeals does the filmmaker use to
support his/her central message? Be sure to give specific
examples from the film. Don’t just say, “It was sad.” Explain
why it was sad by giving multiple examples of specific
messages that made it sad.
· How successful is the filmmaker in his/her use of emotional
appeals? Do you think most people watching the film would
experience the emotions that the filmmaker is trying to use? Is
the film convincing on an emotional level?
· What types of logic appeals does this filmmaker use to support
his/her central message? Data, evidence, statistics, reasoned
argument, testimony from experts, etc. are all examples of logic
appeals. Again, give several specific examples from the film.
Don’t just say, “He gave a lot of statistics.” Give specific
examples of their use.
· How successful is the filmmaker in his/her use of logic
appeals? Is the argument sound? Does the filmmaker provide
enough credible evidence to make his/her point? You don’t
need to agree with the filmmaker, but you should be able to
determine the credibility of his/her message.
· What are the strengths/weaknesses of this film as a tool of
persuasion? In other words, what does the filmmaker do well to
prove his/her argument? What did you find lacking in the film
20. that would have made the message come across better? Again,
you don’t have to agree with the filmmaker, or even like his/her
message. You just need to determine what he/she did right and
what needs improvement.
· Conclusion: would you recommend this film? Why or why
not? This is just your opinion.
You are welcome to cite sources to support your argument, but
they are not required. You may NOT integrate outside opinion
and represent it as your own. Your instructor will grade the
paper using the attached rubric, and you must receive a passing
score in all areas to receive a passing grade on the assignment.
Film Selections
Bowling for Columbine
Supersize Me
WalMart: the High Cost of Low Price
Religulous
Capitalism: A Love Story
Sicko
Maxed Out
Trouble the Water
Inside Job
Restreppo
Waiting for Superman
Fahrenheit 9/11
The Cove
An Inconvenient Truth
Food, Inc.
Home
This Film is Not Yet Rated
Zeitgeist: The Movie
GasLand
The Two Escobars
The Union: The Business Behind Getting High
Hearts and Minds
21. Paradise Lost: the Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
The Times of Harvey Milk
No End in Sight
Promises
The Corporation
Tapped