Writing about films can help one better understand their own emotional and intellectual reactions to movies. It allows people to analyze themes, characters, and images in films which provides insight into how they view the world. Some benefits of writing about films include gaining a deeper understanding of one's own responses, explaining or introducing aspects of a movie, filmmaker, or genre, and making comparisons between different films or connecting films to other cultural areas.

1. What can writing about film can do for you?

2. What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better

3. What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a
movie, filmmaker or a group of movies

4. What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a
movie, filmmaker or a group of movies
Make comparisons and contrasts between
films

5. What can writing about film can do for us?
Understand your own response better
Explain or introduce something about a
movie, filmmaker or a group of movies
Make comparisons and contrasts between
films
Make connections between a film and other
areas of culture that produce it

6. “Perhaps more than any other arts and
entertainment, the movies frequently elicit a strong
emotional or intellectual reaction.”

7. “Perhaps more than any other arts and
entertainment, the movies frequently elicit a strong
emotional or intellectual reaction.”
“Analyzing our reactions to themes, characters or
images…can be a way not only of understanding a
movie better but also of understanding better how
we view the world and the cultures we live in.”
Timothy Corrigan~

8. Critical Analysis
Assume your audience or reader is familiar with the
film you are writing about, this means there is no
need to give a full plot summary.

9. Each Response Question is a mini-critical analysis
that asks you to focus your response by providing
evidence to support a claim.

10. Each Response Question is a mini-critical analysis
that asks you to focus your response by providing
evidence to support a claim.
It’s not about whether you liked or disliked a film.
The Response Questions allow you to analyze a
particular element in a film and write about it from
an objective, third person, point of view.
Forget about terms like GOOD/BAD or
LIKED/DISLIKED

11. Taking notes is an essential component of writing a
critical analysis.

12. Taking notes is an essential component of writing a
critical analysis.
Consider which question you wish to answer and
then take notes.

13. Taking notes is an essential component of writing a
critical analysis.
Consider which question you wish to answer and
then take notes.
for example: In what ways might the character of Joe
Gillis be considered an Anti-hero?

14. First consider the definition of an anti-hero
anti-hero
protag. who lacks traditional heroic attributes
(courage, idealism, etc.)
instead has opposite attributes (ineptness,
stupidity, dishonesty, etc.)
An anti-hero acts heroically, yet in an
underhanded and deceitful way

15. Joe is an anti-hero because

16. Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma

17. Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for
the security and
material
possessions she
gives him

18. Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for
the security and
material
possessions she
gives him
He goes after his
friend’s fiancé.

19. Joe is an anti-hero because
He lies to Norma
He uses Norma for
the security and
material
possessions she
gives him
He goes after his
friend’s fiancé.
He lies to Betty
about his situation
with Norma

20. As you begin to construct your Response Paper
it is important to use proper format.

21. As you begin to construct your Response Paper
it is important to use proper format.
Type the question you are answering
completely at the top of the page and begin
your response in a new paragraph

22. Be specific in the first sentence of your response
Do not begin with a
vague sentence like,
“Joe Gillis is an anti-
hero for many
reasons.”
Your introduction
should be strong
and set up your
response.

23. In what ways might the character of Joe Gillis be
considered an Anti-hero?
Unlike the prototypical hero or good guy Joe
Gillis embodies the quintessential characteristics of
an anti-hero.

24. 10 questions to ask yourself

25. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?

26. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?

27. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?

28. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?

29. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?

30. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually
around a single idea?

31. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually
around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence
clear and are the sentences
varied?

32. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually
around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence
clear and are the sentences
varied?
8. Are general or abstract
observations supported with
concrete example?

33. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually
around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence
clear and are the sentences
varied?
8. Are general or abstract
observations supported with
concrete example?
9. Did you proof read your paper?

34. 10 questions to ask yourself
1. Do you understand the film?
1. Are your notes clear and
complete?
2. Does your introduction lead to a
specific thesis that anticipates
the main points of the
argument?
3. Does your topic sentence reflect
a logical development of the
thesis?
4. Are there smooth transitions
between paragraphs and
sentences?
6. Do paragraphs cohere, usually
around a single idea?
7. Is the meaning of each sentence
clear and are the sentences
varied?
8. Are general or abstract
observations supported with
concrete example?
9. Did you proof read your paper?
10. If you have sources are they
supported with proper MLA
format

35. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit

36. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page

37. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document

38. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word

39. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”

40. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?

41. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half
page (10-12 lines) long?

42. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half
page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-
text citations for sources?

43. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half
page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-
text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar
and terminology properly?

44. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half
page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-
text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar
and terminology properly?
9. Have you proof read your paper?

45. Do the following 10 things to earn full credit
1. Type the Question you are
responding to at the top of the
page
2. Double Space your word
document
3. Put the film title in italics and
capitalized the first letter of each
word
4. Write in the 3rd person objective
and AVOID using pronouns as
subjects, "You can see" or "Our
protagonist”
5. Does paper have an introduction
(with a thesis sentence), a body
and a conclusion?
6. Is your paper AT LEAST a half
page (10-12 lines) long?
7. Have you used MLA format in-
text citations for sources?
8. Did you use film grammar
and terminology properly?
9. Have you proof read your paper?
10. Did you write about the action
(plot) of the film in the
PRESENT tense?