Purpose

This assignment asks you to extend your critical thinking and literary analysis skills to a film. Because films move beyond the traditional definition of a text as “written content,” they provide even richer opportunities for analysis. In your essay, you will conduct a “close reading” of a film, as a text, to identify and analyze elements such as lighting, setting, character(s), sound, and dialogue and how these elements function within the text to convey a specific theme.

To support your original argument, you will incorporate at least one appropriate scholarly source into your analysis. Although this assignment specifically requires a close reading for the ultimate goal of a written analysis, the skills of close reading and analysis of a text, then supporting that analysis with a scholarly source, will be applicable to not only future academic pursuits but everyday life in general. The ability to think critically and analyze texts–from films to emails to conversations–strengthens one’s ability to effectively discern the meaning and intent of the writer or speaker and to respond appropriately.

The Unit 4 Essay is one of the two writing projects that can be reflected upon for the Unit 4 Assignment: Revision and Metacognitive Reflection, so be sure to pay close attention to the feedback from your instructor and tutors if you choose this essay for your reflection.

Skills

In this assignment, you will conduct a close reading of a film to identify elements of film and analyze their function within the text in how they help develop a theme. You will practice:

• Critical reading and thinking
• Identification of devices specific to film
• Analysis of devices in relation to theme
• Integration of secondary sources
• Composition of an analysis with supporting source material

*This assignment aligns with Learning Outcomes: LO4, LO5, LO6, LO8, LO9, LO10, LO11, LO14

Task

For the final written composition of the course, you will compose an essay that explores how and why literary elements or devices in the text contribute to a theme. You will support your original thesis with secondary source material. Using the pre-writing and outlining skills from Unit 2 in conjunction with a close reading and analysis, your final essay will demonstrate your understanding and application of the content of the course in a written product.

Part 1

Conduct a close reading of one of the films assigned by your professor for this unit, being careful to take notes and record specific evidence with time stamps for easy reference.

NOTES:

1. Cataloging textual evidence for visual media may require multiple viewings and careful note-taking on the elements or devices specific to film.
2. Do not use any of the texts used in sample assignments or instructional videos in this course.

Part 2

Reflect back to your feedback from Modules 10 and 11 on your working thesis, being careful to consider all suggestions and comments made by your professor to compose a finalized version of your thesis statement that identifies a theme and considers how the text supports the theme through the use of literary devices or elements specific to film.

Part 3

Using your thesis from Part 2, begin pre-writing and outlining to organize your supporting points on how and why the literary devices and elements in a film support a specific theme so you may show the overall significance of that connection. Remember that your body paragraphs should follow the MEAL plan as covered in Unit 2, as that will ensure that your argument is well-developed and supported. Once you have written your working thesis and basic outline, begin drafting your essay, being mindful to integrate textual evidence from both your primary text (the film) and a scholarly source (see below), and provide analysis to explain how and why each piece of evidence supports your thesis.

Part 4

Identify a scholarly source that supports your thesis; you may opt to use the source you used in Module 11, or you may select a new source. Be mindful that you integrate the secondary source into your argument as supporting material for your own argument rather than allowing it to stand alone without commentary or analysis. Be sure to properly introduce the source prior to citing or paraphrasing from its content. This introduction can be as simple as identifying the author and title of your source prior to use and citation.

NOTE: Be sure to integrate your source correctly, using proper signal phrases and citations, and use the source only to support your own, original argument and not as inspiration or the foundation for your argument.

Part 5

You may use an AI grammar checker for this assignment, but you must your use fully, including:

• Submitting your first draft to this drop box as a separate, typed document
• Use of in-text citations for any areas where changes were made
• Use of a works cited entry for the AI tool
• Inclusion of a working session link OR screenshots showing your full revision history.

Failure to provide first draft, both parenthetical citations and works cited entry, and session or revision documentation may result in a grade of zero for the assignment and an academic honesty report. If you are unsure of how to document and disclose after reading the resource, please ask.

Once you have finalized your draft and conducted a thorough proofreading (be sure to use your eCore free tutoring service!), submit your work to the Unit 4 Essay: Analysis of a Film folder. After submission, return to the drop box to confirm you have submitted the correct file and it can be read.

File submissions: Please submit your file as a .DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF. You must submit a file that is compatible with our course software to earn a grade. Always re-enter the drop box after submitting to confirm that the correct file has been submitted and can be read.

Grading Criteria

• Specificity and development of synthesized ideas about the text
• Supporting research, evidence, logic, and organization
• Quality of writing, to include paragraph development and organization (topic sentences, conclusions, transitions, etc.)
• Your engagement with the text and how you explain the significance of your examples; your choice and synthesis of supporting quotations;
• Format: You are required to use the current MLA style for all writing assignments. This includes proper MLA citation and a correctly formatted Works Cited page (12-point font, Times New Roman, double spacing, last name and page number in the header on each page, etc.). Please refer to the Purdue Online Writing Lab for the . View the sample essay in this module to see an example of a correctly formatted document.
• Academic Honesty: All sources MUST be appropriately cited. All quotes must be represented accurately. As always, plagiarism is not tolerated. Please ask if you have questions about citation or academic honesty.
• Use of an AI generator to complete any portion of this assignment other than fully documented and disclosed revision is prohibited.
• Length Requirement: 750-1,000 words

This activity may use a different grading rubric than what was used in past activities. Be sure to check the before starting.

Starting Your Film Analysis Essay

As you begin writing your Unit 4 Essay, remember to look back at your discussion posts, responses, and feedback, and consider what you have learned

NOTE: To avoid plagiarism, make sure your paper reflects your own ideas, and that you correctly cite any words or ideas of others.

Also, remember that your assignment is to:

• Identify a film’s theme or themes and analyze how and why the devices and/or elements within the film are used to develop and support the theme(s); examine the overall significance of the film.

Your essay should incorporate details and quotes from the film (using parenthetical citation), and you should use your own words to elaborate on the meanings of the details and quotes you use as evidence.

When writing your essay, the goal is to demonstrate what spin the film has on one or two particular themes. Be specific about the ways the theme is used and how the film’s use of symbols, characters, lighting, sound, etc. develops a deeper meaning to the theme. Provide details, including cited direct quotes from the film (with correct parenthetical citation, including a time stamp), but don’t forget that you must comment on the quotes you use to explain why they are significant. Do not include quotes as sentences unto themselves; be sure to integrate them logically and grammatically, and comment on their significance to your overall purpose.

Introductory Paragraph

Your introductory paragraph should convey to readers what they will be reading with the first sentence and, therefore, should include a broad statement about your main idea (thesis) that includes an introduction to the film–the name of the film and the director, for example. The next sentences in the introduction will include more specific statements (each sentence moving towards your thesis statement). In other words, you are providing background to introduce your main idea (your thesis).

A Strong Introductory Sentence:

Darren Aronovskys film, The Whale, centers around the troubled relationship of a father and daughter, complicated by illness, isolation, and estrangement.

A Weak Introductory Sentence:

Many films focus on troubled relationships.

NOTE: Avoid writing introductory sentences using vague/general statements.

Thesis

Remember, you’re making an argument about the film’s use of dramatic elements to effectively convey an overarching theme or themes. Therefore, you will want to review what you learned from the discussion forums as well as the Unit 4 content pages.

For example, your thesis statement could make a claim (argument) stating that Aronovsky uses camera angles and lighting, the dialogue between Charlie and Emily, and the actual size of Charlie (Brendan Fraser in a prosthetic suit to make him appear to be six hundred pounds) in his claustrophobic apartment to convey the developing tension in Charlie’s life and his hope for redemption before his death.

Supporting Paragraphs

Your supporting paragraphs should strengthen your argument (or thesis). For example, one supporting paragraph could include an analysis of why costume is so important in demonstrating Charlies conflict and dire situation in the film.

Follow the example below (Food for Thought: The MEAL Plan) to guide you in writing your supporting paragraphs.

Food For Thought: The MEAL Plan

Main Point: This is the first sentence of your paragraph, also called the topic sentence. In text-based writing, this first sentence argues and begins to serve up your essays claim (thesis). Each argumentative topic sentence in each paragraph you craft connects back to the claim in some way. Since the topic sentence of any paragraph dictates the subject of the paragraph, making sure that this first sentence is argumentative gives you, the writer, permission to argue instead of summarize.

Evidence: This documented sentence or series of sentences offers up specific evidence that backs up the main, argumentative point. You may quote from the text at hand or you may find yourself referring to a genre-specific tool (camera angles for film, metaphor for poetry, narrative structure for fiction, etc.) or specific example in this part of the paragraph. Remember that plot is not evidence. Rather, evidence is a piece of the text or a specific idea about the text, a select bite, that offers up a clear example to support your ideas.

Analysis: This is the largest portion of the paragraph, the part in which you explain how and why the evidence supports the main point. This is the meat of The MEAL, and it requires that you carefully consider your audiences appetite and the stated goals of your essay. You may find yourself focusing in on words in the quoted evidence to perform a close reading, or you may offer discussion about context as you analyze, broadening out before focusing back in to make a salient point.

Link: This last sentence concludes the paragraph and looks ahead to the next. It links what you have said to what you will say.

Conclusion

The conclusion is an important part of the paper; it provides closure for the reader while reminding the reader of the contents and importance of the paper. It accomplishes this by stepping back from the specifics in order to view the bigger picture of the essay. In other words, it reminds the reader of the main argument. For most course papers, it is usually one paragraph that simply and succinctly restates the main ideas and arguments, pulling everything together to help clarify the thesis of the paper. Remember, a conclusion does not introduce new ideas; instead, it should clarify the intent and importance of the paper.

An Easy Checklist for Writing a Conclusion

• Is the thesis of the paper accurately maintained here (but not repeated verbatim)?
  Remind the reader of your paper’s main point and purpose.
• Are the main points of the paper addressed and pulled together?
  Think of the main points as puzzle pieces, and the conclusion is where they all fit together to create a bigger picture. The reader should walk away with the bigger picture in mind.
• Do you remind the reader of the importance of the topic?
• Is there a sense of closure?
  Make sure the reader has a distinct sense that the paper has come to an end. It is important to not leave the reader hanging. (You dont want her to have flip-the-page syndrome, where the reader turns the page, expecting the paper to continue. The paper should naturally come to an end).
• Do you avoid presenting new information?
  No new ideas should be introduced in the conclusion. It is simply a review of the material that is already present in the paper. The only new idea would be the suggestion of a direction for future research.

Conclusion Example:

The use of camera angles, lighting, costume, and a claustrophobic set in Aronovskys The Whale work together to build suspense in a simple plot with only a handful of characters. The tense dynamic established by the director using these film techniques powerfully demonstrates Charlie’s cataclysmic reaction to losing his beloved and almost losing a last chance to truly connect with his own daughter. While the theme of redemption plays an important part in this film, Charlie finds redemption as the audience leaves the film pondering how his faith in the goodness of others and his determination that people should allow others to see their authentic selves might play out in the real world.

Putting it all Together

Your essay should incorporate details and quotes from the film (using correct parenthetical citation–review resources in Unit 4 and the How to Succeed submodule in the Start Here module), and you should use your own words to elaborate on the meanings of the details and quotes you use as evidence.

Be sure to maintain an appropriate academic tone (no slang, first [“I”] or second-person [“you,” “we”], contractions, etc.

1. Zootopia–2016 film directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush
2. Groundhog Day–1993 film directed by Harold Ramis
3. Secondhand Lions–2003 film directed by Michael Schorr
4. Everything Everywhere All at Once–2022 film directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
5. Gattaca–1997 film directed by Andrew Niccol
6. i, Robot–2004 film directed by Alex Proyas
7. Wicked–2024 film directed by Jon M. Chu
8. The Giver–2014 film directed by Phillip Noyce
9. The Truman Show–1998 film directed by Peter Weir
10. Hotel Rwanda–2004 film directed by Terry George

*NOTE: Free options via Tubi, Archive.org, and YouTube Movies are listed in the submodule: .

• Link Completion checkbox for The Colony on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Dark City on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Gifted Hands on YouTube (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Girl, Interrupted on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Hotel Rwanda on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Invictus on YouTube (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for I, Robot on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for King of Masks on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Logan’s Run on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Metropolis on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Much Ado About Nothing on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Persuasion on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Secondhand Lions on YouTube (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Slumdog Millionaire on YouTube (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for Snowpiercer on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link Completion checkbox for The Spitfire Grill on Tubi (free with ads)
• Link