WRIT 100: Film TV Analysis Assignment / Rhetoric

WRIT 100: Film TV Analysis Assignment (15%)

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment if for you to adapt what you’ve learned about rhetoric, particularly logical fallacies to a movie or TV show.

Instructions:

1. Choose from the list of movies or TV shows below and the suggested topics. For the TV show, the idea is to watch the first two episode. Shows on Netflix are indicated below. Others can be found on Humber’s streaming service which is free for students. Links to these will be found in the Assignment folder on Blackboard.

2. When you’re watching the movie/TV show, analyze how the screenwriters use dialogue, action or characters or filming techniques to present a specific point of view.

3. Consider:

a. What are the themes?

b. What are the characters’ motivations?

c. Is the plot convincing? Why or why not?

d. Are there inconsistencies with the plot?

4. Write an analysis based on the suggested ideas below.

Suggested Movie, TV and Analysis Topics

1. Get Out and Black Panther both discuss race in very specific ways. Find two or three examples of how the writers use rhetoric to discuss this issue.

2. The Netflix TV reboot of She-ra and the Princesses of Power explores a number of themes, such as gender, LGBTQ2IA, and the effectiveness of misinformation in creating a totalitarian structure. Watch the first three episodes and discuss two or three ways the writers use rhetoric to explore any one of these themes.

3. Social media plays a big role in the movie, Eighth Grade. How realistic do you think it is? How does the writers use rhetoric to show its role in the protagonist’s life? (two or three examples)

4. Using rhetoric, show two or three examples of how class structure is explored in the Netflix Anime, Violet Evergarden? (Watch the first two episodes).

5. Watch the first few episodes of Schitt’s Creek (found on Netflix) and determine using rhetoric: How do the writers help us sympathize with the Rose Family and their predicament?

6. Choose any of the film/tv shows and the themes above and craft an analysis that determines WHO is the intended audience and why?

Note: If you have another idea of how rhetoric is used in any of these films or TV shows, please discuss it with me.

Structure of the Analysis:

First Paragraph: One sentence that contains the name of the film, who the writers are, what the thesis is. One sentence that summarizes for me what the film’s main story is.

Second Paragraph: Two to three examples of how rhetoric is used to support your thesis. Make sure you use specific examples.

Third Paragraph: A sentence that wraps all of these things up.

Additional reminders:

· Begin your paragraph with a relevant, clear topic sentence.

· Ensure your paragraph is logically organized with adequate transitions between ideas.

· Avoid simply listing examples of rhetorical choices from the film; again, explain HOW AND WHY such choices affect the argument.

Formatting instructions:

· 3 pages (including title and reference pages)

· Use Calibri 12-point font

· Double spaced

· Proper paragraphing (indent first line) — no additional spacing between paragraphs

· 1 inch margins

· APA page numbering, title page and work cited.

Here is a link to how you source a movie: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa6_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_other_non_print_sources.html

Submission Instructions:

· Submit through Blackboard using the file name: Last Name_First Name_TV Film Analysis.docx

· DO NOT SUBMIT Google Docs or Pages.

Criteria

Missing

Needs Much Improvement

Needs Some Improvement

Meets

Expectations

Exceeds

Expectations

Comments

Analytical Skills (15 marks)

· Outlines how the author makes their argument

· Evaluates the argument in terms of some or all of the following criteria: logical fallacies; evidence; rhetoric

· Cites specific passages or details and demonstrates how they function within the overall argument

· Assesses the evidence’s support of the claims/conclusions of the argument (how/why) (evaluation)

Criteria

M

NI

NSI

ME

EE

Comments

Writing Skills (10 marks)

· Introduces few or no major sentence errors (sentence fragments; run-on sentences; comma splices; subject-verb agreement; sentence structure)

· Introduces few or no mechanical errors; any error that does exist can be easily fixed and does not disrupt the reader’s experience

· Follows assignment guidelines

Total: 25 marks