Description
This assignment involves watching–and making!–a movie. All films are available through the Swank streaming video database accessible through the FSW library website. Use the Chat with A Librarian feature if you’re not sure how to access FSW’s databases.
Part One: FROM THE LIST BELOW choose one film. You must choose only from the list below, not from the entire catalog.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On / The Truman Show / Her / WALL-E
Moonlight / Arrival / Children of Men / Boyhood / Big Fish
The Florida Project / Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
Part Two: Write a description of ONE scene (about 150 words) and include the time stamp for the scene within the film. Why do you think it is a pivotal scene in the film?
Include details like how the scene and technical details contributed to the overall dramatic or comedic effect of the movie.. Do not just read an online summary–or worse, plagiarize by copying and pasting an online summary! If you don’t have time to watch an entire movie before the due date, wait until you do have time and turn the assignment in late. (The penalty is only 5 points per week.) Every semester, students take shortcuts, plagiarize, and receive grades of zero. Just watch the film.
Describe things like how the shot is set up, how the sequence is edited (the cuts) for effect, how the lighting and direction and acting contribute. Is the scene comedic or dramatic (be mindful that a dramatic scene can appear in a comedy and vice versa)? Be sure and use at least three terms from the chapter.
Part Three: Make your own 1-minute film inspired by the movie and discuss your process. (At least 200 words) Upload your video under the assignment–it’s ok if you have to submit it separately from your written essay. Then tell me about your own creative process in making this short film. You can be as creative as you’d like in your film, but just be sure that you have permission from anyone else who appears in it. One minute is the minimum, but you can make it longer if you’d like.
Your grade will not be based on the production of your video, only on your explanation of the way it ties to the original film as well as your thought process. This assignment will be assessed on its formal clarity, the quality of the writing and editing, its degree of engagement with its topic, its creativity/inventiveness/originality of ideas, and the sophistication of thought it expresses.
If you need assistance with assignments, please click on the “How” icon.
Rubric
2020 Blog Post/Writing Rubric
2020 Blog Post/Writing Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContentAbility to incorporate and synthesize learned material into written responses that are accurate and meaningful, and which reflect student’s grasp on, and ability to think independently about, course content.
35 pts
Exceptional
Student shows mastery of the relevant information and ideas, and demonstrates deep thinking on the topic. Response demonstrates creativity, synthesis, and/or incisive critical thinking on the issues at hand.
30 pts
Good
Student demonstrates a solid grasp of material and can convey responses to the material in a clear, accurate and thoughtful manner. Depth of student knowledge and thinking on the topic seems adequate but not exceptional. Response is solid but may not make new critical leaps, or synthesize information in unexpected ways.
25 pts
Adequate
Student demonstrates basic familiarity with material and adequately addresses the prompt. Conveys ideas in a coherent, though unremarkable, manner.
20 pts
Unacceptable
Student response lacks clarity, accuracy, or demonstrates a lack of thought and engagement about ideas/material, or an inaccurate grasp of ideas/material.
35 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGrammar/MechanicsAbility to craft coherent thoughts in standard English, free from errors in diction, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and edited for flow and clarity.
35 pts
Exceptional
Writing is well edited and completely free from errors in spelling, grammar, diction and punctuation. Reads smoothly, clearly, and with careful attention to sentence rhythm, word choice, and thoughtfulness about overall flow.
30 pts
Good
Writing is clear, well edited and completely free from errors in spelling, grammar, diction and punctuation. Shows some awareness of word choice and overall flow.
25 pts
Adequate
Writing is largely free from errors in spelling, grammar, diction and punctuation, is largely clear, and demonstrates some attention to editing and reader experience.
20 pts
Unacceptable
Writing contains several errors in spelling, grammar, diction, and/or punctuation. Is unclear and shows little to no editing.
35 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStructureAbility to form a body of ideas on a topic into a coherent whole. Knowledge of how ideas flow together and how transitions connect passages logically to one another.
30 pts
Exceptional
Argument/exposition demonstrates mastery of form and flow, and overall awareness of the assignment as a written whole. Demonstrates creative, inventive or incisive solutions for presenting student’s thoughts and course materials in novel, meaningful and effective ways.
27 pts
Good
Argument/exposition demonstrates grasp of form and flow and awareness of the assignment as a written whole.
23 pts
Adequate
Argument/exposition is coherent and complete, but shows little to no thought to design. Ideas are presented clearly, but with no compelling logic or order.
20 pts
Unacceptable
Argument/exposition is haphazard and not logically presented.
30 pts
Total Points: 100
