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FINAL TERM PAPER: FILM ANALYSIS

After submitting the TERM PAPER QUESTIONS assignment for the film of their choice, due Wednesday, July 20, at 11:59 pm, students will then focus their final review on ONE (1) of the film options:

  • When We Were Kings,
  • Afro-Punk: A Documentary,
  • Bakoso
  • Links to each of these films along with relevant supplemental materials are available in the “Term Paper Questions” tab in the Assignments folder.
  • The Term Paper Thought Questions are designed to stimulate critical engagement with one of the films as well as provide a foundation for the Final Term Paper. 
  • How would you describe the main characters?
  • What are their goals?
  • What problems do they face?
  • What choices do the characters make?
  • What motivates them?
  • What are the consequences?
  • What do the main characters learn about themselves, and how do they change? Here is a simple format that you can use as a template for writing a critical analysis of a film:
  • The introduction
  • In the introduction section, introduce the key players in the movies. These can include the producer; the director and the cinematographer among others depending on the angle that you intend to take in your analysis. You can also include the main idea or theme of the movie as well as the thesis statement of your analysis.
  • Summary
  • In the summary or film overview section, you outline the major theme or idea of the film. This involves what, who, where, when, how, and why. You can also discuss the style, structure, or viewpoint.
  • Provide an explanation for your ideas by citing specific examples from the film. Additionally, identify the goal of the film and whether it accomplished it. Your analysis should focus on determining whether the film is understandable, focused, interesting, properly concluded, authentic, clear, and meeting its purpose, among others. Include several slides in the analysis section with each slide giving a specific idea and supporting it with evidence from the film.
  • What causes the major turning points in the narrative?
  • Does the world of the film work like the real world? If not, what are the differences?
  • What does the film say about the nature of human beings?
  • What does the film say about society?
  • What good insights into life are there in the film? What does it get wrong? How might it affect viewers?
  • Conclusion
  • In the conclusion section, end your critical analysis by restating the thesis statement that you stated in the introduction. However, use new words. Also, summarize the main ideas that you discussed in the analysis section using stronger and new words.End the conclusion with an effective call to action. In other words, how can the message of your film create social change? 
  • How did the film make you feel?
  • What aspects worked well, and which didn’t (think about writing, direction, cinematography, acting, editing, and soundtrack)?
  • To what extent did it fit with your expectations, or did it subvert them in some ways?
  • The conclusion must include a section where you identify with either the film in general, any of its themes, or a specific character. This requires you to place yourself within the film and then describe what about this film resonates with you.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN: A successful essay includes:

  • A cover page (not included in page count)
  • Title (creative titles get extra credit)
  • Your full name and PID
  • Professor’s name
  • Date (semester)
  • Course name and section
  • A minimum of 750 and a maximum of approximately 1000 words
  • this essay should result in four (3) to five (4) pages of written product
  • Double spaced
  • Numbered pages (top right-hand margin)
  • Times New Roman 12 pt. Font
  • Set your margins in your Word document as follows:
  • Top margin 1”
  • Left margin 1 ½”
  • Right margin 1”
  • Bottom margin 1 ¼’
  • Citation page: (not included in page count)
  • last page of the document

When We Were Kings

Part 1

https://online.fiu.edu/videos/?vpvid=67e8cdc1-2271-465b-9f99-4615c0b59fae

Part 2

https://online.fiu.edu/videos/?vpvid=b8f47436-692e-47c1-b585-470d3e8fff53

Part 3

https://online.fiu.edu/videos/?vpvid=f3d7040e-d55d-450e-973a-302b11ef5fad