VIDEO PROJECTS: Over the course of the semester, students will view a total of four of the videos from the choices listed below and will write one analysis paper per film following the prompts. The length of each paper should be about 750-900 words, following the prompts and guidelines for writing them outlined below.
Note well: Each of the four papers is just one of the four writing assignments. You do not write one paper on four films. It is one paper per film, and four separate papers with due dates spread over the semester. You do not have to do all four video projects at once.
You can find the due dates for each one on the Course Schedule. There will also be reminders in the learning modules as we move through the semester. The dues dates are spread out for a reason: I want you to do a good job on each one. There is no penalty for submitting them early and it may actually get you a few extra credit points if you do so. But don’t rush to submit them ahead of schedule if it detracts from quality.
Each submission should be about 750 – 900 words, or about 1½ – 2 single-spaced pages – or 3 double-spaced pages ‒ using a standard 10, 11 or 12-point font with one-inch margins. Write concisely. Penalties apply if the length exceeds the page limit by more than a sentence or two. The papers must be submitted electronically by the deadline through the Canvas dropbox or by email attachment. Submissions must be in MS Word (.doc), rich text (.rtf), plain text (.txt), Adobe PDF (.pdf), or Hypertext (.html) or in a format the Instructor can open on his computer. Email the Instructor in advance if uncertain about whether your wordprocssing program is readable. If a student uses another wordprocessor not listed above, such as Apple, WordPerfect, Works, Google docs, etc., the student may need to convert the document to an acceptable openable format prior to submission. Instructions on how to convert a document are in a document posted on the Course website. Click the Key Information button on the homepage to find and view this document.
In most cases, students can type directly into a text entry box on the assignment page of the Canvas website, but I don’t recommend doing that. While unlikely, the system could shut down during data entry and your work might get lost. Instead, I encourage students to create a word-processed document using software that has frequent automatic backups, then use spell check and grammar check to remove any errors, and then copy and paste the finished text into the textbox on the website, or submit it via the Canvas “Submit assignment” button (dropbox) that can be found on the assignment page. It
can also be turned in via email either as text pasted into the body of the email or as an email attachment (as a MSWord, plain text, rich text, pdf, or HTML document). Students can also submit a wordprocessed copy via a cloud or online file storage website if I am given access to it.
Important: materials should only be submitted once. Choose the method that works best for you, and do not submit duplicates using multiple methodologies. But always keep a copy for yourself in case of loss.
Content: The written assignments should include critical analysis and personalization, but they are not typical research papers. Students are encouraged but are not required to include quotes from authoritative sources, journal articles, or research. If you quote or closely paraphrase materials, students must use any of the established styles for documenting college papers. A guide to writing research papers is available on the course website. Click the Key Information button on the homepage to find and view this document.
Students for whom English is not their first language and students who have difficulty with formal writing are strongly encouraged to use the College’s Writing Center for assistance. A link to the Writing Center is on the College’s website and may also be found by clicking the Student Services button on this course’s homepage.
The prompts to answer for each video are below and serve as a guideline for writing the assignments. Students may express themselves freely but must articulate a logical and fact-based argument to support their point of view to achieve a good grade. Mere expression of unsupported personal opinions will not count as critical thinking.
Grading Rubric: Each video project is worth 100 points. Timeliness is important. Papers submitted on time earn 10 points toward your total score. Late papers lose those points and in addition will lose further penalty points based on the degree of lateness. The longer a paper is delayed the greater the penalty. Submitting a late paper is always better than not turning it in at all.
A strong paper includes personalization, the student’s own analysis and thinking, and appropriate use of sociological terms taught in the course. Grading is based primarily on content with consideration to grammar, spelling, and apparent effort. The grading rubric generally follows this pattern:
Submitted on time, defined as submitted in a format the instructor can open and read, either before or during the week the item is assigned. Acceptable, openable formats include MS Word, plain and rich text, PDF, or HTML. Essays constructed in other wordprocessing programs may need to be converted, following instructions available on the course website. 10 points
Critical analysis of the topic, defined as a thoughtful and objective examination and evaluation of a topic or issue that avoids raw opinions or any inclusion of myths and untruths, and demonstrates that the writer has examined the topic or issue with an open mind seeking to find truth and evidence-based support for one’s conclusions, 20 points
Responding appropriately to the prompts, defined as including at least a minimal response to each one of the questions or prompts called for in the assignment, 20 points
Proper use of sociological terms and concepts, defined as accurate inclusion when appropriate of terms and concepts taught in the course, and to use such terms in their proper context and understanding of their meaning, and also defined negatively as ‘not misusing key sociological terms” in the essay,10 points
Personalization, defined as including some statements and information about how the topic or issue relates to the writer’s personal life and personal experiences in some manner, 20 points
College-level grammar, composition, and spelling. Self-explanatory. All submissions are expected to be written at a college level of proficiency in standard English, and students are expected to use the College Writing Center or other student services if they need assistance to achieve that level of writing proficiency. Points are deducted for misspellings, poor grammar and punctuation, improper usage, use of obscene or slang terms inappropriate to the context, etc. 10 points
Apparent effort. While it is not possible to measure objectively the amount of time and effort a student may have actually put into an assignment, the Instructor will use common sense indicators to assess whether an adequate effort has been made, demonstrated by the prima facie quality of the final product. Points are deducted for submissions that appear slapdash, disorganized in thought, poorly prepared, and short of the assigned word-length, 10 points.
Academic Honesty: All students are expected to abide by the College’s guidelines for academic honesty outlined in the student handbook. Cheating of any kind will be dealt with harshly. Cheating voids all opportunities for extra credit for the course, even those already submitted. Students must provide only their own work products and the output of their own thinking and intellectual effort on all assignments. All quoted or paraphrased sources used in term papers must be fully and accurately cited using the appropriate format. Submitting someone else’s work as one’s own will result in a failing grade for the assignment and likely a referral to the college’s disciplinary procedures. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write an assignment will be considered plagiarism and the submission will be assigned a zero.
Important Note: Do NOT use valuable space in the written papers to summarize the film or to describe what the film was about. I don’t need the actors’ or the director’s names or the plot line of the film. The assignments should be written with the understanding that I am already quite familiar with the videos and have seen them many times. You don’t need to tell me what the film was about or what happened in the film. Assume you have just left the theater and you are discussing and analyzing the video (sociologically) with someone who just saw it with you. To get a good grade, you must offer insightful critical analysis of the videos’ content and use examples from the videos to link the people and events in the videos to your own personal experiences.
Film choices:
Choice 1: The United States of Conspiracy and article on Alex Jones
This documentary examines how trafficking in conspiracy theories went from the fringes of U.S. politics into the White House, focusing on Alex Jones, Trump advisor Roger Stone, and the president, and their role in the battle over truth and deliberate lies. How did conspiracy theorists like Jones grow from the peripheries of the media to become so influential on disaffected Americans? What is the social psychology behind it? What role have social media and platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and others played in popularizing outlandish falsehoods? Why was Sandy Hook a turning point? How are conspiracists like Jones and Stone affecting the current political landscape and the country’s response to CoVid and the Black Lives matter movement? Available on PBS.org at:
https://www.pbs.org/video/united
Links to an external site.-Links to an external site.statesLinks to an external site.-Links to an external site.ofLinks to an external site.-Links to an external site.conspiracyLinks to an external site.-Links to an external site.1phat1/Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.
or on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDXJ9OUco04
Links to an external site.
Also read this brief updated article on what happened to Alex Jones.
Download article on what happened to Alex Jones.
Choice 2: Armed Insurrection
In this PBS Frontline film, reporter AJ Thompson examines how far-right extremist groups evolved, coalesced, and grew following the deadly 2017 Charlottesville rally and led to an armed insurrection and attempt to overthrow the government on January 6 of 2021. What role did Trump play in the escalation of the violence, and how did the movement migrate from the far right of American politics to mainstream MAGA Republicans where about 2/3 of the Republican party now believes the 2020 election was stolen and 1/3 believe violence may be necessary to restore white power in Washington. Summarize the roles played by some of the far right groups like the Proud Boys, Boogaloo, RAM, Unite the Right, NeoNazis, RWDS, Grizzly Scouts, Flintlock Faction, Wolverine Watchmen, the American Guard, Skinheads, and others. What roles did Mike Dunn, Pete Musico, Stephen Carillo play? What does the far right slogan “6MWE” mean? View on PBS.org at:
Armed Insurrection on PBS
Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.Or Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcGi4maiJW8
Links to an external site.
Choice 3: NRA Under Fire
This Frontline documentary examines an unrivaled political power, the National Rifle Association. Although the documentary investigates highly political issues and the 2020 presidential election, this writing assignment is NOT about gun rights and politics, nor a debate over the appropriateness of gun laws and the 2nd Amendment. Instead, the assignment is to use the film to analyze social action, social movements, and organized efforts to bring about social change ‒ a topic addressed in the last module of the course. Prompts for the assignment are to analyze how certain groups of people organize themselves to lobby for or against laws at the state and federal level. Explain why when polls show that a strong majority (around 90%) of Americans favor restrictions on military-style automatic weapons and expanded background checks at gun stores and gun shows, a vocal minority of Americans (pro gun activists) manage to override the majority and assert their will over the legislative, executive, and even the judicial branches of government. How does a minority overrule the wishes of the majority? What explains the visceral, rabid dedication of many hard-core NRA members to fight so hard against even the smallest tightening of gun ownership rights, even in terms of gun ownership by former criminals and people with mental illnesses? What is the psychology behind it? How are students banding together to assert their political influence and why have they not succeeded in making significant gains so far?
NOTE: Do not use this film option to spout off your personal views in support or opposition to gun laws. For years, both sides have articulated and debated the same old reasons for and against gun legislation ad nauseum, and this assignment is not about expressing your personal views or political leanings. In fact, to get a good grade, you must write with professional journalistic balance and must avoid even revealing a hint about where you personally stand on the issues. Instead, you must write like an objective researcher analyzing the dynamics of social action and social movements in an objective and unbiased way. Do not reveal, or write in a way that allows a reader to infer your political views or could figure out from the way you wrote whether you are a gun owner/rights activist or opponent. Be neutral and analyze the generic topic of social action in an unbiased manner. If you cannot do that, you should choose a different film option.
Available from PBS Frontline: NRA Under Fire
Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.
Or on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KIo56iEFLc
Links to an external site.
