Directions for Historical Film Paper
Format: 1-inch margins. Times New Roman. Title is 14pt font and bold. No
subheadings. Paragraphs are 12 pt. font and double spaced. Paper should
be 2 pages. Heading should be in the top left-hand corner (11 font) with
your first and last name, HIST 1301, Ms. Chandler, and the date.
Parenthetical Citations
I. Introduction (1 paragraph)
A. Name of Film
B. Time Period
C. Is it based on a true story or a work of fiction based on the historical time
period?
D. When was the film released?
E. Minutes of the film
II. Summary of Film (1 paragraph)
A. Main Characters
B. Conflict
C. Ending
III. Historical Accuracy of Film (Refer to lecture notes, textbook,
and e-text readings) (2 paragraphs)
A. Accuracies — Did the movie accurately portray the historical
figures and events? How or how did it not?
Inaccuracies — Did the movie portray any inaccuracies —
persons or events that were missing or put in any characters that
were untrue?
B. Authentic Interpretation — Did the movie actually look, sound,
and feel like that time period? Were the accents, clothes,
technology look like that period in time?
Unrealistic Interpretation — Did the movie portray any person or
event that really could not have happened in that time period? Does
it look too computer generated or an over-the- top Hollywood
movie?
IV. Audience (1 paragraph)
A. What audiences is the movie best intended for?
1. Middle school, high school, and/or college
B. Why or why not?
V. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
A. Overall, what is your point of view about the film?
1. likes and dislikes
B. How many stars (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars) would you give the film?
VI. Bibliography (www.bibme.org/citation-guide/chicago) – ABC Order
Chandler, Kimberley. “Title of Lecture.” Lecture, LSC-North Harris, Houston, TX,
Date of Lecture
Shi, David Emory. America: A Narrative History, vol. 1, 12th ed. New York:
W.W. Norton, 2022.
Last Name, First. Film Title. Medium. Directed by First Name Last Name. Distributor
City: Distributor, Year of Release
Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Title. Web Address (retrieved Date
