Adolescent Movie Analysis Paper
You can download the Instructions here: Adolescent Movie Paper instructions 2022.pdf
Grading Rubric: Adolescent Movie Paper rubric.pdf
Example Paper: This is an exemplary paper that earned the full 100 points. Note that this student cited the time stamp in the movie of their examples. This is not required. Otherwise, this is a model paper if you are aiming to earn an A on this assignment. Movie Paper Example.pdf
100 points
For this assignment you will view and analyze a movie depicting adolescent development, observing the individual physical, cognitive, and social development of the characters and family, peer, and romantic relationship dynamics depicted in the film.
You may choose any film listed below. You may choose a film that is not listed, however, it must be approved by your instructor. If you want to use a movie not on the list, you must ask for approval no less than 2 weeks from the paper due date. If you write a paper on a movie not on the list without approval you will receive a zero. You do not need approval for the movies on the list. Make sure to make plans for how you will access your chosen film in advance. Set aside time to view the movie and be aware of its running time. If you choose a film that you have already seen, please view it again. It will be important to view the film to focus on concepts about adolescent development. Poor planning that results in you being unable to access the film in a timely manner is not a valid excuse for an extension.
The Adolescent Movie Analysis paper will consist of your observations and analysis of the film. Your paper should be in APA format (i.e., title page, reference page, citations and references in APA style) and be 1500-2500 words (i.e., about 5 pages) of text (not including title page or references). An abstract is not necessary. Make sure to link your observations to course content and cite your sources. When including course content, make sure to go beyond just stating what the concept is. Make sure explain why the movie scene is an example of that concept, including explaining what the concept is. Follow the rubric to help maximize your score.
Instructions for the Adolescent Movie Analysis Paper
**You may need to read ahead in the textbook for information to include that we have not covered yet.
Your paper should begin with an introduction to how the film depicted adolescent development and family, peer, and/or romantic relationships. In other words, you should tell the reader what your take-home message will be up front and summarize what you will discuss in your essay.
In the body of your paper give at least 1 example of each of the following that you observed in the film:
- normative physical development
- normative cognitive development
- normative social/personality development
- the association of relationships (family, peer, and/or romantic) and adolescent development/how relationships change over adolescence
- non-normative events and/or cohort effects (i.e., are there events not tied to normative development at are important to the character(s) development and/or relationships? How is the time period in which the film occurs related to development and/or relationships?)
- social context – for example, what are important cultural, racial, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, etc. factors that are related to the character’s experience/development (you do not have to comment on all of these, they are examples).
You should describe each of your examples from the film and clearly link them to concepts you learned in class – citing course material such as lecture or the textbook. Quality papers will take this description a step further, making connections across characters, time, and context. Think about whether what you observe in the film is consistent with what we learned in class and the possible reasons for any discrepancies. Note: You may include examples of development from any main character in the film. You do not have to restrict your examples to a single character.
Please do not write your paper in chronological order of the movie. Instead, organize it by developmental concept as listed above. This results in better written papers and it is also much easier for us to see what your examples of each developmental domain are.
Conclude your paper with a brief summary of your paper and a take-home message about what can be learned from this film’s depiction of adolescent development.
**Unfortunately, papers on Clueless or Mean Girls will not be accepted.**
Preapproved Movies:
Real Women Have Curves
Diary of Anne Frank
Dazed and Confused
Boyhood
Thirteen
My Girl
My Girl 2
Now and Then
Inside Out
Turning Red
Luca
Brave
Encanto
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Moxie
Eighth Grade
Empire Records
Goonies
