Comparison of two movie trailers (these two 2-minute TRAILERS only!):
Wadjda (2012), a film about a young female character in Saudi Arabia, written and directed by Haifaa Al Mansour
Secret Superstar (2017), a film about a young female character in India, written and directed by Advait Chandan (he/him).
This final assignment asks for a brief but detailed comparison essay based on your own observations–no research or reading is necessary, except the subtitles in the 2 videos below! 🙂
Watch both of these trailers–> Two “Trailers” to Watch for our Final Exam (Timed Essay 2)
Take about 3 hours to write your multiple-paragraph essay–you can submit it before the due date, but do a thorough job and read the scoring Rubric (below) before you submit it.
Essay Prompt Questions (answer them in order in separate paragraphs that form a short but detailed opinion essay, after you have carefully watched the “Two Trailers” videos, and Rebecca Balcarcel’s video in our final module):
Introduction: How are these two movie trailers for Wadjda and Secret Superstar alike or different in the details and devices that they use to make an impact on us (the audience)?
Body Paragraphs: What 3-4 aspects do these trailers have in common and/or in contrast, or a combination of both?
Conclusion: In your own opinion, which of these two trailers do you think is more effective as a movie trailer, and why?
Instructions (follow these carefully):
In your opening paragraph, identify the films and their creators (Haifaa Al Mansour and Advait Chandan, he/him) and directly answer the first prompt question in your thesis (try to include a “because” explanation to give your essay depth).
Support your thesis in multiple short but detailed paragraphs by discussing three aspects that the trailers share but that also make them unique in their details and impact. Integrate brief quotations from both trailers into your supporting sentences.
Finish by arguing which one of these two trailers you think is more effective for a viewer who has never seen the film, and briefly–but specifically–explain why you think so. 🙂
Important:
Use vivid details (the characters’ names, Wadjda and Insia, etc.), actions, descriptions (her mother, her father etc.)–avoid being too general) to convince your reader that you have carefully watched and considered these primary sources (the trailers) and have valuable insights about them.
Use Al Mansour and Chandan’s names in your sentences to give them credit for creating these works (for example: Chandan gives Insia a different kind of dream and sets his film in a different country, India, so . . . ).
You don’t need to watch or know the whole Secret Superstar movie: just its trailer (the one provided). 🙂
Give your essay a unique title, use the present tense to discuss the trailers, and proofread your essay to demonstrate your English 1A writing progress. 🙂
