Our third and final unit of ‘Shakespeare at the Movies’ is all about interrogating the wonders of Shakespeare’s tragedies, the genre for which he is best known and where, I believe, we find some of his most powerful writing. In any case, our final unit has been deliberately designed to build on and extend your learning so far this semester, while engaging with film versions of some of the Bard’s best tragedies: Othello, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. Your third and final paper of the semester will ask you to extend your learning by exploring the ways that these tragedies – and key themes therein – have been presented on screen by notable directors such as Orson Welles, Roman Polanski, and Franco Zeffirelli. Hence, to wrap up our work in Unit Three – and to complete our studies this semester – you will write a Film Analysis paper on one of these tragedies, which will draw out the thematic lessons at hand. The assignment sheet for this final essay is located in the ‘Assignment Sheets’ folder under our ‘files’ tab on Canvas, and your paper will again be graded using the attached rubric. You will be turning the assignment in directly through Canvas when it is due (on 4/29).
There must be thesis, and you have to prove your thesis through specific scenes in the film. You also have to give description of the camera work lightening things like that to prove your thesis and what the director was trying to prove by using certain camera shots and lightening. You can also dicuss the cuts in the scene and how they make soemthing make sense.
Film Analysis Rubric
Film Analysis Rubric
Criteria Ratings
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUnderstanding of the Film/Issue
Shows a deep, mature, and sophisticated comprehension of film(s) /// Avoids problems of fact or conceptual misunderstandings
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuality of the Argument/Ideas
Argument, thesis, and overall purpose are clear /// Argument is original, logical, and compelling
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUnderstanding/Use of Cinematic Elements
Appropriately and effectively uses film studies concepts and terminology /// Strong and convincing analysis given of technical elements of film
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEvidence, Substance, & Support
Analysis and discussion are thorough, and support is substantial /// Ample detail, substance, and quotations drawn from the film(s), and robust scholarly support provided (if required)
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization and Argument-line
Paper is well-organized, narrowly focused, and unified/coherent /// Argument-line is logical and development is easy-to-follow
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStyle, Language, and Mechanics
Diction is mature and sophisticated /// Sentences are clear, lucid, grammatically correct, and free of mechanical errors
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
