Motivation Project
Movie Analysis
“Rudy”
Target: Identify and apply basic motivational concepts to understand the behavior of humans. (intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation, incentives, and instincts)
Synopsis:
Against all odds on a gridiron in South Bend, Indiana, Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, in twenty-seven seconds,
carved his name into history books as perhaps the most famous graduate of the University of Notre Dame. The
son of an oil refinery worker and the third of 14 children, Rudy rose from valleys of discouragement and
despair to the pinnacles of success. Today, he is one of the most popular motivational speakers in the United
States. It took years of fierce determination to overcome obstacles and criticisms, yet Rudy achieved his first
dream - to attend Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. As fans cheered "RU-DY, RU-DY," he
sacked the quarterback in the last 27 seconds of the only play in the only game of his college football career.
He is the only player in the school's history to be carried off the field on his teammates' shoulders. In 1993,
TRISTAR Productions immortalized his life story with the blockbuster film, RUDY.
DUE DATE: Monday, October 5, 2015
PAPER FORMAT: This analysis should be a minimum of 2 pages, double spaced page with 1” margins, 12 pt. font, and
should contain the following sections:
Heading: Name, Date, Period, Title of Movie
1. Movie Plotline: Give a brief description of the major characters and the storyline.
2. Motivation: Discuss the types of intrinsic and or extrinsic motivation displayed by Rudy throughout this movie.
 Define each type of motivation within your paper.
 Choose at least 2 examples from the movie and explain why Rudy’s motives are intrinsic or extrinsic
 Why did this specific motivation help him succeed or slow down his progress?
3. Goals: Discuss the role of goal setting throughout this movie.
 What was Rudy’s “ultimate goal?”
 Describe at least 2 steps he set to help him achieve his “ultimate goal.”
4. Summary: Give your opinion on the various aspects and motivational themes of the movie and how you can
relate to its application in the “real” world. In addition, include the feelings that this movie elicited inside you
and give it a “1-10 movie rating” (and reasons for the rating) as it relates to motivation.
Movie Analysis Grading Rubric
(50 Points Possible)
CATEGORY
Heading &
Format
4
Heading is complete
with all of the
content. Paper
Format is correct.
Score:____/5
Movie Plotline
Movie Plotline
consists of specific,
developed details
giving a nice setup
to the movie.
Score:____/10
Motivation
Score:____/15
Goal Setting
Score:____/10
Summary
Score:____/10
IM and EM are
defined. Two
aspects of Rudy’s
motivation are
identified and
explain how it
helped/hurt his
progress.
Rudy’s outcome
goal was listed,
followed by two
process goals used
to help him achieve
this outcome goal.
Summary gives
insightful opinion
on various aspects
of the movie
including a nice
rating scale on the
movie as it relates
to Sport Psychology.
3
Heading is completed
incorrectly, but has
all of the content or
Paper Format is
incorrect
Movie Plotline
consists of some
specific details giving
the listener or reader
an idea of what the
movie is about.
IM and EM are
defined. Two aspects
of Rudy’s motivation
are identified, but
fails to explain how
they help/hurt his
progress.
2
Heading is completed
incorrectly and is
missing some of the
content.
1
Heading is not
completed at all.
Movie Plotline
consists of general
and/or undeveloped
details, which leave
some confusion
about the movie.
IM and EM are
defined. Failure to
identify two aspects
of Rudy’s motivation
or explain how they
help/hurt his
progress.
Movie Plotline is
sparse; almost no
details and hard for
listener or reader to
understand the
movie's plot.
Concept of
motivation unclear
and does not make
sense in the context
of the movie.
Rudy’s outcome goal
was listed, but failure
to explain the two
process goals used to
help him achieve this
outcome goal.
Summary gives
opinion on various
aspects of the movie
including a rating
scale on the movie as
it relates to Sport
Psychology.
Goal setting was
addressed in general,
but failure to
separate in terms of
outcome and process
goals.
Summary gives either
an opinion on the
movie or a rating
scale on the movie.
Failure to address
goal setting in the
context of this movie.
Summary is
incomplete and lacks
any of the required
information.