History Through Film
Syllabus 2014-15
Mrs. Sena
jackie.sena@fortbendisd.com
Course Description:
This is an honors elective course for students who are inquisitive and interested in the study of
history through social media. This course will be broken up into two semester courses. The fall
semester course will concentrate on the Revolutionary period to the World Wars. The spring
semester course will concentrate on the Cold War period to the September 11 th terroristic
attacks. We will use film to approach the history of the United States through major historical
periods throughout American history. Students will explore historical topics and periods using
films, outside readings, lectures, and class discussions. They will work individually and in groups
to understand the validity of films as historical sources. This is a history course and as such is
reading and writing intensive.
This course treats films as texts deserving the same skills of critical thinking and analysis as any
other sources used within a history course. The class is designed to reveal that some films are
valid historical sources, offering a glimpse into the social, political, and cultural historical
moment in which it was created.
The screening of films will be paired with other sources. Each week, students will be asked to
create a “fact sheet” of the time period in which we will be studying the film. Students will be
asked to read and take notes of all accompanying documents for each film. They will then
complete film analysis forms and written summaries with their evaluations of the film. As
stated above, this course is writing intensive and involves independent student work outside of
class. It will require students to be self-motivated learners and emphasize thoughtful individual
critiques of the films and readings.
R- Rated Films
A number of the movies selected for viewing have an R rating. Permission forms must be
signed by the parents/guardians and turned in by the students prior to viewing our first film of
the course. Please see attached list of R-Rated films for the course as well as the
Parent/Guardian Permission Form. We will be covering many sensitive and controversial
topics. Each student is expected to exhibit a sense of professionalism and maturity when
dealing with these topics.
Requirements and Expectations:
Students are expected to:
1. Be on time to class and bring all necessary materials
2. Be actively engaged during film screening and discussions.
3. Show respect for all others while in class.
4. Follow the Honor Code on all activities.
5. Attendance is required when viewing the films in class. Absences during films will be
given a grade of a zero on the daily film notes.
6. Due to the unique nature of the course, falling asleep during the screening of films
may result in disciplinary action, alternate assignments and grade reduction.
Curriculum
The course will be divided into numerous units according to historical periods. The films viewed
will be analyzed for understanding of historical events as they actually occurred. The historical
time periods and topics are listed below, along with films that we may view during the unit.
Please note that every one of the films listed below will not necessarily be viewed, since the
constraints of time will prevent this.
1. Revolutionary Period-The Patriot, Revolution, 1776, Drums along the Mohawk
2. Antebellum Period-(Early Civil War/Immigrant Experience)-Gangs of New York, Far and
Away
3. Civil War-Little Women, Glory, 12 Years a Slave,Lincoln
4. The Settlement of the West-Dances with Wolves, Tombstone, Lone Ranger
5. Urbanization/Rise of Organized Crime-The Godfather II, Untouchables, Public Enemy
6. The Great Depression-All the King’s Men, Modern Times, Of Mice and Men
7. The World Wars- War Horse, Legends of the Fall, Casablanca, Truman, Saving Private
Ryan,
8. The McCarthy Era-Good Night/Good Luck, Manchurian Candidate, Dr.Strangelove
9. Cold War/Space Race-Thirteen Days, Apollo 13, Hunt for Red October, Red Dawn
10. Vietnam War-Born on 4th of July, Platoon
11. Civil Rights Movement-Mississippi Burning, Malcolm X, Remember the Titans, Night of
the Living Dead, Ghosts of Mississippi
12. Watergate Scandal-All the President’s Men, Frost/Nixon, Nixon
13. 20th Century Union Movement-Norma Rae, Silkwood, Hoffa, On the Waterfront
14. The Conservative Tide-Wall Street, Erin Brockovich, Back to the Future
15. Issues of the Modern World-Boyz in the Hood ,Jurassic Park, The Gods Must be Crazy,
2001: A Space Odyssey, Whale Rider, Maria full of grace, Jar Head
16. Terrorism on America-United 93, Zero Dark Thirty
Grading
Students will be graded on all of the following categories. The number of assignments will vary
with each marking period. Not all assignments will be graded, but each assignment will
contribute to the goals of the class.
Daily grades include: Document reading questions, Historical period questions,
Vocabulary, Movie Analysis Sheets, Discussion Seminars, Summary Reports, and
Quizzes
Major grades include: Unit Papers, Individual and Group Projects, Tests, Binder tests
Please take the time to review the information discussed above with your student and return
the slip below along with the permission form. I look forward to the opportunity to work with
your student and to help foster a love for history! Please contact me if you have any questions
or concerns about your student in this course.
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By signing below, I understand and acknowledge all of the information discussed in Mrs. Sena’s
History through Film Syllabus. I have read and reviewed the course syllabus with my student.
_____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print)
_______________
Date
_____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
_____________________________________________
Student Name (Please Print)
________________
Date
_____________________________________________
Student Signature
________________
Class Period
Permission Form for History Through Film
Ridge Point High School-Mrs. Sena
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s):
During the upcoming semester, your student is scheduled to view a number of movies that
have been given a “R” rating. Please view the list of R-rated films for the selected movie titles.
These films/DVD’s have been previewed by the classroom teacher with the intended student
audience’s age, ability level, and maturity in mind. These films have been selected for the
following reasons: worth of the film/DVD, instructional objectives which the film/DVD
promotes such as Biopics, Against all Odds, Terrorism, Politics in America, Twentieth-Century
Conflict, Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Some individuals, however, may find the films/DVDs objectionable for the following reasons:
strong language, violence, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual content, nudity.
Please complete the following permission form for the films/DVDs and return it to Mrs. Sena by
the first movie viewed for the semester.
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PARENT(S)/GUARDIAN(S) FILM/DVD PERMISSION FORM
______________________________________
has
(Name of Student)
does not have
_________
_________(check one)
my permission to view the R-Rated films listed in Mrs. Sena’s course syllabus.
_______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name
_______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
_________________
Date