SOC 323—Film Review Instructions and Grading
Winter 2009
[From the Syllabus]: 4. FILMS AND VIDEOS. Students will write a brief reaction/critique paper for at
least two assigned films to be viewed outside of class and to be thoughtfully assessed with relevance to the
readings and ideas discussed in class. Students should view the films sometime after March 1 so that their
reactions may reflect much of the reading we have done. We will talk about the films the last week of
class, so students should have completed viewing by class time on April 8. Finished film reaction papers (at
least two) are due on April 10.
Assignment: Following viewing a one of the selected film in its entirety, each student is to
prepare a written reaction/review that outlines and summarizes the student’s sense about
why this film is especially relevant to our class, what the relevant meanings and insights to be
gained from it may be, how it advances some of the perspectives we have considered over the
semester; and how it applies to the student’s personal experience and world view. This
“reaction piece” should not summarize the film, but rather offer a personal reaction and
interpretation to the film and its particular meaning and relevance to the student reviewing it. The
reaction piece for each film will usually run 2-3 double-spaced pages, but students should take the
space necessary to set down their honest reactions and commentaries. The two required reaction
pieces may be combined into a single paper of 5-6 double-spaced pages.
Grading rubric. There are 12 points possible per film report. For each of the following four
characteristics, papers will be assigned a score from 3 (yes, very well) to 0 (no, not at all)
Very
Well
Not
at All
1. (3 points) Does the essay explicitly treat why this film is
relevant to our class? Does it tell what ideas or themes in the film
are related to concepts or events we’ve talked and read about?
Does it mention several such themes or ideas specifically, making
direct and meaningful comparisons?
3
2
1
0
2. Does the essay relate the student’s personal life, experiences
or worldview to themes or events in the film?
3
2
1
0
3. Does the essay reveal thoughtful analysis, creative pondering
About the issues and problems the film deals with and the way it
does so? Does it explain how this thoughtful analysis relates to whether
the student likes the film, thinks it was useful, why or why not?
3
2
1
0
4. Does the essay reflect careful workmanship? Does it exhibit
good writing, good paragraph and sentence structure, and careful
editing to catch errors? Does it seem to represent care and attention
as opposed to superficiality and haste?
3
2
1
0
Name_________________________
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Total Points