Choice #1
Due October 1st
60 point project
RESPONDING TO BIGOTRY
Write your reaction to each of the scenarios from the movie (3 – 5 sentences)
1. A gun shop owner refers to a Persian customer as “Osama” in a heated conversation.
2. A bigoted police officer confronts an African-American insurance agency supervisor
named Shaniqua Johnson, “I can't look at you without thinking about the five or six
more qualified white men who didn't get your job.”
3. An angry housewife told her husband to change the locks because the job was done by a
Mexican locksmith who might “sell [the] key to one of his gangbanger friends….”
4. A television producer is asked to do another take of a scene in a comedy because an
African-American actor does not sound “black” enough.
Brainstorm a list of common stereotypes about race and gender in your everyday life. Then
create a poster to raise awareness against bigotry in the following place: Your poster should
contain elements from CRASH and an anti-bigotry slogan
• At Home
• In School
• At Work
• In Public
Responding to Bigotry Rubric
Excellent
Average
Format
(10 points)
Below
Average
The project
is done on
small poster
board, is
disorganized,
and does not
contain a
slogan that is
related to the
movie
Unacceptable
The poster
contains
little to no
content that
is relevant to
the movie, its
plot, and
characters
Each
Each reaction is Some
reaction is
labeled, is 3 – 4 reactions are
labeled, is 5 sentences long, not labeled,
sentences
typed, and
is 3
long, typed,
contains a
sentences
and contains strong opinion
long, typed,
a strong
that is
and contains
opinion that somewhat
an opinion
is explained explained
that is barely
well
explained
The artwork The artwork is
There is little
is organized, organized,
to no
easy to
somewhat
organization
understand, understandable, in the
and there
and some effort artwork, it is
was a
was made on
difficult to
substantial
the artwork
understand,
effort made
and there
on the art
was little
effort made
on the art
The poster
contains no
content that
is relevant to
the movie, its
plot, and
characters
The project
is done on
large poster
board, is
organized,
readable,
and contains
a well
thought out
slogan
relating to
the movie
Content/Movie The poster
Connection
contains
(20 points)
content that
is relevant
to the movie,
its plot, and
characters
Reactions
(20 points)
Art Work
(10 points)
The project is
done on large
poster board,
somewhat
organized, and
contains a
decent slogan
that somewhat
relates to the
movie
The poster
contains some
content that is
relevant to the
movie, its plot,
and characters
The project
is done on
regular
paper, is
disorganized,
and has no
slogan
None of the
reactions are
labeled, are
less than 3
sentences
long, not
typed, and
contains
little to no
explanation
There is no
organization
in the
artwork, it
cannot be
understood,
and was no
effort made
on the
artwork
Choice #2
Due October 1st
60 point project
EXPLORING REDEMPTION IN CRASH
Introduction:
Imagine the characters of Crash are stranded on an island. The rescue plane can only make one
trip to save three characters. Which characters would you choose? Why?
Procedures:
1. You have been asked to select three characters to board the plane. This assignment will be
completed in the form of an argumentative essay. To complete this assignment, you will
complete the following tasks:
a. Compile a table detailing the characters and their related information in the movie.
You should include the following characters:
• Anthony, played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
• Peter, played by Larenz Tate
• Christine, played by Thandie Newton
• Cameron, played by Terrance Howard
• Officer Ryan, played by Matt Dillon
• Officer Hanson, played by Ryan Phillippe
• Farhad, played by Shaun Toub
• Dorri, played by Bahar Soomekh
• Ria, played by Jennifer Esposito
• Daniel, played by Michael Peña
• Graham, played by Don Cheadle
• Rick, played by Brendan Fraser
• Jean, played by Sandra Bullock
b. Determine the criteria for boarding the plane. You may want to examine the
characters’ background and past. Morals, ethics and values are also possibilities.
c. In a detailed argumentative essay, explain your three choices for rescue. Be sure to
include specific examples from the movie. In the conclusion, tell me why you did not pick
certain characters, what could they have done differently to improve their odds of being
rescued?
Choice #3
Due October 1st
60 point project
IN THE DEEP ANALYSIS
Full song available at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by0xnJStass
1. Imagine you are a music critic and asked to write an analysis for the song In the Deep by Bird
York. To write your five-paragraph analysis, complete the following tasks:
a. The song In the Deep By Bird York is used at the end of the film. Analyze an excerpt of the
song lyrics below:
Thought you had all the answers to rest your heart upon but something happens don't
see it coming, now you can't stop yourself now you're out there swimming in the deep
Life keeps tumbling you heart in circles till you let go till you shed your pride and you
climb to heaven and you throw yourself off now you're out there spinning in the deep
b. Explain the meaning of the song in the context of the movie Crash. How does the song relate
to the theme of redemption in the movie?
c. Who was the most ethical character? Unethical? Be sure to cite specific examples to support
your answer.
d. Which character is impossible to sympathize with in the movie? Why? Support your
responses.
Exploring Redemption and In the Deep Rubric
Format
10 points
Analysis
/Content
25 points
Questions
25 points
I
Excellent
The essay is
typed, follows
the 5 paragraph
format (strong
introduction,
body, and
conclusion
paragraphs), is
organized, is
well written,
contains no
spelling or
grammar errors.
Times New
Roman, size 12
font, default
margins
The Analysis is in
depth and
demonstrates a
complete
understanding of
the plot and
characters of the
movie
The essay fully
and completely
answers all of
the questions of
the assignment
Average
The essay is
typed, follows
the 5 paragraph
format, however
is a little
disorganized and
contains some
spelling and
grammar errors,
Times New
Roman, size 12
font, default
margins
Below Average
The essay is
typed, however
is missing 1
paragraph, the
essay is
disorganized,
confusing, and
contains many
spelling and
grammar errors,
Does not follow
font or margins
Unacceptable
The essay is not
typed, is missing
2 or more
paragraphs, lacks
organization, is
confusing, and
has many
spelling and
grammar errors,
Does not follow
font or margins
The analysis is
detailed and
shows an
adequate
understanding of
the plot and
characters of the
movie
The essay
answers all of
the questions in
a satisfactory
manner
The analysis
lacks detail and
shows a very
brief
understanding of
the plot and
characters
The analysis is
totally lacking,
and shows little
to no
understanding of
the plot and
characters
The essay only
answers 3 out of
the 5 questions
The essay
answers less
than 3 of the
questions
Points earned
Choice 4
Due Oct 1st
60 point project
BEHIND THE SCENE INTERVIEW
“Most of the characters in Crash are racially prejudiced. By the end of the movie, however, each
character understands and changes his or her perspective on race.”
Task: Imagine you are an entertainment reporter. You are asked to interview the cast of Crash
for promotional purposes. You will conduct an interview for 3 of the following characters (1
page each) asking the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What was your character’s viewpoint on race at the beginning of the movie
How and why did your character attain this viewpoint?
What challenges did your character face in the movie?
How did the incidents in the movie change your character at the end?
If you were allowed to change one aspect or event related to your character, what
would it be?
Character choices:
Farhad: played by Shaun Toub
Officer Ryan played by Matt Dillon
Christine played by Thandie Newton
Jean played by Sandra Bullock
Graham played by Don Cheadle
Cameron played by Terrance Howard
Anthony played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Interview Rubric
Format
10 points
Analysis
/Content
25 points
Questions
25 points
Excellent
The essay is
typed, follows
question/answer
interview
format, 3
characters are
interview, is
organized, is
well written,
contains no
spelling or
grammar errors.
Times New
Roman, size 12
font, default
margins
The Analysis is in
depth and
demonstrates a
complete
understanding of
the plot and
characters of the
movie
The essay fully
and completely
answers all of
the questions of
the assignment
Average
The essay is
typed, follows
question/answer
interview
format, 3
characters are
interviewed,
however is a
little
disorganized and
contains some
spelling and
grammar errors,
Times New
Roman, size 12
font, default
margins
The analysis is
detailed and
shows an
adequate
understanding of
the plot and
characters of the
movie
The essay
answers all of
the questions in
a satisfactory
manner
Below Average
The essay is
typed, however
less than 3
characters are
interviewed,
proper interview
format is not
followed, is
disorganized,
confusing, and
contains many
spelling and
grammar errors,
Does not follow
font or margins
Unacceptable
The essay is not
typed, less than
2 characters are
interviewed,
lacks
organization, is
confusing, and
has many
spelling and
grammar errors,
Does not follow
font or margins
The analysis
lacks detail and
shows a very
brief
understanding of
the plot and
characters
The analysis is
totally lacking,
and shows little
to no
understanding of
the plot and
characters
The essay is
lacking 1
interview
questions
The essay is
lacking more
than 1 interview
question
Points earned