CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
Documentary Analysis
Step 1. Pre-viewing (June 8th-June June 11th)
Title of Film:
Date Released
Principle filmmaker(s)
Why did you select this particular film for this assignment?
What do you think you will see in this motion picture? List three concepts or ideas that
you might expect to see based on the title of the film or what you already know about this
film.
Concepts/Ideas
1.
2.
3.
CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
Step 2. Viewing
Type of documentary (check where applicable):
__________ Advocacy for social concerns
__________ Biography
__________ Research/Factual
__________ Investigative
__________ News/Special Events
__________ Geopolitics
__________ Nature
Logical sequence of the documentary- Intro, body and conclusion. Provide a summary of
these three parts of the documentary.
Intro-
Body-
Conclusion-
Interviews (Who did the filmmaker interview and for what purpose?)
CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
Dramatizations (if any)
Note how camera angles, lighting, music, narration, and/or editing contribute to creating
an atmosphere in this film.
What is the mood or tone of the film? What emotions does the film evoke in it’s
viewers?
CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
Step 3. Post-viewing (or repeated viewing)
Circle the things that you listed in the previewing activity that were validated by your
viewing of the motion picture, then answer the following:
What is/are the central message(s) of this documentary? Be specific. Use examples from
the film to support your choice.
Discuss the bias in the film (point of view of the filmmakers).
Consider the effectiveness of the film in communicating its message. As a tool of
communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?
How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond?
Does this film appeal to the viewer's reason or emotion? Explain the role of each in this
piece.
CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
How does it make you feel?
Write a question to the filmmaker that is left unanswered by the motion picture.
CGW4U
Performance Task June 2012
Name:
Step 4- Research Response
(** This question is an extension of the analysis)
Most documentaries lack objectivity leaving many questions unanswered and leaving out
many points of view to support their own biases. Given this, expand beyond the
documentary and research alternate points of view which may counter and or debate the
point of view discussed in your documentary (i.e. if you documentary discusses global
warming as human induced, what are the counter arguments or positions that disprove
human induced global warming) Expand and research in a 2-3 page report.
Other expectations:
Typed double-spaced
12 pt. Font Times New Roman
Title Page
Embedded sources (any format…MLA, APA…footnotes, endnotes etc.)
Marks- Entire package= /100 marks
Last question (research question) 50 of the 100 marks….