Essay writing & Writing about film
Part 2 (THE RETURN)
Brought to you by Mr. Miller
Essay writing & Writing about film
First things first…
ESSAY RALLY MONKEY!
Essay writing & Writing about film
“Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging
can be influenced by connections to places. Refer to the text
Rabbit-Proof Fence in your response.”
Mr. Miller’s Practice Essay : Reading Directions
-Read the opening paragraph: underline the thesis
statement, circle the context/summary.
- Read through one body paragraph and underline
any place where you see DETAILS from the film.
* What should come immediately after any details
that are used in the body paragraph?
Essay writing & Writing about film
“Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can
be influenced by connections to places. Refer to the text
Rabbit-Proof Fence in your response.”
Basic structure of a body paragraph
1) Topic sentence (The WHY - Connects back to thesis)
2) Description / context / summary
3) Details from text (dialogue, description)
4) Analysis of details (HOW the details support your idea in
the topic sentence and thesis).
5) *Repeat steps 2 through 3 or CONCLUDE
Essay writing & Writing about film – Mr. Miller Essay
(LEAD SENTENCE) Home is where one perceives it to be—a
person who feels at home in a village of dusty huts would feel out of
place at an air-conditioned mansion. A dusty village could be Paris or
Bali, or simply a place where one belongs. (CONTEXT / SUMMARY) The
film ‘Rabbit Proof-Fence’, directed by Phillip Noyce, explores the
connection between one’s perception of place and one’s identity
through the eyes of three Aborigine children who are removed from
their family as part of the ‘Stolen Generation’ in 1930’s Australia. The
film follows Molly, the oldest of the three, who senses hostility and
oppression at Moore River Settlement, the camp that she and her sisters
are taken to for training as domestic servants. (2 Part THESIS) With
skillful narrative, the film contrasts Molly’s negative perception of the
settlement with the affirming connections she feels towards her native
home and her family. Molly’s refusal to perceive Moore River as ‘home’
compels her to escape from the settlement and lead her sister and
cousin 1200 miles back to Jigalong—her true place of belonging.
Essay writing & Writing about film
As the day unfolds, Molly senses the rigidity of the rules and
the hostility towards those who disobey them. At mealtime,
all of the girls recite a memorized prayer before sitting down
to eat a soggy breakfast with plates and silverware. When
Molly’s sister Daisy talks to Molly in her native Mardu
language, (perhaps commenting on the strange food) she is
scolded by a mean-looking caretaker who barks, “We won’t
have that wanka here. You speak English! Now Eat!” Even
though Molly willingly speaks English earlier in the film, she
perceives undue hostility in the caretaker’s command to
speak English only, without the option of speaking in her
native language.
Essay writing & Writing about film
TOPIC SENTENCE: Exploring a new environment from Molly’s
point of view, the film uses detail after detail to portray
Moore River Settlement as a place of hostility, rules and
subtle oppression.
LATER IN THE PARAGRAPH: When Molly’s sister Daisy talks to Molly in
her native Mardu language, (perhaps commenting on the strange food)
she is scolded by a mean-looking caretaker who barks, “We won’t have
that wanka here. You speak English! Now Eat!” Even though Molly
willingly speaks English earlier in the film, she perceives undue hostility
in the caretaker’s command to speak English only, without the option of
speaking in her native language.
Essay writing & Writing about film
To help you remember the structure of body paragraphs,
-Think of a hamburger!
TOP BUN
Topic Sentence (Part of Thesis)
LETTUCE/TOMATO
Context (Who, where, when, how?)
CHEESE
Details & Evidence (Quoted or
Paraphrased)
BEEF
Analysis (Pull details / connect back
to main idea you are arguing in
thesis.)
BOTTOM BUN
Conclude OR Give Context for NEW
EVIDENCE
Essay writing & Writing about film
To help you remember the structure of body paragraphs,
-Think of a hamburger!
Guided Practice
-With your Essay Reading Partner,
select one of the body paragraphs
in Mr. Miller’s Essay and add
another layer to the hamburger.
-Select another piece of
evidence/details from the film,
introduce it through context or
description and then analyze it in a
way that presents the idea of the
paragraph.
Essay writing & Writing about film
- Good work on your practice essays!
Common Errors / Areas of Concern
- Not describing your ideas or details from the film
so that the reader can understand them.
- Losing focus throughout body paragraphs.
- Literal summary, (i.e. the camera shot of Molly’s
terrified face shows us how concerned she is.)
- Forgetting to mention ‘place’ or ‘perception’ in
your analysis.
- Neglecting to give context ‘Who, what, when,
where’ we are in the story.
Essay writing & Writing about film
Also…
- It is okay to use simple sentence clauses (subject with a
strong descriptive verb) rather than complex sentences.
*Your thesis statement can be more than one sentence.
-Use strong details from the film that you can use as
examples of meaningful film techniques (like the scene
when the girls are taken by Constable Riggs).
- Don’t re-interpret the film (i.e. even though Molly had a
‘good time’ at Moore River…
Above All
- Give us details from the film and be as accurate as you can!
If you mention Mr. Neville, tell us what his position was…
Essay writing & Writing about film
Countdown to the In-Class Essay…
-Take out your revised opening paragraph and body
paragraph.
-Read it to out loud to a partner, (don’t show it to them).
-As you listen to your partner’s revision, I want you to select
one or two sentences that sound logical or well-written. Tell
your partner when you hear that sentence – point it out to
them.
-I also want you to select one thought or sentence that
sound illogical or mistaken. Point that out to the reader.
-Reader circle those two sentences.
Essay writing & Writing about film
In-Class Essay Writing – Things to be aware of
- Using ‘quotes’ around a word means that you, the writer,
question the validity of that word. For example: Mr Neville is
the chief ‘protector’ of aborigines – you imply that he’s not
really a protector in a positive sense.
- Using camera terms correctly (Example: close-up versus
long shot)
- Choose details that are strong and vivid. Details that show
belonging. If you are using dialogue, try and use it
accurately: Nina says, “No one got Mothers here,” Molly
replies, “I got Mother.”
- What does that piece of dialogue reveal?
Essay writing & Writing about film
Final advice for the in-class
- Think while you write *Make an outline before*
-Quality over quantity.
- Don’t try and write four body paragraphs; if you write
three or even two well-structured paragraphs with good
details, that attests more strongly to your writing ability.
- Think of details and moments from the film that are
strong, clear examples of film technique that show
meaning.
- Don’t forget to analyze your details. Go deeper with a few
details, rather than loading many details.
- Think of Molly and what she goes through or experiences.
What film techniques and scenes show us her P.O.V.?
- Remember the structure of a paragraph – details / analysis
Essay writing & Writing about film
Essay Scrimmage!
- For the next ten minutes write a body paragraph with the
following objective:
Select a scene from the second part of the film when Molly,
Gracie are travelling through the desert. How do two details
from the scene show Molly’s strength of character? What
film or narrative techniques convey this strength?
Structure your paragraph (Topic sentence, description,
detail, analysis, repeat.)