Guides: ENGL 1301: "The Late 1900s": Film Essay

Essay #2

The steps:

Pick two films, ideally of the same genre or theme and watch them, attending to the role of technology in the films. One must be from the 1990s, the other post-2020. Yes, you can do reboots. How does technology advance or hinder the plot? What role does it play?

If you do not understand the technology in the movie and you had to look up information about it, that’s fine. Just make sure that you use a legitimate source and cite it properly.

Write an essay in which you consider how technology functions in one film as opposed to the other; take the time to discuss the points of convergence and the points of divergence and reflect on those similarities and differences.

Requirements:

Your paper must be at least 850 words

7 paragraphs (introduction, conclusion, context, compare, contrast x2, reflection, conclusion)

Cite the films using a time stamp; be very specific

Include a well-developed thesis

Your introduction and conclusion paragraph should deploy strategies mentioned in the learning resources.

***You may use these LSC video databases to search for film selections. You may also have personal access to the many streaming services now available such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Freevee, etc. Any of these would be useful for the film selections needed for the film essay assignment!

Swank Digital Campus This link opens in a new window
Kanopy This link opens in a new window

Rubric

Category	Point Value	Notes
MLA	10	Double spaced, 12-pt TNR Heading, header, title Paragraphs indented, no extra spaces Works Cited page and in-text citations
Film 1 Info/Analysis	25	Provides relevant info about the film: basic plot overview, release year, characters, genre, connections to othe film Discusses specific moments in the film, using quotations and time stamps Focuses on how technology drives the plot or foregrounds themes and/or creates suspense/tension; focuses on why/how technology is essential in this film and compares/contrasts it to the other film
Film 2 Info/Analysis	25	Provides relevant info about the film: basic plot overview, release year, characters, genre, connections to other film Discusses specific moments in the film, using quotations and time stamps Focuses on how technology drives the plot or foregrounds themes and/or creates suspense or tension; focuses on why/how technology is essential in this film and compares/contrasts it to the other film
Intro/Conclusion	20	Uses engaging strategies from the learning resources Tripartite and well-developed Features a well-developed thesis
Reflection	20	The penultimate paragraph ties up loose ends by reflecting on why it plays an essential role (or not) in the selected films and speculating on what would happen if technology were removed from the film. The student should also consider if technology plays the same role in film as it does in life, basing their commentary on their personal experience.