Th 1051 - Introduction to Film

Analysis Paper Guide

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Introduction to Film Syllabus

Analysis Paper Examples

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Guidelines:

1. Choose a film you admire.
2. Study the film by watching it multiple times on a VCR or DVD.
3. Choose three to five technical elements from the following list (angles, camera distortions, camera movement, framing, color, sound, lighting, shot selection, costumes, and proxemics) that contribute significantly to the film's overall effect, and analyze in some detail the contributions of each. Use terms and concepts discussed in class and the text. Please avoid choosing elements (e.g., editing, acting, story) not in this list.
4. When examining the specific elements, ask yourself the following questions:
   • What is the director's purpose or primary aim in making the film?
   • Why did the director make the choices he/she made?
   • What effect do those choices have on the viewer?
   • How do the separate elements of the film relate to and contribute to the theme, central purpose, and/or total effect?
5. Use your analysis of the individual film elements as the body of your paper; then add an introductory paragraph, transitions, and a conclusion to shape the paper into a complete essay. (The final product should be between four and six typewritten pages, double-spaced.)
6. Please don't spend more than one short paragraph describing the film's plot. Assume the reader has seen the film.
7. Please don't base your paper on the director's commentary from a DVD.
8. Please don't choose a film that is studied in class.
9. Please staple your paper and do not place it in a binder of any kind. Please don't turn in computer disks.
10. Points will be deducted if the paper is: too short, not typed, and/or handed in late.
11. To view past examples of analysis papers for Introduction to Film, click here. (The movies analyzed made not be used for your own analysis paper.)

Evaluation:

Analysis papers are worth 25 points. They will be graded on the following criteria:

• Originality (the ability to find a valid and imaginative approach to the film) - 5 points.
• Insightfulness (the ability to arrive at an informed and perceptive argument, based on terms and techniques studied in class) - 10 points.
• Specificity (the ability to back up your arguments with specific examples from the film) - 10 points.