Birth of a Nation
The Assignment
Each student will write a critical analysis of the film Birth of a Nation; the analysis must answer the following questions:
What was the film about?
What do you think was the director’s main goal in making this film?
How does it help us to understand the history of racism in the U.S. at that time and
today?
What problems do you see with the film especially the ways in which the film
portrays African-Americans and the Ku Klux Klan?
Crucial: your critique must be analytical, critical, and not only descriptive.
Grading of the Critique:
The review will be graded according to the quality of content, composition, and critical analysis. .I will examine whether you have addressed the assignment, answering the four questions posed above.
The finished review must be in typewritten form,1400 word minimum,(3-5 pages) double spaced, typed size must be 12 pt. Times New Roman font is required.
Bold lettering is not acceptable.
A cover page is required. It must include the title, your name, the date, and the name of the course.
You do not need to use other sources for your critique but you may use them. If you use other sources aside from the film, you must include a bibliography. All sources must be cited according to the Turabian Style Manual.
Do not use Internet Sources.
A Film Critique is not a summary of the film but instead analyzing the director’s main objective in making the film. What message (s) was the director trying to convene? What arguments can you make? There are no right or wrong answers in analytical writing but always support your arguments/viewpoints with facts.
Below is a guideline on how the film critique should be organized. Please read carefully. This is what I expect to see in your introduction, in your body, and in your conclusion:
Introduction: Must Include:
Film’s Title and name of the director (in Italic).
Synopsis of the film.
State your thesis
State your argument(s)/Main Points
Body:
• Elaborate
Expand on your argument(s)/main points
o Useinformationfromthefilm,lecture,oranyotherreliablesourcetosupport your claim(s)
*Do not select a scene from the film and try to comment on that scene – That is not an analysis of the film.
Conclusion:
An overview of what you have written.
Restate and summarize your main point(s.)
