Aspects of Human Development Theory in the Film Girlhood

you can examine any movie from the semester except for the following: Searching for Bobbie Fischer, Boyhood, Girlhood, and Moonrise Kingdom. Again, you can examine any movie that was watched for class this term except those. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Directions for Short Writing Assignment #2                                  

Write a summary and analysis of coming of age themes in Moonlight, Girlhood, Boyhood, or Frances Ha.

Specifics:

• Approximately 300 – 400 words (no more than a page and a half, double-spaced)
• Typed, 12 point font, double-spaced
• As all written work for this class, adhere to format that is preferred in your major or discipline. 

Objectives: 

• Discern the key elements of plot in a complex film
• Organize key elements in a logical manner
• Show ability to differentiate between essential and non-essential elements of a film
• Analyze, using “close reading” techniques one scene of a film.

Directions:

This is a two-part short writing assignment.  It will not read as a wholly coherent narrative (meaning, do not worry about introduction and conclusion—just jump in!).

Part One: Identify and explain how a human development theory, or aspect of a theory, that we have discussed in class is portrayed in one of the movies. 

Part Two: What techniques does the film maker use that supports or challenges the aspect of human development you wrote about in part one.  Give specific examples from a particular scene of the film. 

Format:

Paper Heading:

Your Name

Your TA’s name

CORE 1929 (insert your discussion section number)

Date

Title:

Papers need to have titles, which are centered and written in 12-point, Times New Roman font. If you are using the film (or book) title in the your paper title, put the title in italics.

Page numbers:

Page numbers begin on and with page 1. Type your name next to the page number so that it appears on every page.

Works Cited:

When citing a film, use the following format:

Title of movie. Director (abbreviated as Dir.). Distributor, year of release. Medium.

You may include other information such as the names of the writer, actors, producer, etc., between the title and distributor. When citing a DVD, include the original release date (if relevant) and the term DVD before the name of the distributor.

Example:

Gallipoli. Dir. Peter Weir. Perf. Mel Gibson and Mark Lee. 1981.Paramount, 1999. DVD.

Please note: when referring to only one work, the appropriate sub-heading is “Work Cited”

In-text Citation

Use italics when including the film title in your papers:

Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo stars Herzog's long-time film partner, Klaus Kinski. During the shooting of Fitzcarraldo, Herzog and Kinski were often at odds, but their explosive relationship fostered a memorable and influential film.

If you are using a direct quote, use parenthetical citation, in those instances where the title of a film is not obvious from the context of your paper:

This is an obvious homage to one of the most frequently mis-quoted lines in film: “Play, it Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’” (Casablanca).