Doc Film Guidelines

AP Lang

Documentary Film Analysis

Objectives:

Analyze a full-length documentary film and its argumentation
Apply all of the concepts of this course to evaluate and present the argument of a film
Work cooperatively in a group to present an analysis to the class
Demonstrate ability to communicate verbally for a variety of purposes and in a variety of settings (e.g. group discussion & formal presentation).

How it Will Work:

First we will model the analysis process using Food, Inc. in class, going over the rhetoric to look for the way elements may look different in the medium of film, and modeling how you might present your film.
You will choose your group and your film from the list provided, make arrangements for securing a copy of the film, and get the permission slip returned by Friday.
You’ll have next week with your group. Recommended timeline follows:

BEFORE Monday: watch film on own or as a group

Mon-Tues: re-watch the film, discussing rhetoric and picking out clips to present

Wed: finalize discussion, split up responsibilities, share Google Presentation

Thurs-Fri: time to work on your presentation

Presentations will be the week of May 11-13.

Elements to Analyze:

Purpose, Audience, Thesis, and Mode (see modes at end of this handout)
Appeals to logos, ethos, and pathos
Kairos—new term that means timeliness. Kairos (KY-ross) is knowing the right time or the most importune moment to make an argument or present aspects of an argument.
Counterargument—this is a specific part of ethos I want you to analyze in your documentary. Counterargument is how the argument acknowledges, works around, or attacks those who would argue the opposite.
Types of Evidence—facts, statistics, personal experience, expert testimony, humor, etc.
Visual Style/Tools
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Fallacies (there will be all three)

Presentation should use Google Presentations. Create one presentation document to be shared and worked on by everyone in your group. Also share that document with your teacher.

Organization of presentation:

Background, central issue, VERY BRIEF summary
Analysis of rhetoric with 3 short clips (less than 5 minutes) from the film as evidence
Conclusion—your group’s determination of the success of the argument based on your analysis

Documentary Film Choices

(Summaries from Netflix and IMDB.com)

Film Name	Rating	Summary
Schooled: The Price of College Sports Netflix	NR	A documentary that examines how college sports in America became a billion dollar enterprise built on the backs of its unpaid athletes. 1 hr 20 min
Big Rig Netflix	NR	In this engaging documentary, filmmaker Doug Pray journeys coast to coast to chronicle life on the road with America's long-haul truck drivers. 1 hr 35 min
Blackfish Netflix	NR	This fascinating documentary examines the life of performing killer whale Tilikum, who has caused the deaths of several people while in captivity. 1 hr 23 min
Stuck Netflix	NR	Following the fates of four orphans from around the world, this earnest documentary argues that international adoption laws are deeply flawed. 1 hr 22 min

It’s a Girl

Netflix

This grave documentary spotlights the cultural traditions that surround widespread female "gendercide" and violence toward women in India and China. 1 hr 3 min

Hot Coffee

Netflix

This documentary examines the so-called "hot coffee lawsuit" in which a woman sued McDonald's after she spilled her coffee and burned herself. 1 hr 28 min

Documentary Modes

Mode	Characterized by:
The expository mode	'Voice of God' narration directly addressing the viewer Direct relationship between images and voice-over Interviews used only in support of the film's argument A conventional narrative structure A narrator who also may appear as a 'character' in the film (such as David Attenborough)
The observational mode	A non-interventionist or fly-on-the-wall style of presentation Unobtrusive camera work, appearing to offer a 'window on the world' Relatively long takes connoting that nothing has been 'cut out' Zoom lenses and hand-held camera following the action Editing which gives the impression of 'lived' or 'real' time Speech which is overheard and not directed to camera or audience Synchronous sound Only diegetic music (originating in the documentary's world)
The interactive mode	The acknowledged presence of the camera and crew The film-maker speaking directly to her/his subjects An emphasis on monologues and dialogues Representation of multiple viewpoints, contributing different information Editing which maintains logical continuity No definitive argument, leaving the audience to decide
The reflexive mode	Acknowledgement of the medium to problematise it Discussion of the problems of making the documentary Making explicit the process of representation Making explicit institutional issues (such as who is funding it)
The performative mode	Where the documentary maker “stars” in his/her own film.

While it is useful to keep all these styles in mind, many documentaries, like many of the written arguments we’ve looked at this year, don't fit rigidly into a single category. However, thinking about these modes may give you interesting ideas for your analysis and purpose of some details or style characteristics.

Documentary Film Name:

Individual Viewing Chart: Take notes while you watch of the elements you’re noticing. This will give you better ideas later on AND you’ll already have pieces of evidence to use.

Time (You will need this for your clips)

Technique Used

(Use rhetorical and persuasive tool language)

Specific Example from the Film

Effect on the Viewer

Concluding thoughts:

Group Discussion: Discuss these questions in your group and record your group’s answers.

What is the filmmaker’s purpose?

What is the argument/thesis of the film? What assertions/claims are made?

To what extent does the argument have validity? Are there fallacies?

What is the attitude or viewpoint of the filmmaker? (Tone)

What cinematic techniques does the filmmaker use to make his/her point? (Think about the diction and syntax of the film). Look on your individual charts for this.

How does the structure of the film help achieve its purpose?

What is your conclusion? What do you think of this argument and its effectiveness?

Clips for the Presentation (you need THREE less than FIVE minutes each):

Clip start time	Clip stop time	Description of what is happening in the clip.

Mode

The expository mode