Choose a movie that deals with an event in U.S. History to 1865. (see handout for movie suggestions) Through your careful and thorough research, you will determine how accurately the movie portrays the historical event

Film Review and Analysis

Watching popular movies that deal with historical events can be a good way to learn history.  It can also be very misleading because historical events are not always portrayed accurately.  It is important to know that you can’t always believe everything you see (or read, or hear…)

Your assignment will be to choose a movie that deals with an event in U.S. History to 1865. (see handout for movie suggestions) Through your careful and thorough research, you will determine how accurately the movie portrays the historical event.  You will discuss your findings in a 4-5 page paper (typed, double-spaced)

Your paper should include:

• a strong introduction with a clear thesis
• a relevant plot summary (not too short, and not too long… find the right balance)
• a discussion of how accurately the movie portrays the historical events. This is where your RESEARCH comes in! Be thorough and specific! Make sure to provide at least three examples to PROVE YOUR THESIS regarding how your movie does or does not accurately portray the historical events.
• a minimum of 12 citations using correct format (citations will be footnotes or endnotes). This should include both direct and indirect citations; representative of all sources referenced in your works cited page.
• a thoughtful conclusion
• a works cited page, using correct bibliographical format,  minimum of 6 sources ~ *

Þ  Your movie counts as one source and needs to be included

Þ one primary source   (discussion of actual event from a  newspaper or magazine of that time; letters or diaries; an  interview, …)

* You may go beyond the minimum of 6 required sources.  Keep in mind however, that all of your sources must be represented by citations (either footnotes or endnotes) in the body of your paper – you must actually USE and REFER to all of the sources that you put on your works cited page.  (Unlike a bibliography, which is a list of all the sources you consulted, a works cited page is a list of all the sources you ‘cite’ or ‘reference’ or refer to in your paper – either directly or indirectly

By going through the research process step-by-step, I hope you will develop and improve your research and writing skills.  By giving you a wide range of topic choices, I hope to encourage you to learn more about something that you are interested in.  If you get started right away, and stay on schedule, this should be a very manageable and successful project.  See me with any questions along the way!