ASIA 311 (3) Tibetan Buddhism, Winter 1

ASIA 311 (3) Tibetan Buddhism, Winter 1

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Advice for Written Assignment: Critical Response Paper/Academic Film Review

The students are required to write two 700-word critical response papers on assigned course

readings or an academic film review of a documentary film shown in the class. The critical

response paper/academic film review must demonstrate an accurate understanding of the

readings and context, key terms and issues addressed in the lectures and discussion sessions.

The paper will be graded on content, factual accuracy, and critical analysis (approx. 60 %) and

form and style of academic writing (approx. 40 %).

➪ 2 x 20%, learning objective 1, 2 & 3, due to the end of Week 4 (September 30, 12:00

1. AM) & Week 10 (November 11, 12:00 AM) respectively, to be submitted in

www.turnitin.com (details follow).

1. Writing a Critical Response Paper

A critique is an analysis of and a commentary on another piece of writing. It generally focuses

on technique as well as on content. A critical response paper has two missions: to summarize a

source’s main ideas and to respond to the source’s main ideas with reactions based on your

synthesis.

Introduction

Typically, the opening is short (less than 10% of the word length), and you should name the

work being reviewed as well as the date it was created and the name of the author/creator

(bibliographical reference). List the main arguments or main purpose of the work. Have a

concluding sentence that signposts what your evaluation of the work will be. For instance, it

may indicate whether it is a positive, negative, or mixed evaluation.

Body (Summary)

Then, as a first step, actively read and thoughtfully seek answers to the following questions as

you go: What are the main points, ideas, or arguments of the work (book, article, play essay,

etc.)? How is the work organized? What evidence/support does the author give? What is the

primary purpose of the work?

Body (Analysis with interpretation and evaluation)

To help you generate content for your analysis, consider the following questions: Does the work

achieve its purpose? Fully or only partially? Was the purpose worthwhile to begin with? Or

was it too limited, trivial, broad, theoretical, etc.? Is any of the evidence weak or insufficient?

In what way? Conversely, is the evidence/support particularly effective or strong? Can I supply

further explanations to clarify or support any of the main points, ideas, and arguments? Are

there sections you don’t understand? Why? Was there any area where the author offered too

much or too little information? Is the organization of the work an important factor? Does its

organization help me understand it, hinder my understanding, or neither? Is anything about the

language or style noteworthy?

Evaluate the evidence: sufficient (enough evidence, examples), representative (large enough

pool/sample), relevant (accurate correlations)?

A critical evaluation does not merely highlight negative impressions. It should deconstruct the

work and identify both strengths and weaknesses. It should examine the work and evaluate its

success, in light of its purpose.

Body (Response)

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Base reaction on your own experience, prior knowledge, and opinions (if applicable). If you do

not have any prior knowledge, or idea of the subject discussed this part is not necessary.

Within the body, you may choose from three basic patterns of organization: write all the

summary paragraphs first, followed by the analysis portion; alternate between summary and

analysis paragraphs so that a critique of the summarized information follows each paragraph of

summary; or combine a summary and critique of each idea within each paragraph of the body.

Conclusion

Usually a very brief paragraph, which includes a statement indicating the overall evaluation of

the work and a summary of the key reasons, identified during the critical review. In some

circumstances, recommendations for improvement on the work may be appropriate.

Documentation/Reference list

Include all resources cited in your critique (if you look up words in dictionaries etc. you do not

need to list them).

In sum: How to Organize Your Critical Response Paper

1. Introduction: ·
2. Body (Summary, Analysis, Response)
3. Conclusion
4. Documentation/Reference List

(Based on https://write.siu.edu/_common/documents/handouts/writing-the-criticalresponse.pdf).

 

2. Writing an Academic Film Review

We all have watched films and discuss films with our friends, writing a film review is, in

principle, not different from when we discuss a movie with a friend except that it should follow

the requirements of an academic paper. Many aspects of a book review are the same as those

required in a film review. In your film review, I am interested in your reaction to the film and

what you see in the film. There is not a set formula to follow when writing a film review; but

the genre does have certain common elements that most film reviews include.

Introduction

In the opening of your review, provide some basic information about the film. You may include

film’s name, year, director, screenwriter, and major actors. You can evaluate the film, the

central theme of the film, film genre, or timeframe of the film.

Plot Summary

Remember that many readers of film reviews have not yet seen the film. While you want to

provide some plot summary, keep this brief and avoid specific details that would spoil the

viewing for others.

Description

While the plot summary will give the reader a general sense of what the film is about, also

include a more detailed description of your particular cinematic experience watching the film.

This may consist of your impression of what the film looks, feels, and sounds like. In other

words, what stands out in your mind when you think about this particular film.

Analysis

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To explain your impression of the film, be specific about how the film utilizes formal

techniques and thematic content. How do the film’s formal techniques (such as

cinematography, lighting, sound, or narrative) affect the way the film looks, feels, and sounds

to you? How does the thematic content (such as history, race, gender, sexuality, class, or the

environment) affect your experience and interpretation?

An in-depth critique of the film plot and characters are essential to a great film review. Offer a

lot of detail about how the producers achieved goals regarding being evocative and captivating

the audience. The language used; the meter and the tone, the depth and speed of talking and

language style will also set a mood for a scene and change our perception of the situation and

the characters roles. Analyze the different persons interviewed and discuss in detail the main

character traits of each major role. Consider how characters possibly contrast each other and

what might be the intention behind that. Include physical and psychological aspects of each

character and discuss how these either enhanced or detracted from the performance.

Conclusion/Evaluation

The closing of your film review should remind the reader of your general thoughts and

impressions of the film. Provide a summary of your thoughts about the film and be sure to

explain why you feel this way. Some things you may want to include is information you gained

regarding any events or times in history or how the film changed your views about a particular

subject. Make sure to remind the reader of why the film is or is not worth seeing.

In sum: How to Organize Your Academic Film Review

1. Introduction
2. Plot Summary
3. Description
4. Analysis
5. Conclusion/Evaluation

(Based on https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review1.original.pdf

and

https://www.powerpapers.com/article/how_to_write_an_academic_film_review).