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Documentary Unit

Documentary Unit. AP Language Mrs. Whetstone December 2012. Pre-Writing. If you were to write, direct, or star in a documentary, what would the topic be and why would you choose it? What role would you play? Who/what/how would you provide evidence or sources to support your claim?.

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Documentary Unit

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  1. Documentary Unit AP Language Mrs. Whetstone December 2012

  2. Pre-Writing • If you were to write, direct, or star in a documentary, what would the topic be and why would you choose it? • What role would you play? • Who/what/how would you provide evidence or sources to support your claim?

  3. Group Discussions • What are your general thoughts/feelings about documentary films? • What, if any, documentaries have you previously watched? • What is the purpose of a documentary film? • How might studying and analyzing a documentary film connect to AP Language class? • What are your general feelings toward Global Warming?

  4. Purpose of Doc. • Documentaries " build on the visual world of our students while at the same time these nonfiction films focus on substantive, often controversial, issues that affect students' lives. • Goal: Deepen appreciation of documentary film, stimulates further conversation about documentaries and nonfiction, and leads to more effective an innovative classroom practices. Source: Renee Shea " Using Documentary Film as an Introduction to Rhetoric"

  5. Connection to AP Lang. • Three main components: Nonfiction, visual culture, argument For the director to achieve his purpose, he must understand the audience and appropriate appeals -- ie: the rhetorical situationWe are focused on " becoming conscious of how rhetoric works [to] transform speaking, reading, and writing, making us more successful and able communicators and more discerning audiences." (Hepzibah Roskelly, "What Do Students Need To Know About Rhetoric?" AP Central).

  6. SSR “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

  7. AGENDA • Note taking on Audio, video, textual evidence in documentary films • Born into Brothels audio reflection • SSR

  8. Pre-Writing Focus • Make a list of all of the visual, audio and textual components you can think of that it takes to make a film…

  9. Audio • Sound heard during film: • Voices • Dialogue of people in film • Narration • Music • Sound effects

  10. Text Track (or Graphic Text) • The written information that appears on screen added by the filmmaker in postproduction. • Examples: • Subtitles • Identifications • Charts • Graphs

  11. Visual Techniques • Images seen on-screen • Could be: • Primary footage shot by the filmmaker (A roll) • Cutaways that support or counter other visuals perhaps shot by the filmmaker (B roll) • Found (archival) footage from some other source used to meet the new film’s purposes

  12. Other Important Terms • Editing • How the visual, audio and text tracks are assembled. Consider how music or images work to support or juxtapose each other. • Framing/Shots • Are we seeing the image in a close-up, medium shot, or long shot? Why? • Camera Angles • Is the camera filming the image from above (high angle), below (low angle), or eye-level? Why?

  13. Other terms cont. • Lighting • Is the scene filled primarily with lots of light or with darkness and shadows? Why? • Camera Movement • Does the camera move or is it stationary? Is it tilting, panning, or dollying? Why?

  14. Al Gore • Served as 45th Vice President under President Bill Clinton • The Democratic Party’s nominee for President in 2000 • Currently an author and environmental activist. • Non-profit organizations including Alliance for Climate Protection • Received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in climate change.

  15. AGENDA • Ted Talk: Al Gore on Global Warming • Guidelines for Analysis Essay • Handouts on video • SSR

  16. Al Gore meets Ted Talk • Introductory preview on Al Gore’s stance on Global Warming

  17. Guidelines for Analysis • Your assignment will be to do a rhetorical analysis of An Inconvenient Truth. That is, analyze the purpose of the film, the audience to who it is geared, and the strategies that are used to reach that audience.

  18. Film Analysis • Claim/Thesis: In An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore wants to reach a large audience, particularly non-scientists, to stress the urgency of responding to global warming. • Conclusion: An Inconvenient Truth effectively sounds the alarm for global warming by offering an accessible explanation that blends scientific information and human interest.

  19. Film Analysis • Claim/Thesis: Although Al Gore claims that only moral and ethical concerns about global warming prompted him to make the documentary An Inconvenient Truth, the film is a thinly disguised promotion for another bid at presidency. • Conclusion: Al Gore may have a sincere concern about the environment, but An Inconvenient Truth is only a means to further his ambitions for the presidency by reaching a large number of potential voters.

  20. Handouts/Notes on Film • Appendix 1 • Appendix 2

  21. AGENDA • Review Prompt • Begin viewing An Inconvenient Truth with note taking and analysis • SSR

  22. Guidelines for Analysis • Your assignment will be to do a rhetorical analysis of An Inconvenient Truth. That is, analyze the purpose of the film, the audience to who it is geared, and the strategies that are used to reach that audience.

  23. Purpose • That it is time to make significant changes in response to the reality that global warming (or climate change) is not a political issue but an ethical or moral one.

  24. AGENDA • Considerations • Continue viewing An Inconvenient Truth with note taking and analysis • SSR

  25. Consider: • Is that image of Gore with the American flag waving in the background an example of effective juxtaposition that reminds us of his public service and commitment? Or is it a fallacy that manipulates us to associate Gore with patriotic fervor?

  26. Consider: • When Gore narrates the near-death experience of his young son and how that affected him, is he shamelessly appealing to our emotions, or is he emphasizing that we often fail to value what is precious until we are in danger of losing it?

  27. Consider: • Is that analogy between his son’s life and our environment effective, simply inaccurate, or downright sentimental?

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