PA FILM: TAKE AWAY JOURNAL REQUIREMENTS
Journals are due every Monday unless otherwise instructedFor every film, you will be expected to write a journal entry on the film or films viewed that week. This TAKE AWAY film-viewing journal has three primary purposes. First, it is proof that you critically engaged the film—you not only read the synopsis handouts and carefully watched the film, but you also thought about them. Second, the connections you make with the film to your own life and the world will get you to more deeply engage the material in personal ways that allow you to transfer your learning outside of the course. Finally, by submitting the journals every week, I will be able to read them and adjust the class activities based on your reactions to the films and any questions you may have brought up in your writing. Your responses will guide the discussion process.
What is a film take away? After you have viewed the movie ask yourself: “WHAT DID I TAKE AWAY FROM THIS FILM?” Your gut feelings, thoughts and ideas will best guide your writing. Listen to them. You may TAKE AWAY 3 things from one film while others you may only take away one idea/lesson/insight. I am more concerned with the depth and insight you put into your journal rather than the length. However, I do expect all entries to follow the format below.
JOURNAL FORMAT
This is a casual, write to learn, journal. You will be typing your journal entries as weekly blogs (web logs) using a site that I will create for you. JOURNALS ARE DUE EVERY MONDAY.
You may type your journal on a WORD document ahead of time and submit it when it’s due. If you have computer issues such as no Internet or just program malfunctions you may submit the journal on a school computer, but it must be completed on time.
There is a required structure and format for this assignment.
• Journaling is expected for EVERY FILM WE VIEW.
• Please “start” separate journal entries with the week date you are journaling for. Within the journal be sure that you specifically mention the name, year, and director of the film you watched that week.
• Use MLA style guidelines for your reference to other works as well as formatting.
The following questions are designed to help you generate and focus your ideas when writing your journal entry on the movies that we watched in class. You will not need to answer all of these questions for your entry, but many of the answers will help you focus your thinking.