Essay 1 – Visual Analysis—Documentary Film Critical Thinking about Film DIRECTIONS:

https://www.netflix.com/watch/81035279?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2C1b6c744e60a81b8159313ff941caaaa19daaa0e1%3Ad29d4c6b19833ce1a899fd971e236138393d0cb6%2C%2C
FYRE: THE GREATEST PARTY THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Click on the Netflix link above to view this film. This is the only place this film is available. If you don’t have a Netflix membership, the company is offering one month free. Another option would be to ask a friend, peer, or family member to view the documentary with you and/or allow you access to their account.

This essay MUST adhere to the following guidelines:
• Organize exactly as described on page 2, of this document
• 7-paragraphs ONLY (2-introduction paragraphs; 1-summary paragraph; 3-body paragraphs; 1-conclusion paragraph)
• Use MLA formatting and rules of citation (see The Norton 2016 MLA Handbook)
• Use 2-cited sources from research and 1-quotation from the primary source/the film— Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened: o You must use scholarly and reputable periodicals and journals ONLY (i.e.: Time, Newsweek, US News and World Report, Forbes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Wall Street Journal, etc.) o Scholarly journals can be found in NLC’s Online Database o the following websites ONLY: .edu, .org*, .gov, .mil—citations from .com websites is not allowed; quotations from Wikipedia, film reviews, and social media [Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.] is never allowed; citations from Blogs is not allowed. o books (ebooks are allowed) o essays found in databases by literary and/or film critics (individually published as well as those found in an anthology or a collection of essays edited by another author) o each body paragraph must have one-piece of evidence/proof = a quote from a secondary/outside source (the film is the primary source)
• Thesis statement must be underlined and the last sentence of the second introduction paragraph (if not, I will assume you didn’t create it and 20 points will be deducted).
• Essay must have an original title of your own creation
• No title page; use the 5-line MLA format required heading
• Must create a Works Cited page.
How to organize the visual analysis of a film essay
I. Introduction paragraph: factual information about the film (no quotations allowed in this paragraph)
• Title of film
• director’s name
• primary characters names
• Genre of film to which this work belongs
• Year film was released
• Historical, social, political, and/or cultural info that is relevant to the film II.
2 nd introduction paragraph: create a platform for your argument (no quotations allowed in this paragraph)
• Information about the film that relates to your thesis
• Thesis statement is the underlined, last sentence of the 2nd introduction paragraph (Do not include the title of the film in thesis. However, it is acceptable, but only if absolutely necessary, to refer to the director by last name.)
III. Summary paragraph: concise explanation of the plot (eight sentences maximum for this paragraph; no quotations allowed in this paragraph)
• A short summary of the plot of this film
• A summary paragraph should never contain an explanation of behavior, ideas, characters, etc. • This summary must be in your own words (not copied, whether cited or not, from another source)
IV. Three Body paragraphs – this is where you prove/support/argue the ideas in thesis
a. Topic sentence – must specifically introduction the topic of this paragraph. It also expands the idea(s) in thesis statement.
b. Sub-topic sentence – another sentence that brings clarity and focus to the idea(s)/issue in this paragraph.
c. Proof/evidence (one piece per body paragraph) – a direct quote, paraphrased ideas of others, etc.
d. Explain the proof/quote/example
e. Multiple Critical analysis sentences – explain “how” and/or “why” this evidence supports the idea(s) and/or position in thesis
V. Conclusion (If a quote is used in this paragraph, it does not satisfy the citation requirement.) You must satisfy two of these options BUT not all four.
• Restate the thesis (but, not verbatim)
• Provide a synopsis of your argument
• Ask a rhetorical question that raises an issue about ones perspective on this current analysis. • Disagree with your analysis by presenting an opposing view: refutation.
Essay 1—paper topics
1. The central purpose of the film Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened is to promote the theme/message that “free-will is a powerful gift that carries immense responsibility and hefty consequences.” Agree or disagree? Choose a side and argue pro or con.
2. Create an argument in which you state, describe, and explain the psychological value of this story.
3. Create an argument in which you state, describe, and explain the value that this cautionary tale provides to viewers.
4. Create an argument in which you state, describe, and explain the ethical message that this story teaches viewers.
These topics are purposely designed to be broad/opened ended so that you can customize an argument. However, you are not required to choose from this list. You can create your own argument, about this film, for this paper. No matter what you decide, your argument must be a clearly-stated debatable idea, with a valid reason for this debate. It must also be an idea that can be successfully supported with credible evidence.