Film Homework

The Discussion Board / Modeled Examples English 225 In any course, the Discussion Board represents an incredibly important area of engagement for students and faculty. At its best, the forum is an engaging and active space where students offer their views on key course concepts and test those views with rigorous responses to their peers. It also offers faculty the opportunity to encourage deeper levels of critical thinking through robust commentary that can sometimes develop into a sustained dialogue – in the specific forum, and throughout the class! W ith these points in mind, we have provided some exemplary model discussion responses . Note that the annotated student responses are actual responses by students – we’ve just added specific references to key areas. Week Two Discussion: Genre Theory [ Student Post ] Paranormal Activity is a horror movie [Student identifies the film’s genre] that I have watched and was intrigued by. Although many may debate the likelihood of these events happening, it is scary to think about. “ Horror films effectively center on the dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events ” (Goodykoontz & & Jacobs, 2014). [Here, the student directly reference s the text , though without introducing the quote] Paranormal Activity did all of those things by having events happen that nobody can explain. [The prompt asks students to discuss the conventions that are typical in films of that genre (or sub- genre)] An invisible presence haunts this family at night. Things are found moving with no explanation as to why (no windows open, no people present). As shown in this clip while the couple is sleeping, the sheets are moving and the door slams shut but nobody is there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQXm9BBQNuQ (BenB, 2013). [Student includes a link to a clip from the film] This creates a fear because it cannot be explained. You want to think, who is there or who is doing this, but in this movie it isn’t a person. There isn’t someone messing around or someone that can be caught and stop it. Although there is not blood and violence in this movie, it still keeps viewers on the edge of their Material d eveloped by Nate Pritts, PhD, and James Meetze. seat by trying to figure out what this presence is. Makes you think if this could really happen. Reference: BenB, Y. (2013, October 19). P aranormal activity 1. Retrieved from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQXm9BBQNuQ Goodykoontz, B., & & Jacobs, C. (2014). Fi lm: From watching to seeing (2 nd ed.) . San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education Inc. Material developed by Nate Pritts, PhD, and James Meetze.