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Below are some questions to help start the critical thinking process.
Films
- In no more than one paragraph, briefly summarize the plot, then begin to analyze.
- Is the plot straightforward and linear, or is it complex and convoluted?
- Does it make sense? If not, why would the screenwriter or director decide to make it confusing?
- Research the context of the film.
- Does it come from a book? If so, how is it different from the book?
- If it is historical, is it accurate?
- Analyze the writing.
- Is the dialogue natural? Is it stylized? If so, why?
- Do the actors do a good job of playing the characters?
- How does the camerawork support the plot and characters?
- For example, is the camera in the actors’ faces? Is it distant and panoramic? Does it move jerkily?
- Does the soundtrack support or distract from the film?
- How do the sets and props look?
- Are they well done and authentic, or do they look like there wasn’t enough money to do a good job?
Articles
- Where does the article appear? In a newspaper, a scholarly journal, a popular magazine?
- Who wrote the article? Is the writer qualified to speak out on this subject?
- Is the article aimed at a particular audience? If so, how does it do that effectively?
- How persuasive is the article? Does it use rhetorical devices (ethos, logos, pathos) to persuade? Which ones and how?
Fiction (Story or Novel)
- In no more than one paragraph, briefly summarize the plot, then begin to analyze.
- What is the genre of the story or book (e.g., mystery, sci-fi, coming-of-age)? What do readers expect from this genre? Does this book follow these conventions or break them?
- Is the story easy to follow, or does a complicated plot mislead the reader? Why would an author make this choice, and how would the choice affect the purpose of the work?
- Is the writing straightforward, with accessible language, or is it convoluted, with complex sentence structures and vocabulary? Why? How does that relate to the plot? How does it affect the work?
- Are the characters familiar types, or are they unique? Are they based on real people or invented? What point is the author making with the kinds of characters created?
Advertisement
- Who is the target audience?
- What worldview and values does the advertisement assume the audience has?
- Break the advertisement into components: visual, auditory, and textual; how does each add to the message?
- What are the strategies used by the creators in these components? Do they motivate the audience?
- What emotions does the advertisement provoke?
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