Reflecting on Your Reading Project Book

By now you've finished (or almost finished!) reading the film-related book you chose to read a few weeks ago, and now it's time to reflect back.

In a well-written reflection of 2-3 pages (typed and double-spaced) you should describe your reading experience. The most thorough reflections will consider the following:

• What kind of a reader are you? How much do you read for pleasure? What's your general attitude toward reading? Have your reading habits changed as you've gotten older?
• Was anything new about this experience? First book you've ever read on an iPad/Kindle? First time you've read a nonfiction book or book about film?
• What're your book's title and author?
• How did you choose your book? Where did you find it? Was it recommended by someone?
• What is the subject of the book?
• What expectations did you have? Did the book meet those expectations? Why or why not?
• What insights into the world of film have you gained? Give specifics and develop your examples. Use a direct quote to add specificity.
• Describe the experience of reading the book? Was it a quick read? Was it challenging? Was it pleasurable or not? Why?

If you've read a book that was adapted into a film then you've also watched the film and should discuss

• More than what's missing in the film that was in the book. Is there a pattern in what was cut? A sub-plot? An entire major character? What was the effect of the changes?
• Was material added? What's the effect of the new material?
• Do some research! Was the author any way involved in making the film?
• Describe the experience of reading the book versus seeing the film. Which did you prefer and why? 

Aside from being well-written, your reflection should be original, honest, and informal. It should also be typed, double-spaced and submitted to Turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m on Sunday, 10/29.

For an "A" you also need to effectively utilize a parenthetical statement, exercise some sentence length variety, and try one of the four openings as taught in class and, in the heading of your essay, state which opening you're using. For example:

Jane Doe
RotMI Reading Project Reflection
ANECDOTAL OPENING

Test on Wednesday, 10/11

The test will focus on Gus Van Sant's's Good Will Hunting and the key terms and concepts from Chapter 1 of our textbook, Understanding Movies. Also, review everything from the beginning of the course, such as literary, dramatic, and cinematic aspects, the definition of RotMI, etc. Be sure to look over your notes, your homework assignments, and all Viewing Guides and handouts.

Along with the general plot, key quotes, and character developments of our films, be sure to focus on these areas in your review:

• In Good Will Hunting: Classical film style; title credits; puns in the title?; kaleidoscopic view; bird's-eye shot; slow motion photography; painterly vs. linear style; visual repetitions (motifs); final images for the 4 major relationships in the film; final shot; long take; attachment disorder as a psychological term. Be able to cite specific examples of these concepts from the film to prove your point.
• In Chapter 1 - Understanding Movies: film style; various shots; framing; angles; lighting; cut, dissolve; eye-line match; deep focus; rack focus; diegetic, internal diegetic, and non-diegetic sound; authorial and subjective points of view, etc.

This is only a general guide and possibly not a complete list of everything we learned and everything you should study

The approximate test breakdown: 60% multiple choice / 20% mini essay on Literary, Dramatic & Cinematic Aspects / 20% short answers

Good luck!