1. Film and Literature
Projects II

2. PLOT ELEMENTS
The plot of a story is the total of all of the events – beginning, middle & end - that impact the characters.
A basic plot outline would include the following:
Plot element
Description
Exposition
Background details: characters, setting
Conflict
The problem faced by the characters
(esp. protagonist vs antagonist)
Rising action
Tense situations faced by characters
Climax
The peak of action; the most tense moment
Falling action
What happens immediately after the climax
Resolution
End of story; change exhibited in characters

3. BASIC PLOT STRUCTURE Climax: peak of action
Falling action: what happens after climax
Rising Action:
tense situation(s)
Exposition – Background Details
Resolution – see a change in characters
Conflict: problem faced by characters (esp. protagonist vs antagonist)

4. Map the plot for another book or movie: Lord of the Rings
Climax:
Gollum & hobbit struggle over Ring. Eventually Gollum & Ring fall into volcano & are destroyed.
Falling action:
Sauron destroyed, along with his kingdom. Fellowship reunited and world is saved.
Rising action:
Fight, fight, fight!!! Orcs! Evil wizard!!!
Exposition:
Hobbits & wizard & others form Fellowship & go on quest to destroy Ring of Power
Resolution:
Everyone returns home, though others hardly aware anything has happened.
Conflict:
Villain Sauron & his armies want to kill Fellowship and seize Ring. Ring’s former owner Gollum wants it back too.

5. THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD
A storyboard is one way of mapping the plot of a story
Work with a partner to make a storyboard to map key events in The Great Gatsby.
Exposition, Conflict, Rising action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution

7. ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD (Optional assignment)
Assignment #2 is an optional assignment – create a storyboard of a well-known story (book or movie)
Assignments in Film & Lit are worth 15% of overall grade.
If you choose to do Assignment 2, grading will be 5 – 5 – 5 for assignments (2 essays & storyboard)
If you choose not to do Assignment 2, grading will be 7.5 – 7.5 for assignments (2 essays)

8. ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD (Optional assignment)
For Assignment #2…
Create a six-panel storyboard
Work alone or with a partner
Choose a story familiar to most readers
Include the plot elements discussed in class
Illustrated & captioned
Feel free to exercise creativity in your project
Can do a simple panel layout like the in-class practice or something else
DUE DATE:
14 May (Tue)
Grading (5pts overall) based on…
Plot elements
Accuracy of plot elements
Contents
Several sentences in captions to explain each scene & its importance
Illustrations
A detailed & understandable illustration for each element
Grammar/mechanics
Captions well written
Layout
Attractive design; engages the reader in terms of layout & neatness

9. ASSIGNMENT #3 Must read one (1) story in full-length original
For Assignment #3:
Write a word essay on the topic given for the novel you’ve chosen (must be one we studied)
Work individually
Use correct essay structure:
Clear thesis statement that answers the question
Body paragraphs that develop different aspects of your answer
Include between 3-4 brief quotations (~1-2 sentences long) from the original novel to support your ideas
No block (long) quotations
Proper essay format (spacing, font, personal info, etc.)
DUE DATE:
11 June (Tue)
Grading (5pts overall) based on…
Relevance of answer to the question
How thoroughly the question is answered
Organization & logic of paper
Integration of evidence from the story (brief quotes included & explained)
Writing mechanics & formatting
*Visit the blog later for topic questions. I will also upload all of the remaining PDFs of original stories

10. FINAL EXAM PROJECT
For the final exam in Film & Literature, you are required to do a group-level ‘performance’ of some type
Two (2) options:
Create & screen a short (~10 min) film based on a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept
Create & perform a short (~10 min) dramatic ‘table read’ version of a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept
DUE DATE:
June (last 3 classes of semester)

11. FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #1: SHORT FILM (20 pts overall)
Create a ~10-minute short film based on a short story, a scene from a novel, or an original concept.
Criteria for the film are:
Appropriate for classroom viewing
In the range of 8-12 minutes
Include a ‘title card’ (credits)
The project will be done in stages
Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual roles/responsibilities (May 21 Tue)
Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your film (6 panels – A4 paper) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (May 30 Thu)
Stage 3: Screen your film in class between June 13-20
Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of film, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) –consider self-evaluation
For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

12. FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #2: TABLE READ (20 pts overall)
Create a 10-minute dramatic table-read based on a short story. a scene from a novel, or an original concept.
Criteria for the table read are:
Appropriate for classroom viewing
In the range of 8-12 minutes
Include credits in PPT form, or spoken by narrator
The project will be done in stages
Stage 1: Draft a one-page proposal outlining the story/scene you’ve chosen and group members’ individual roles/responsibilities (May 21 Tue)
Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your presentation (6 panels – A4 paper) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (May 30 Thu)
Stage 3: Present your table-read in class between June 13-20
Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of presentation, fulfillment of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script) – consider self-evaluation
For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

13. WRAP-UP Select a Lit Circle role from the following:
Summarizer
Discussion Director
Word Master
Connector
Culture Collector
Read stories in the section titled “Feathers from a Thousand Miles Away” in The Joy Luck Club
Journal according to your Lit Circle role