1. Film and Literature
Projects

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 situation
Falling action
What happens immediately after the climax
Resolution/Denouement
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.

5. THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD
A storyboard is one way of mapping the plot of a story
Work with a partner (no more than 3 students to a group) to make a storyboard to map key events in GG.
Exposition, Conflict, Rising action, Climax, Falling action, Resolution

6. THE GREAT GATSBY STORYBOARD

7. ASSIGNMENT #2: STORYBOARD
For Assignment #2…
Create a six-panel storyboard
Work with a partner (groups of 2)
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: 21 Nov. (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 viewer in terms of layout & neatness

8. 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 quotations from the original novel to support your ideas
Proper essay format (spacing, font, personal info, etc.)
DUE DATE: Dec. 7 (Thu)
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 (quotes included & explained)
Writing mechanics & formatting
*Visit the blog later for topics.

9. 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 or scene from a novel
Create & perform a short (10 min) dramatic ‘table read’ version of a short story or scene from a novel
DUE DATE: Dec (last 3 days of semester)

10. FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #1: SHORT FILM (20 pts overall)
Create a 10-minute short film based on a short story or scene from a novel.
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 responsibilities (Nov 21 Tue)
Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your film (6 panels) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (Nov 30 Thu)
Stage 3: Screen your film in class between Dec
Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of film, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script)
For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

11. FINAL EXAM PROJECT: OPTION #2: TABLE READ (20 pts overall)
Create a 10-minute dramatic table-read based on a short story or scene from a novel.
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 (Nov 21 Tue)
Stage 2: Submit for approval a storyboard for your presentation (6 panels) and a script which includes characters’ dialogue and stage directions (Nov 30 Thu)
Stage 3: Present your table-read in class between Dec
Grading based on: meeting criteria, quality of presentation, fulfilling of individual role, preliminary written work (proposal, storyboard, script)
For the script, you can use original dialogue from the story you’re adapting, or you can modify it to suit your purposes

12. WRAP-UP Select a Lit Circle role from the following:
Summarizer
Discussion Director
Word Master
Connector
Culture collector
Read section titled “Flowers from a Thousand Miles Away” in The Joy Luck Club
Journal according to your Lit Circle role
Journal collection: Thurs. 16 Nov