SCENE ANALYSIS PAPER (750-1000words(double-spaced) + list of terms used)
Due by 4:00pm on Tuesday April 5; no late papers will be accepted

Objective: The purpose of this assignment is to explorehow film constructs meaning through a variety of elements (camera angles, mise-en-scene, framing, editing, sound, color, etc.) in a scene. You do not need to discuss all of these elements, but should choose those that seem most important to you in helping us to understand the importance of that scene.

Assignment: Write a thesis-driven essay in which you examine a short scene (no more than 5-7 minutes) of your choosing from either Ballad of a Soldier or Ashes and Diamonds. Links to the films can be found on the d2l content page in the“week 2” section of the “films for class discussion” module.
Briefly describe the action or context of the entire scene in no more than 200 words. The majority of your paper should be an analysis of any key elements — camera angles, lighting, setting, dialogue (or inter-titles), music or other sounds, clothing, facial expressions and gestures, representations of culture, gender, race / ethnicity, ideology or class — which make your chosen scene especially significant, both in isolation and in terms of the overall movie. Anything that you write about your scene must support the central argument in your paper (which is your thesis).
Be sure to indicate which scenethat you have chosen to analyze by including a time mark; for example, “This scene in Ashes & Diamonds runs from 1:04:00 to 1:07:35” or “In the scene from 0:33:45-0:37:00 in Ballad of a Soldier, …”, etc.

Criteria for Evaluation
Your scene analysis should be typed, 750-1000 words (3-4 pages), double-spaced, with no changes to the margins, Calibri 11 or Times New Roman 12 font; be sure to spell- and grammar-check your paper and include a word count either at the beginning or end of your paper.You should upload a copy of your paper (in either .doc, .docx, or .pdf format; no .odt files!) to the D2L dropbox by no later than 4:00pm on Tuesday April 5.You do not need to turn in a hard copy of the paper.No late papers will be accepted for credit. Include your name on the paper, but do not put your student ID number on the paper. All papers will be checked for originality through D2L.
Your scene analysis must utilize the specific terminology associated with the construction and composition of a film; check http://filmanalysis.yctl.org/for some of the key terms. On a separate sheet at the end of your paper you are required to include a glossary that briefly describes, in your own words, the concepts & terms utilized in your essay. It is like a “Works Cited” page, but it should instead be called a “Terminology Utilized” page. This page doesnotcounttowards the 750-1000 wordrequirement for your essay.
You may go over the 1000 word mark without penalty, but for your own sake, I would recommend not writing too much more than that. If you find you are going over 1250 words, it is probably best to cut some things and stop. You do not need to get every element or detail, but should focus on what you find most important in the scene you chose.
Papers will be graded based on content, clarity, and the fulfillment of the parameters of the assignment. See the “Paper Grading Sheet” in the “Paper Guidelines” module on the D2L Content page for further grading criteria.
You will have the option to revise this paper after it is graded. Further details on the revision process will be provided on April 12 when the graded papers are returned to you.

Suggestions for beginning the paper: After choosing which assigned scene you want to write on, watch the scene once for general impressions. What is the initial impact of the scene on you? How does the scene help to set the tone for the film? How does it fit into the overall scope of the film? Does the scene show us something that we have not seen in the film before? Is it a scene integral to the plot or characterization?
Next, re-watch the scene, taking notes as you watch.Pay close attention to everything that happens in the scene. Note camera angles, shots, lighting, sound, narrative, etc. All of these elements will help you to analyze the scene and interpret how film constructs meaning by both traditional and non-traditional methods. Once you have identified the various elements used, then you can begin to examine the scene as an opportunity for analysis.
Finally, figure out what the overall impact and / or message of the scene is. As you consider this, you will want to think about the events that transpire in your scene. How does the film construct meaning beyond the actions and words of the characters in the film? What film techniques do you see employed in this scene, and how do they help elucidate the characters or events in the scene? Is there anything in the scene that draws your attention to the cinematic apparatus? How do the technical aspects of the scene affect your understanding of the scene?
When you write, your thesis should point out what you think the overall meaning and / or impact of the scene is. It should be organized in a logical manner. Remember, you do not have to examine everything in your scene. You only have to discuss those portions of the scene that are the most relevant to however you are interpreting the scene.
You can find one model outline (minus the body paragraphs) of a scene analysis paper at: http://cmlt214.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/model-scene-analysis-paper-outline/

Movie links：

1: Ballad of a Soldier (USSR, GrigoriiChukhray, 1959, 85 minutes)

2: Ashes and Diamonds (Poland, Andrzej Wajda, 1958, 103 minutes)

http://arizona.kanopystreaming.com.ezproxy2.library.arizona.edu/video/ashes-and-diamonds-0

If you have a hard time in opening the second movie, please choose the first one.