In this assignment you will watch a documentary film and read an article and then answer questions about the film and article.

To prepare for this assignment, watch any documentary film from the PBS Frontline website that is no older than ten years. Choose a film that interests you. There are hundreds from which to choose.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentaries/

Additionally, find an online article from the FSCJ Library Database that compliments the documentary you chose to watch. Here is a short tutorial video for how to access and use the FSCJ Library Database.

The article should come from a reputable source and contain at least eight paragraphs and should include a serious, lengthy, well-researched argument about one of the main topics of the film. For example, if you chose to watch the film The Healthcare Divide, you might consider finding an article about health insurance from the library database. If you watch Plastic Wars you might find an article about corporate pollution or recycling.
The article’s main topic should relate strongly to one of the main topics of the film.

Approach both the film and the article with an interest that puts aside any emotions or ideas you might have about the topic and instead try to analyze the content objectively. Part of this assignment requires you to analyze the evidence and credibility of the sources presented in the film and doing so requires that you acknowledge any bias that might involve your own political or philosophical beliefs. That does not mean to cast them aside — just be aware of how your personal “lens” shapes how you interact with information.

Answer the following questions and remember to include the number of the question in your answer. Avoid writing in an essay format, and instead just put the number (such as 1) and then your answer.

**Want an A+? Aim for the maximum reply length for EACH question. Every word is precious, though. The detail must be meaningful. Delete “fluff” sentences.
Want a C or B? Aim for the minimum reply length. Detail may be hit and miss.**

1. Reflect on how a critical reader examines a text with a healthy skepticism. Drawing upon the strategies discussed in Chapter 1 and Chapter 4, what questions might be most important to ask when reading an argumentative text? Identify a specific genre of argumentative writing (such as an editorial, movie review, or position paper) and explain some of the questions you should ask as a critical reader. (You come up with the questions. Your answer here demonstrates your ability to synthesize and reflect on the course content in these chapters.)

Chapter 1: The Rhetorical Situation: Writers’ Choices

Chapter 4: Reading, Thinking, and Writing Critically

Answer in 4-6 sentences

See the grading rubric for how this assignment will be scored.

2. Write a one-paragraph summary of the film you chose to analyze. Provide the title of the film at the beginning of your paragraph. Place a film title in italics (never “ ” marks).