Movie Report Instructions
Movie Analysis Paper: Select a movie that focuses on a particular stage of development. Your task will be to identify concepts/theories that are discussed in the text and indicate the extent to which the movie has accurately portrayed your developmental stage of interest.
Paper Instructions:
Select a film and get permission to proceed to watch the film. Submit your movie for approval via Canvas
View the Movie
Summarize the storyline and main characters (1 page Max)
Identify three concepts that are covered in the text regarding your selected stage of development (Hint: create a header in your paper for each theme, e.g., Parenting Style, Attachment, Friendship in Adolescence)
For each concept briefly summarize what psychologists empirically know about this concept (cite the text or other sources for the information) and then discuss how each theme was portrayed in the film. Were they accurate depictions of the concept?
View the movie again. Did you miss anything?
Write a conclusion. Include what you would add or change about the film to reflect the empirical understanding of development. Also note whether or not you are left with any questions about the concepts you chose. If not, tell why not and if you are, what questions remain?
Avoid Plagiarism! Create a reference page and make sure that you cite your work throughout the paper, following APA format. (NOTE: You may simply use your textbook and the movie. Using additional sources is not required)
FORMAT
The report should be typed in black, 12-point, Times New Roman font
Include an APA-formatted title page.
NO abstract is required.
Reports should include headers for each of the 5 required section
Movie Summary
Concepts/Theories (one for each; there should be 3)
Conclusion (Include proposed changes/Remaining Questions).
Paraphrase! Do not include any direct quotes from your references unless you are defining a term.
APA-style References
At the end there should be a reference page (include at least the movie and your textbook)
For every citation in the text, the source should be on the reference page.
Do not include any sources on the reference page that you did not actually cite in the paper.
The paper should be 4-5 pages (the title and reference pages do NOT count toward the page requirement). There will be a penalty for papers that are too long (more than 5 pages) or too short (fewer than 4).
Use 1” margins
Double-space the paper
Your writing should be formal and professional. Your work should not read like a casual conversation you would have with a friend.
Avoid using contractions (e.g., write “cannot” instead of “can’t”)
Paper should be in APA format. For more style help, visit this website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Suggested Movie List: Select one of the movies below or propose your own
Tuesdays with Morrie
Parenthood
Look Who’s Talking : One or Two
Nanny McPhee
Matilda
Under the Same Moon
To Kill a Mockingbird
Little Giants
Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
Big Daddy
The Game Plan
South Central
Three Men & A Baby
Water
High School Musical
Ghost World
The Breakfast Club
Easy A
The Hunger Games
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Dead Poet’s Society
The Breakfast Club
Juno
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Mean Girls
October Sky
Thirteen Going on Thirty
Remember the Titans.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Bucket List
Antwone Fisher
