History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction essay paper
History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Introduction
Squealing tires and the metallic screech of cars colliding. You whirl around to find two cars crumpled into each other in the intersection. Moments later, the police arrive. As they question you and the other witnesses, you are surprised that everyone has a slightly different story. The red car was speeding. No, the gray one ran the red light. But wait, you are sure you saw a dog run through the road, and that’s why both cars swerved. Who should the police officer believe? And how can the police officer confirm what really happened?History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Much like our police officer faced with a variety of different versions of an accident, historians (and history learners like you) also face conflicting information in their research of important events. Throughout history, there are numerous examples of how experts disagree on exactly what happened, when, and where. In short, not all sources of information are created equal. So claims need to be taken with a grain of salt and should be carefully verified. When faced with conflicting information, historians understand the importance of History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction corroborating or confirming their research, by finding additional sources of supporting evidence—like interviewing multiple witnesses at the scene of an accident.
In this fifth assessment, you will apply your communication and problem-solving skills to determine the accuracy of a Hollywood movie about a particular historical event, movement, or person and corroborate historical information and interpretations. By practicing strong problem solving, you not only can ensure that you are looking at all History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction sides of an issue (and that even marginalized groups have a say), but you can also better understand and bolster your sources to make a compelling argument. Outside of this course, corroborating information before you act in the workplace, or even in your family life, can help you solve problems faster and more effectively. It can also help you avoid making a decision based on subjective or misleading information.
Overview
What role do Hollywood movies play in educating the public about historical events or figures? How do we know what’s fact and what’s fiction when we watch these movies? In this assessment, you will put yourself in the shoes of a historian as you write an essay that analyzes a movie about a historical event, person, or issue.History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Preparation
Choose and watch a Hollywood film about an event, person (or people), or movement in American history. The film should not be a documentary. Choose from the list below, or contact your instructor if you have another film in mind. As you watch your movie, take careful notes, noting how the filmmakers use setting, dialogue, lighting, and music to portray the historical events, person, or movement. Once you’ve watched and taken notes on your chosen movie, locate credible sources about the historical events or people portrayed in your film. At least one of your sources should be a scholarly book or scholarly article from the CapellaLibrary.
Possible movies to select:History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Instructions
Step 1: Summarize a movie about a historical event, person, or movement.
Step 2: Analyze a movie to separate historical fact from fiction.
Step 3: Explain the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement.
Step 4: Describe changes that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement.History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Step 5: Integrate credible sources to support the analysis of a historical movie.
Step 6: Write coherently with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.History In The Movies: Fact Or Fiction
Additional Requirements
Your submission should meet the following requirements:
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.
History in the Movies: Fact or Fiction Scoring Guide
CRITERIA |
NON-PERFORMANCE |
BASIC |
PROFICIENT |
DISTINGUISHED |
Summarize a movie about a historical event, person, or movement. |
Does not summarize a movie about a historical event, person, or movement. |
Partially summarizes a movie about a historical event, person, or movement. |
Summarizes a movie about a historical event, person, or movement. |
Summarizes a movie about a historical event, person, or movement, including details and examples for support. |
Analyze a movie to separate historical fact from fiction. |
Does not analyze a movie to separate historical fact from fiction. |
Analyzes a movie to separate historical fact from fiction, but the analysis is incomplete or incorrect. |
Analyzes a movie to separate historical fact from fiction. |
Analyzes a movie to separate historical fact from fiction, demonstrating strong critical thinking skills. |
Explain the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Does not explain the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Partially explains the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Explains the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Explains in detail with supporting examples the impact of a movie on the public’s understanding of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Describe changes that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Does not describe changes that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Describes one change that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Describes changes that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement. |
Describes changes that would improve a movie’s portrayal of a historical event, person, or movement, including examples for support. |
Integrate credible sources to support an analysis of a historical movie. |
Does not integrate credible sources to support an analysis of a historical movie. |
Integrates one credible source to support an analysis of a historical movie. |
Integrates credible sources to support an analysis of a historical movie. |
Integrates credible sources to support an analysis of a historical movie, using correct citation format. |
Write coherently with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. |
Does not write coherently with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. |
Writes coherently with some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. |
Writes coherently with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics. |
Writes coherently with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics, using headings to organize content. |
Resources: Essential Outcomes
During this course you have focused on four essential learning outcomes:
Developing these key outcomes in this course has helped you think about history and your world in a new way. You’ve learned how to accurately gather and analyze information, compare and contrast sources, make evidence-based decisions, present arguments, and persuade your audience. And you can use those same skills outside of this course to solve problems, communicate your thoughts effectively, utilize new technology, and adapt to any situation. Just like anything else, you will need to keep practicing the skills you’ve learned to help you perform your best. The more you practice, the more confident you will be.
Application of Essential Outcomes
Have you ever been confronted with two versions of the same story? It can be hard to know which to believe, right? Historians and students of history (like you) often face the same challenge. In this week’s CapellaStories, biographer and historian Kate Clifford Larson walks us through important moments in Harriet Tubman’s life and reveals the critical thinking steps she took to determine their historical accuracy. How will these same steps strengthen your problem-solving ability and help you think critically in your own life? Learn how Harriet Tubman’s biographer used the six steps of critical thinking to discover the real story of this fascinating American hero.
Resources: History of the United States