Group assignments:

-Each week you will be assigned a question to discuss in small groups and present the results to the class. Each group must write a short answer essay (one or two pages maximum) of the individual film under discussion that week.

These are the guide questions for the assignments:

Assignment # 1, on Fernando Trueba's Belle Epoque

Assignment # 2, on Jose Luis Cuerda's The Butterfly

Assignment # 3, on Carlos Saura's Carmen

Assignment # 4, on Pedro Almodóvar's The Flower of my Secret

Assignment # 5, on Alejandro Amenábar's Open Your Eyes

Assignment # 6, on Maria Luisa Bemberg's I Don't Want to Talk About It

Assignment # 7, on Alfonso Arau's Like Water for Chocolate

Assignment # 8, on Gutierrez Alea/Tabio's Strawberry and Chocolate

Assignment # 9, on Gregory Nava's El Norte

Assignment # 10, on Walter Salles' Central Station

Assignment # 11, on Mathieu Kassovitz's Hatred

Assignment # 12, on Denys Arcand's Jésus de Montréal

Assignment # 13, on Giuseppe Tornatore's The Star Maker
 

Individual writing assignments:

There will be two major essay assignments in the course.

-Essays need to be typed and double spaced.
-You should give your essay a title that clearly reflects your angle.
-Refer to Timothy Corrigan's book, particularly chapters 4 and 5, for good suggestions on how to write about films. Avoid plot summary, gratuitous comments and extraneous information. Stream-of-consciousness style should also be avoided. Strive for logical coherence, organization and development of ideas.
-Use a spell-checker.
-No late assignments will be collected, unless previous arrangments have been made with the instructor.
-Essays will be graded on content and expression: originality, insightfulness, and clarity.