Radical Islam’s War Against the West

Film Study Worksheet for a Documentary Seeking to Persuade the Viewer

On a Matter of Political or Social Significance

Read the questions before you watch the film so that you will know what to look for while you watch. Please fill in the answers to the questions.

Complete the assignment by answering each question in paragraph form. Answers need to be complete and comprehensive,demonstrating that you paid attention to the film and thought about what was shown on the screen.  Be sure that the topic sentence of your first paragraph uses key words from the question. All responses should be in complete sentences using proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

1. State the title of the film and the year it was released. Then briefly describe what the film is about and the position that it advocates.

2. Describe the progression of the film: how it begins, what stages it passes through, and how it concludes.

3. List six facts described in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the film’s premise or theme.

4.  How did the filmmakers try to convince you of the position that the film supports? Look for appeals to logic, emotion, and prejudice.

5. Did any of the reasoning given in support of the position advocated by the film seem to be weak or misleading? If so, describe the concept put forward in the film and why you thought the reasoning was flawed.

6. Describe any cinematic techniques used in presenting particular scenes, images, or sounds which were designed to appeal to the viewer’s emotions and to encourage the viewer to agree with the position advocated by the film, without reliance upon fact or logical argument.

7.   If the filmmakers asked how this film could be improved, what would you tell them? Describe the changes you would suggest in detail.

8. Did the film change your mind about any aspect of the subject that it presents? What information, argument or persuasive technique caused you to change your mind?