Appendix 2
Sample analyses of essay topics
1
Film studies
One critic has said: ‘Truffaut is trying to establish
connections between theatre and politics, between personal
relationships and political involvement, between the
idealism of the few and the pragmatism of the many.’
Do you think he succeeds in his aims? What verbal and
visual means does he use to establish these connections?
1.1
The meanings of terms
Truffaut – a French film-maker.
Idealism and pragmatism – check standard dictionary
definitions of these terms as a start. For example, The Concise Oxford
Dictionary has: Idealism – ‘representation of things in ideal form’;
ideal – ‘answering to one’s highest conception; . . . existing only in idea;
visionary . . .’. Pragmatism – ‘officiousness; pedantry . . . doctrine that
estimates any assertion solely by its practical bearing upon human
interests’.
Verbal and visual means – review the course so far and
references given to get an idea about the categories of (a) verbal
analysis and (b) visual analysis that are appropriate. No other problems
with the understanding of terms.