MOL Movie Assessment
Last revised: 01/05/06
Movies provide scenarios. They can organize relationships into useful frameworks, engage belief patterns and help people understand how leadership engages organizations. Particular benefits to assessing movies include providing repeatable situations, removing the time and expense of field study, and facilitating appreciation of external ideas to expand understandings of real world situations.
No matter the genre, movies can facilitate relating academic understandings to real world situations. They can help people broaden or internalize understandings about organizational leadership. Accomplishing this in minutes rather than years can be a valuable use or resources.
WATCHING
Begin by understanding the assigned readings. Then take notes while watching the movie. Stop the movie periodically to refocus your thinking to the task rather than becoming caught up in the storyline.
A list of characters is available via the Internet. One also might be provided for your convenience in Canvas. We suggest you keep a printed copy available for reference while you watch the movie.
Note that while we attempt to use media that helps us understand organizational leadership from a biblical worldview, this does not necessarily mean all of what life offers interprets culture or is suitable for children. We usually attempt a short comment about the movie rating or content. If you want to read a review of the movie before watching it, you might start with what is posted online with Amazon.com or various movie sites. This is not necessary to accomplish the assignment.
WRITING
Begin with an introduction that summarizes the major thoughts, findings and conclusions in your document. This is called an "Executive Summary" in a case analysis, or an "Abstract" in a research paper. Do not restate the assignment.
The body of the paper should present your essential arguments in a well-organized structure. Use easily understood short headings before new subject areas to help the reader understand your transitions. Do not review the movie.
Consider the movie as a coherent whole. Presume your reader is familiar with "what" happens in the movie and does not want it retold. Answer "how" and "why" questions instead to help the audience understand your position(s).
Provide clear support from the movie for your statements. Do not include outside research unless instructed to do so. Identify. Discuss. Apply. Identify. Synthesize. Evaluate.
End with a conclusion that clearly articulates the most critical understanding or action the reader should accept and act upon based on the major thoughts you premise in your introduction to the document. Write well.