Movies as Literature

by Michael Leppert

Movies As Literature, is part of the hugely-popular Design-A-Study series. It offers a complete, one-year high school English course, based on films. The goal is to help students understand the elements of a good story – whether on the screen or in print. Because movies are a simplified version of the storytelling process, the course uses classic films to introduce high school students to the structure of storytelling in a variety of genres.

Students study the elements of literary analysis through 17 lessons which include thought-provoking questions. You will be amazed how the lessons can lead to interesting discussions for the whole family. In addition to the discussion and composition questions included in each lesson, the student workbook contains a glossary of key terms and the space needed to take notes during each film. Parents will appreciate the simplicity and organization of the student workbook, allowing students to keep all their coursework contained in one place.

Every parent will be confident in teaching the course with the help of the teacher’s guide/answer key. There are plot summaries for each film along with ideas and teaching methods to address the unique needs of your child. Also included are suggestions for evaluation and assessment of your student’s compositions – even the final exam is included. And parents will rest easy knowing the movies are family-friendly and many are adaptations of classical books. In learning how to discern the message and identify the techniques used to elicit emotional responses, your child will be less likely to be among the mindless audiences being brainwashed by Hollywood. As we become increasingly connected to our electronic devices and spend more and more time online, it is especially important that we teach our children to be critical consumers of media.

The whole family can enjoy the 17 films together, which include: Shane, Friendly Persuasion, The Quiet Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Music Man, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, The Maltese Falcon, Rear Window, Emma, The Philadelphia Story, The Journey of August King, To Kill A Mockingbird, A Raisin in the Sun, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Henry V, A Man For All Seasons, and Chariots of Fire. Students will learn to analyze literature and uncover the message, rather than simply passively absorbing the story. Your entire family will be engaged in the interesting discussions that arise from these great lessons.

For more information on pricing and sample pages from the student workbook, please visit their website at www.designastudy.com.