Choice #1
Due October 1st
60 point project
RESPONDING TO BIGOTRY
Write your reaction to each of the scenarios from the movie (3 – 5 sentences)
1. A gun shop owner refers to a Persian customer as “Osama” in a heated conversation.
2. A bigoted police officer confronts an African-American insurance agency supervisor named Shaniqua Johnson, “I can't look at you without thinking about the five or six more qualified white men who didn't get your job.”
3. An angry housewife told her husband to change the locks because the job was done by a Mexican locksmith who might “sell [the] key to one of his gangbanger friends….”
4. A television producer is asked to do another take of a scene in a comedy because an African-American actor does not sound “black” enough.
Brainstorm a list of common stereotypes about race and gender in your everyday life. Then create a poster to raise awareness against bigotry in the following place: Your poster should contain elements from CRASH and an anti-bigotry slogan
• At Home
• In School
• At Work
• In Public
Responding to Bigotry Rubric
Excellent / Average / Below Average / UnacceptableFormat
(10 points) / The project is done on large poster board, is organized, readable, and contains a well thought out slogan relating to the movie / The project is done on large poster board, somewhat organized, and contains a decent slogan that somewhat relates to the movie / The project is done on small poster board, is disorganized, and does not contain a slogan that is related to the movie / The project is done on regular paper, is disorganized, and has no slogan
Content/Movie Connection
(20 points) / The poster contains content that is relevant to the movie, its plot, and characters / The poster contains some content that is relevant to the movie, its plot, and characters / The poster contains little to no content that is relevant to the movie, its plot, and characters / The poster contains no content that is relevant to the movie, its plot, and characters
Reactions
(20 points) / Each reaction is labeled, is 5 sentences long, typed, and contains a strong opinion that is explained well / Each reaction is labeled, is 3 – 4 sentences long, typed, and contains a strong opinion that is somewhat explained / Some reactions are not labeled, is 3 sentences long, typed, and contains an opinion that is barely explained / None of the reactions are labeled, are less than 3 sentences long, not typed, and contains little to no explanation
Art Work
(10 points) / The artwork is organized, easy to understand, and there was a substantial effort made on the art / The artwork is organized, somewhat understandable, and some effort was made on the artwork / There is little to no organization in the artwork, it is difficult to understand, and there was little effort made on the art / There is no organization in the artwork, it cannot be understood, and was no effort made on the artwork
Choice #2
Due October 1st
60 point project
EXPLORING REDEMPTION IN CRASH
Introduction:
Imagine the characters of Crash are stranded on an island. The rescue plane can only make one trip to save three characters. Which characters would you choose? Why?
Procedures:
1. You have been asked to select three characters to board the plane. This assignment will be completed in the form of an argumentative essay. To complete this assignment, you will complete the following tasks:
a. Compile a table detailing the characters and their related information in the movie.
You should include the following characters:
• Anthony, played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
• Peter, played by Larenz Tate
• Christine, played by Thandie Newton
• Cameron, played by Terrance Howard
• Officer Ryan, played by Matt Dillon
• Officer Hanson, played by Ryan Phillippe
• Farhad, played by Shaun Toub
• Dorri, played by Bahar Soomekh
• Ria, played by Jennifer Esposito
• Daniel, played by Michael Peña
• Graham, played by Don Cheadle
• Rick, played by Brendan Fraser
• Jean, played by Sandra Bullock
b. Determine the criteria for boarding the plane. You may want to examine the
characters’ background and past. Morals, ethics and values are also possibilities.
c. In a detailed argumentative essay, explain your three choices for rescue. Be sure to
include specific examples from the movie. In the conclusion, tell me why you did not pick certain characters, what could they have done differently to improve their odds of being rescued?
Choice #3
Due October 1st
60 point project
IN THE DEEP ANALYSIS
Full song available at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by0xnJStass
1. Imagine you are a music critic and asked to write an analysis for the song In the Deep by Bird York. To write your five-paragraph analysis, complete the following tasks:
a. The song In the Deep By Bird York is used at the end of the film. Analyze an excerpt of the song lyrics below:
Thought you had all the answers to rest your heart upon but something happens don't see it coming, now you can't stop yourself now you're out there swimming in the deep Life keeps tumbling you heart in circles till you let go till you shed your pride and you climb to heaven and you throw yourself off now you're out there spinning in the deep
b. Explain the meaning of the song in the context of the movie Crash. How does the song relate to the theme of redemption in the movie?
c. Who was the most ethical character? Unethical? Be sure to cite specific examples to support your answer.
d. Which character is impossible to sympathize with in the movie? Why? Support your responses.
Exploring Redemption and In the Deep Rubric
Excellent / Average / Below Average / Unacceptable / Points earnedFormat
10 points / The essay is typed, follows the 5 paragraph format (strong introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs), is organized, is well written, contains no spelling or grammar errors. Times New Roman, size 12 font, default margins / The essay is typed, follows the 5 paragraph format, however is a little disorganized and contains some spelling and grammar errors, Times New Roman, size 12 font, default margins / The essay is typed, however is missing 1 paragraph, the essay is disorganized, confusing, and contains many spelling and grammar errors, Does not follow font or margins / The essay is not typed, is missing 2 or more paragraphs, lacks organization, is confusing, and has many spelling and grammar errors, Does not follow font or margins
Analysis /Content
25 points / The Analysis is in depth and demonstrates a complete understanding of the plot and characters of the movie / The analysis is detailed and shows an adequate understanding of the plot and characters of the movie / The analysis lacks detail and shows a very brief understanding of the plot and characters / The analysis is totally lacking, and shows little to no understanding of the plot and characters
Questions
25 points / The essay fully and completely answers all of the questions of the assignment / The essay answers all of the questions in a satisfactory manner / The essay only answers 3 out of the 5 questions / The essay answers less than 3 of the questions
I
Choice 4
Due Oct 1st
60 point project
BEHIND THE SCENE INTERVIEW
“Most of the characters in Crash are racially prejudiced. By the end of the movie, however, each
character understands and changes his or her perspective on race.”
Task: Imagine you are an entertainment reporter. You are asked to interview the cast of Crash for promotional purposes. You will conduct an interview for 3 of the following characters (1 page each) asking the following questions:
1. What was your character’s viewpoint on race at the beginning of the movie
2. How and why did your character attain this viewpoint?
3. What challenges did your character face in the movie?
4. How did the incidents in the movie change your character at the end?
5. If you were allowed to change one aspect or event related to your character, what would it be?
Character choices:
Farhad: played by Shaun Toub
Officer Ryan played by Matt Dillon
Christine played by Thandie Newton
Jean played by Sandra Bullock
Graham played by Don Cheadle
Cameron played by Terrance Howard
Anthony played by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Interview Rubric
Format
10 points / The essay is typed, follows question/answer interview format, 3 characters are interview, is organized, is well written, contains no spelling or grammar errors. Times New Roman, size 12 font, default margins / The essay is typed, follows question/answer interview format, 3 characters are interviewed, however is a little disorganized and contains some spelling and grammar errors, Times New Roman, size 12 font, default margins / The essay is typed, however less than 3 characters are interviewed, proper interview format is not followed, is disorganized, confusing, and contains many spelling and grammar errors, Does not follow font or margins / The essay is not typed, less than 2 characters are interviewed, lacks organization, is confusing, and has many spelling and grammar errors, Does not follow font or margins
Analysis /Content
25 points / The Analysis is in depth and demonstrates a complete understanding of the plot and characters of the movie / The analysis is detailed and shows an adequate understanding of the plot and characters of the movie / The analysis lacks detail and shows a very brief understanding of the plot and characters / The analysis is totally lacking, and shows little to no understanding of the plot and characters
Questions
25 points / The essay fully and completely answers all of the questions of the assignment / The essay answers all of the questions in a satisfactory manner / The essay is lacking 1 interview questions / The essay is lacking more than 1 interview question