Overall the projects were better than the first projects we have received in previous years. On the whole students understood the key issues of difference between documentary and narratives and the issues of truth and the real in an historical context. Many students also expressed themselves in an articulate fashion, although some felt compelled to use what they take to be  a fancy and impressive academic language  where a simpler form and tone may have conveyed their thoughts more directly. Please note in the projects there is no need for footnotes and bibliographies although these are required for the essay. For those of you who did not put their group number on their project, please do so next time instead of making us look it up for you.

(for in-between grades, the numeric grade is approximately halfway between one grade and the next, ie “tick/tick plus” means that you received approximately 55%, and so on)

Tick minus 50%

If you received this grade then you probably did at least one of the following: You did not develop an argument to support your preference. You tended to offer a series of general observations that were not based on the readings, or the films, and which could have been written by any student without preparation if asked which do you prefer documentaries or narratives. You gave a film review instead of answering the question.

Tick 60%

In general, students who received a tick based their arguments on what left a greater impression (eg. Entertainment value, factuality, educational elements) and the ease of reception of the message. Used criteria of ‘realness’ and ‘truthfulness’ without going into much discussion of what these terms mean. Also some wrote a tick plus analysis, but failed to mention either film, which the question specifically asked you to do.

Tick plus 70%

Students noticed the similarities between what is supposedly a ‘narrative’ and a ‘documentary’ film, and how they both rely on the similar convention of telling a story. Delved deeper into the issue of what makes either one more ‘real’ or ‘truthful’ than the other.

Double tick 80%

Great argumentation and writing of the points mentioned under ‘tick plus’.