School Ties - Friday, May 9

Today your job is to analyze the big idea in the film School Ties. What was the writer/producer/director trying to comment on humanity? After you figure out an answer to that question, analyze HOW that was portrayed in the film. Use characters, setting, plot events, conversations and images/symbolism to support the big idea you've chosen. Remember, there can be more than one message taken from a long text (film) that applies to humanity.

While I was viewing the film, I wrote down a few lines that I thought would be important (since I knew the ending and had viewed the whole film, this was easier for me to determine importance). You may want to quote a few of these characters in support of your big idea.

Dad to David - "Do you want this life?" (as they're leaving the plant)
Dad's last words to David - "Make us proud."
Coach to David - "Don't tell people anymore than they need to know."
One of the guys on the football team - "Everybody knows not to go on someone else's turf, right?"
Symbol - removing the star of David necklace before showering.
Dillon to David - "You people are very determined."
Headmaster - "Was it worth it? Breaking a tradition to win a game?" David replied, "Your tradition or mine?" (on the Jewish holiday)
Dillon to David - "If you get what you want, you'll deserve it. If you don't, you'll manage."

Paragraph One: Attention getter/lead that hooks the reader. Mention the film title and basic plot and characters. Thesis for your paper is the big idea of the film. Example: The film School Ties reminds viewers that having honor and respect for a personal belief system is more important than falling into the crowd.

Paragraph Two +: Support your big idea with examples from the film. I would start proving my thesis above by talking about how David was originally told to hide his religion and how that started to cause problems in his life when people found out about it.

Paragraph 3 or final paragraph: Conclusion. Wrap up your major point (to prove the big idea of the film). Briefly retouch what you've talked about, and then leave us with a clincher.