Engl 222 Evaluation/Assessment Rubric Critical Analysis Essay, with check mark along a scale of Excellent to Weak, and comments to supplement my notes and queries on the hard copies of your work:

Initial Criteria for Critical Analysis Essay:                                          Excellent    Very Good-Good    Competent-Fair    Weak
Note: Ultimately the evaluation of your work is holistic,
and therefore also intends to register the different, nuanced,
unexpected and evocative effects of your critical reflection,
exploration, creative expression/affect, and engagement
with learning and discovery.

1. Strengths/quality of perceptiveness, precision, and
understanding demonstrated in optional close analysis of
shots—this analysis may include some attention to
mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound, as well
as action, character (development), plot and story

2. Critical Analysis’s strength and clarity of (hypo)thesis/focus

3. Understanding of the film’s overall narrative arc and what
its story works through or aims to do or achieve—this may
include cultural/social/historical conflicts and questions, and
to what degree the film seems to answer or resolve such questions.

4. Critical Analysis’s cohesive and coherent development,
 logical organization, including well-structured paragraphs
 with clear points and compelling, specific support/evidence
 in relation to selected aspects of the sequence situated in relation
to the film as a whole or to specific other parts of the film.

5. Critical Analysis Essay’s depth/complexity, including
explanation and exploration of problems/methods/contexts
for understanding selected facets of the film—including
 recognition of conflicts/contradictions (ideological/rhetorical/
formal) as well as creativity and sense of discovery/affective
engagement conveyed—the articulated sense of “what’s at stake,
why it matters”

6. Optional incorporation of critical perspectives drawn
from review-essays, video essays, and our film history
text, integrated into your essay to support and to develop
your analysis

7. Effective sentences, syntax, verbs, diction,
punctuation, complexity, and suitable style: academic,
critical, appropriate to your understanding of the
materials/subjects; avoids clichés and trite expressions, avoids
overusing prepositional phrases, appropriately concise