Movie/Documentary or Book Review

The movie/documentary or book review is one of the most fundamental components of academic discourse. Because there are far more movie/documentaries/books than anyone can watch or read in their general field, the summaries of and commentaries on new works provide essential guides to scholars at all levels. This assignment provides an opportunity to explore the process of creating a short video movie/documentary/book review. To complete this assignment, you will select one of the movies/documentaries/books below, view or read it independently and create a 3-5 minute review on video.

Powerpoints with or without voiceover, Word Documents, and PDFs will NOT be accepted. You can use a Powerpoint in your video, but it MUST be a video. I should be able to press play to watch your video. 

Finally, post your movie, documentary or book review in our Movie, Documentary or Book Review Gallery Walk and look through at least 10 of your classmates’ video postings. Post a comment to at least 2 classmates with these prompts:

• I like….
• I wonder…

So, What Is a Video Movie/Documentary or Book Review?

This assignment requires the student to visit MDC LibrariesLinks to an external site. and log in to access a movie, documentary or book.

Ultimately, a video movie, documentary or book review serves the same function as a written book review. It:

• Provides, the title, author(s) and a brief synopsis of the movie, documentary or book content
• Evaluate the author’s intentions. What is the author’s primary purpose? What does he or she hope to communicate to the viewer or reader?
• Highlight its key strengths and weaknesses
• Calls attention to its scholarly value and relationship to equity and social justice.
• Gives an opinion (See sample reflection questions below.)

Additionally, you will include a reflection that considers the following critical        questions (You do not need to take each question individually and answer it.):

• What does this have to do with me?
• How could I explain these concepts to others (parents, students, peers, colleagues, etc.)?
• What emotions are conjured up as I read? What’s that about?
• What can I change about my practice, curricula, relationships, and policies?
• How can I use this to center my teaching on my most marginalized students?
• How does this connect with previous things I’ve learned?
• How much more is there to learn?
• Who can I share this with?
• How can I lead my peers in taking up this work?

Movie/Documentary Review List:

• How the World Learns now | KanopyLinks to an external site.
• America Divided now | KanopyLinks to an external site.
• Creating Gender Inclusive Schools now | Kanopy Links to an external site.
• Stolen Education now | Kanopy Links to an external site.
• Tim Wise: On White Privilege now | KanopyLinks to an external site.
• In God We Trust: Religion now | KanopyLinks to an external site. 
• The Skeptic’s Guide to American History now | KanopyLinks to an external site.

 Book Review List:

1. “Multiplication is for White People”: Raising Expectations for Other People’s ChildrenLinks to an external site.
2. Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the ClassroomLinks to an external site.
3. Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About RaceLinks to an external site.
4. How to be an AntiracistLinks to an external site.
5. The Skin That We Speak: Thoughts on Language and Culture in the ClassroomLinks to an external site.
6. Teaching When the World Is on FireLinks to an external site.
7. Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can DoLinks to an external site.
8. How the Garcia Girls Lost Their AccentsLinks to an external site.
9. About Gender Identity Justice in Schools and CommunitiesLinks to an external site.
10. The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our FutureLinks to an external site.
11. Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good PeopleLinks to an external site.
12. En Comunidad: Lessons for Centering the Voices and Experiences of Bilingual Latinx StudentsLinks to an external site.
13. For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban EducationLinks to an external site.
14. Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in SchoolsLinks to an external site.
15. Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids’ Brains and What Schools Can Do About ItLinks to an external site.
16. We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to BeLinks to an external site.
17. Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive ClassroomLinks to an external site.
18. The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in AmericaLinks to an external site.
19. Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in AmericaLinks to an external site.
20. Words Were All We Had: Becoming Biliterate Against the OddsLinks to an external site.
21. I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the WorldLinks to an external site.
22. American Like MeLinks to an external site.
23. The Hate U GiveLinks to an external site.