Choose a movie from the list below and write a 1300-1500-word minimum essay (excluding the Works Cited) focusing on how a main character exemplifies or fails to demonstrate social responsibility. Evaluate the character’s decisions and actions in the context of historical accuracy, entertainment value, political agenda, cultural impact, and social or economic responsibility. MOVIE NAME: All the President’s Men (1976)
Note: Essays MUST follow this five-section structure. Failing to use this structure will result in a score of zero. Section 1: Introduction
Provide a compelling hook (question, quotation, or statement) to engage the reader.
SECTION 1: Discuss the movie’s historical context, period, setting, and main characters.
Identify which characters are real historical figures and which are fictional.
Use primary sources to enrich the historical context.
End with a thesis statement focusing on the main character’s demonstration of social responsibility.
Section 2: Character Analysis
Examine a main character’s ethical decisions and their impact on society.
Describe the circumstances leading to the character’s actions, their choices, and the consequences.
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4/13/25, 4:05 PM Semester Essay Assignment Instructions and Submission Link Analyze how the character’s actions align with or challenge societal goals or responsibilities.
Use secondary sources to support your discussion.
Section 3: Alternative Choices
Imagine yourself in the character’s position.
Discuss at least one alternative action you might have taken and compare it to the character’s actual choices.
Evaluate which actions align with societal ethics or collective well-being, and justify your reasoning.
Incorporate a primary source to connect your analysis with historical realities.
Section 4: Contemporary Reflection
Consider how you would handle a similar situation today.
Discuss how the historical context shaped the character’s actions compared to modern societal expectations.
Analyze the long-term societal consequences of both the historical and contemporary choices.
Use secondary sources to connect historical and modern contexts.
Section 5: Conclusion
Reiterate your thesis and summarize your key arguments.
Reflect on how the film’s portrayal of social responsibility enhances our understanding of societal ethics and collective well-being, both historically and today.
