50:169 Doctors in Film

Writing assignments

Students may choose from one of the following options for the writing component of the course:

  • Three 2-3 page response/reaction papers to individual films. These are due the week after the film. A response/reaction paper allows the student to develop her or his thoughts about specific aspects or themes of a film, such as how the movie depicts physicians' values and behavior; the senses in which the doctor is "hero" (or anti-hero?); insights into historical contexts of medical practice or institutions; or any other thoughtful topic.
  • OR a final 5-6 page paper in which a theme of the course is explored by contrasts and comparisons across more than one of the films viewed. A separate handout for this assignment will be provided in class. The final paper is due May 1, to 1-108 MEB.

Formatting and source citations

Please prepare your response/reaction papers or your final paper using these guidelines:

  • typed, double-spaced, using 12-point type and leaving 1" right and left hand margins.
  • put your name and the course number (50:169) and the date in the upper right hand corner of the first page
  • give your essay a title that alerts the reader to the subject of your response/final paper. Try to use more than the film title!
  • if you refer to any sources other than the film itself, such as materials on the course website, other websites or other texts, you MUST provide a citation to the source! Use either a brief in-line citation or a footnote/endnote format and follow the text with the list of sources consulted. Any response that includes plagiarised material will result in a "U" for the course.

Good papers: permission to post...

I will request permission from students to post excellent response/reaction papers on the course website for other students to read in this class and in future ones. All papers will be posted with the student author as copywrite holder. Students may specify whether they would like their responses to be available in the open or password-protected area of the website.


Carver College of Medicine
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