Assessment Two


Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade Defends Charlie



100 Points Possible

In this scene from the film Scent of a Woman, Frank, played by Al Pacino, defends the character of his young temporary assistant, Charlie, played by Chris O'Donnell. Charlie was a witness to an act of vandalism to the prized car of the Dean of the prep school he attends and is now faced with either fingering the accomplices or being kicked out of Baird.

Watch the scene carefully, Pacino's monologue up to 4:54.

Once you've watched the artifact, please respond to and discuss these items:
  1. Identify the nature of proof in Frank's monologue, siting evidence he used in Charlie's defense. 15 Points
  2. Of the four styles of dramatic or vicarious proof, which did Frank exploit to turn attitudes around about Charlie? How did this style function in terms of reason? 25 Points
  3. What cultural myths or images were employed to increase the appeal of Frank's argument? How did this influence his attempted shift of opinion? 20 Points
  4. Which of Reich's parables apply or applies to Frank's reasoning? 5 Points
  5. What was Frank's reasoning in terms of logical appeal? 10 Points
  6. How did Frank's paralinguistics impact his expression and the meaning of his words? Please give specific examples – three will do. 25 Points

Due midnight, July 22nd. Please post your responses to your blog.

Assessment One


Review the artifact, God Made a Farmer, and then make application of theories we've been discussing in class in the stems below:
  1. Identify what you feel are the ethics of the presentation. What does the narrator lend to its ethics?  
  2. Identify central and peripheral route attempts of the film. 
  3. Define the proofs - pathos, logos, and ethos - that function in the narrative.
  4. Discuss the epistemic perspective of the proofs you've identified and how these function to reach the communicative effects of the film. 
  5. Discuss the narrative perspective of the proofs you've identified and how these function to reach the communicative effects of the film. 
  6. Identify one of Reich's cultural parables in the social and cultural context of the commercial. 
  7. Discuss how any of Marwell & Schmitt's Taxonomy of 16 Influences relate to the commercial's objectives. What are the objectives?
  8. Apply how the motivational process premises (remember, there are four) create the appeals presented in the commercial.
  9. From a "Needs" premise, which of Packer's compelling needs best relates?
  10. From an "Attitudes" premise, what values are extorted visually to resonate within the attitudes, beliefs or opinions of the audience?  
Post your responses to your blog by Thursday, June 25th.