Historical Primary Sources

This assignment is to be completed in lieu of the previously assigned research paper for HIS.  Students will write a 4-page critique of the 2011 PBS documentary, The War of 1812 (see the link provided below).  While the paper should BRIEFLY summarize the major content and focus of the documentary, the student is asked to go beyond a mere summary and instead critique the film.  Please address the following questions over the course of your paper.  1.      Summarize the major content and focus of the documentary, and form a clear thesis that pinpoints your overall assessment of the film.  2.     How engaging did you find this documentary, and why?  Support your opinion with specific examples.  How—and to what extent—did this documentary help you to better understand and appreciate the history and stories being presented?  3.     How well did the filmmaker handle the topic and available source material?  4.     Identify at least three different types of historical primary sources that the filmmaker used to help present the history in an engaging manner (e.g. letters, photographs, artwork, etc.).  How effectively were these sources utilized in the documentary, and what did this add to your understanding and appreciation for the subject matter?  5.     Were there any problems or criticisms you had with this documentary?  Is there anything that could have improved it? 6.     What was the most interesting thing you learned from this documentary?  Was their anything that especially surprised you?  7.     Form an original conclusion that addresses why people should care about this documentary and the real-life story it preserves.  This assignment is worth 200 points and is due by midnight (central time) on Friday, December 4, 2020. (Note: I need this done by Wednesday Nov. 11th ! Due to travelling out of the US this week)  Formatting: The paper should be presented using Times New Roman, size twelve font, double-spaced, and with one-inch margins all around.  Please remember to include a full bibliography citation for the documentary at the end of your paper and to use footnotes wherever appropriate.  Video link to The War of 1812. Dirs. Diane Garey and Lawrence Hott. Florentine Films. 2011.