Write a film analysis paper regarding interpersonal communications on the film Sling Blade with Billy Bob Thornton
The textbook we use for this course is: Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies
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CMST 1565 Interpersonal Communication
Film Analysis Paper (100 points)
You will write a 2-3 page paper (double spaced, APA style) analyzing one or more of the relationships in
a film using theories and concepts discussed in class and in your textbook.
Focus on the content from Chapter 7: Communication and Relationships, but you are welcome to use
other scholarly resources as well (only the textbook is required). You may also want to take a look at
content in other chapters such as conflict, emotions, and self-disclosure in Chapter 6: Interpersonal
Communication Processes.
Describe some of the dynamics of a relationship in the film and how that relationship was either
successful or unsuccessful and why. Feel free to choose one of the relationships that was not obvious
(i.e. a relationship between two minor characters or even a major character with a minor character).
Please do not give me a summary of the movie. Assume that I have seen it and am not looking for a
review. The purpose of this assignment is for you to theoretically analyze the film as an interpersonal
scholar of communication studies, so focus on the characters and their behaviors in the relationship (see
rubric for specific details).
Not sure what to write about? Here's a little advice:
 Take me through the stages of the relationship (7.1 Foundations of Relationships). Tell me what
happens between the two characters at each stage in order to identify that stage and how the
relationship moves through the stages.
 Describe their verbal and nonverbal behaviors in the stages (If you need help with that, look to
Chapter 3: Verbal Communication and Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication.)
 Tell me what type of relationship it is and explain some details. Check out 7.2 Communication
and Friends or 7.3 Communication and Families or 7.4 Romantic Relationships.
APA Guidelines
If you’re not familiar with APA style, the Online Writing Lab (OWL) of Purdue University will be a great
resource for you. There’s a lot of information on that website though, so I’ll narrow it down here by
telling you what I want to see in your paper.
 Title Page
o Title of paper, author’s name, college name, semester and year (Spring 2016)
 Main Body (2-3 pages)
o Double-spaced, includes in-text citations when quoting or paraphrasing other sources
 References Page
o Here’s the exact format for a book and a movie (that’s all you need for this paper):
Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.
Producer, P. P. (Producer), & Director, D. D. (Director). (Date of publication). Title of motion picture
[Motion picture]. Country of origin: Studio or distributor.