Textbook Passage of the Massacre at Wounded Knee:
For this assignment we were given multiple different primary and secondary sources about the Wounded Knee Massacre. After annotating and gaining many different perspectives from the massacre we were required to create a text book passage about this event in history. In order to gain a clear understanding of what happened in a point and time in history it is important to read primary and secondary sources or watch a film because a textbook can leave information out that would give a clear insight on what happened.
Film Reaction to the film: Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
After watching the film Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee we were required to use a critical eye and analyze the narrative and re-telling of the time period in history.
For this assignment we were required to write an in class film reaction essay from one of the following prompts/ options:
Option 1: Connect the film to the primary sources you read and make a claim about its effectiveness in relaying
the history. Although you would have to study a lot more to really evaluate the historical accuracy of the
film, you should still be able to make a claim about the degree to which the film captures the events as you
understood them in your inquiry. Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your
perspective.
Option 2: Discuss how the film reflects both the “American” and Sioux ideologies of the time period. Draw
connections between the ideologies represented by the documents you read, as well as the ideologies of the
film’s characters as manifested in their words and actions. Use specific examples from the film and the primary
sources to support your perspective.
Option 3: Write an essay attempts to answer the question: How can film teach us about history without being
perfectly accurate? Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective.
Option 4: Analyze the filmmakers’ narrative choices and connect them to your understanding of Wounded Knee
that you developed during your inquiry. (Think about characterization, plot, setting/mise-en-scéne1
tone/mood, etc.). Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective.
Option 5: Develop an alternative idea around a claim you are inspired to make about the film. Check in with
me about your proposed claim before you start writing! Whatever you choose, you must use specific examples
from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective!
In our essay we were required to draw specific connections from the film and use other emerging knowledge about this event. I chose to write my essay based of Option 3.
For this assignment we were required to write an in class film reaction essay from one of the following prompts/ options:
Option 1: Connect the film to the primary sources you read and make a claim about its effectiveness in relaying
the history. Although you would have to study a lot more to really evaluate the historical accuracy of the
film, you should still be able to make a claim about the degree to which the film captures the events as you
understood them in your inquiry. Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your
perspective.
Option 2: Discuss how the film reflects both the “American” and Sioux ideologies of the time period. Draw
connections between the ideologies represented by the documents you read, as well as the ideologies of the
film’s characters as manifested in their words and actions. Use specific examples from the film and the primary
sources to support your perspective.
Option 3: Write an essay attempts to answer the question: How can film teach us about history without being
perfectly accurate? Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective.
Option 4: Analyze the filmmakers’ narrative choices and connect them to your understanding of Wounded Knee
that you developed during your inquiry. (Think about characterization, plot, setting/mise-en-scéne1
tone/mood, etc.). Use specific examples from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective.
Option 5: Develop an alternative idea around a claim you are inspired to make about the film. Check in with
me about your proposed claim before you start writing! Whatever you choose, you must use specific examples
from the film and the primary sources to support your perspective!
In our essay we were required to draw specific connections from the film and use other emerging knowledge about this event. I chose to write my essay based of Option 3.