Independent+Study


 * Checklist for IS**

Before you submit your final IS, make sure you have done the following. They are essential!

1. Correct length - 12-15 pages higher, 8-10 pages standard 2. Correct format - 12 point courier font, two column with detailed description of audio and visual 3. Correct balance - you are the main narrator of the documentary. All other characters should contribute less than your total narrative. Also, real people should only say things you can reference. 4. Rationale - 100 word rationale explaining what you topic is, what question you address and why you focused on those areas 5. Correct number of films - 4 higher, 2 standard, from at least two cultures 6. Footnotes/endnotes giving references every time you use sources 7. An annotated bibliography. Bibliography including all the sources you used and the films you examined. Use MLA style. See http://www.easybib.com to format the entry See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/02/ for advice on how to create an annotated bibliography

IS General feedback for Y13

This page includes details and assessment criteria for the Independent Study. Additionally, it contains resources which should be used to help you prepare for the Independent Study as well as links to useful and relevant sites.

Content Form Level Specific Details Higher Level HL Requirements HL Criteria Standard Level SL Requirements SL Criteria 

Content
The independent study is worth 25% of the final mark. This component is based on film theory and history, but will also draw to some extent textual analysis. The aim of the independent study is to encourage students to engage in some depth with a cinematic tradition that is unfamiliar to their own culture. Students must produce a script for a complete short documentary production exploring an aspect of film theory or film history, based on the study of films from more than one country. The documentary should be geared to an audience of 14–18-year-old film students. Among the topics students may choose to investigate are:

• genre • theme • direction • use of sound • colour • editing • lighting.

The topic should be discussed primarily in cinematic terms.

The prime voice of the documentary must clearly be that of the student, who will also act as the narrator, on-screen host and/or voice-over. Students must ensure that any comments or ideas they attribute to celebrities or others such as experts are fully supported by detailed references in the annotated list of sources. 

Form
The independent study must be presented in the form of a written dossier composed of the following three items.

• Rationale • Script • Annotated list of sources

The rationale must offer a brief, reasoned explanation of what the concerns of the topic are in no more than 100 words

 =Higher Level= 

Independent study 25%
Students at HL must make reference to a minimum of four films. The chosen films must originate from more than one country. At Higher Level, it is expected that there should be some comparisons drawn between the films chosen.

Rationale, script and list of sources for a short documentary production of 12–15 minutes on an aspect of film theory and/or film history, based on a study of a minimum of four films. The chosen films must originate from more than one country.

Length of the rationale: no more than 100 words.

Length of the script: between 12–15 pages.

Presentation 25%
An oral presentation of a detailed critical analysis of a continuous extract from a prescribed film lasting no longer than 5 minutes.

Maximum length: 15 minutes.

Internal assessment 50%
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IBO at the end of the course.

Production portfolio 50%
One completed film project, with an associated trailer and written documentation encompassing and connecting both.

Length of the film project: between 6-7 minutes [including titles].

Length of the trailer: between 40–60 seconds.

Length of individual rationale: no more than 100 words for the film.

Length of individual rationale for trailer: no more than 100 words.

While the film project may be undertaken as a group project, the associated trailer and all accompanying documentation for both film and trailer must be individually produced.  =Standard Level= Students at SL must make reference to a minimum of two films in their independent study. The chosen films must originate from more than one country. At SL the study will not necessarily be comparative. = =

Independent study 25%
Rationale, script and list of sources for a short documentary production of 8–10 minutes on an aspect of film theory and/or film history, based on a study of a minimum of two films. The chosen films must originate from more than one country.

Length of the rationale: no more than 100 words.

Length of the script: between 8–10 pages.

Presentation 25%
An oral presentation of a detailed critical analysis of a continuous extract from a prescribed film lasting no longer than 5 minutes.

Maximum length: 10 minutes.

Internal assessment 50%
This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IBO at the end of the course.

Production portfolio 50%
One completed film project, with accompanying written documentation.

Length of the film project: between 4-5 minutes [including titles].

Length of individual rationale: no more than 100 words for the film.

While the film project may be undertaken as a group project, all accompanying documentation must be individually produced.