Sitcom Analysis

Prepared by Michele Jeanmarie

Lesson Overview Lesson Details

Combat the vegetative state and engage Subject area(s): English, Composition , students critically while watching a sitcom! Exposition Challenge students to do the following exercise and watch them change their attitude towards Grade Level: High School, Middle School, television-watching. Elementary

Students choose a favorite TV show to critique. Resource Type: Discussion Guide, Primary Source Analysis Students contemplate the Rosary and/or Jesus' life to help. Special Learners Students use the writing method. This resource was developed with the following special learners in mind:

Traditional Classroom Advanced Placement Homeschooled Students Classical Education Gifted Learners

The author of this lesson shared it with other educators within the Sophia Institute for Teachers Catholic Curriculum Exchange. Find more resources and share your own at https://www.SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org. Lesson Plan

Michele Jeanmarie

Sitcom Analysis

Combat vegetative state and engage students critically while watching a sitcom! Challenge students to the following exercise and watch them change their attitude towards television watching.

Directions:

Analyze one of your favorite sitcom, documentary, or movie, cartoon or series, using the following rubric as a guide to develop interpretative skills:

Page 1

Worth …………………………………………………………………15 points

Title of sitcom:

Subtitle, if any:

Genre: (satire, drama, comedy, documentary)

Setting: (where does the story take place)

Main character:

Plot/ conflict: what was the problem:

Date of episode:

Syndication/ channel:

Time aired:

Page 2

Worth …………………………………………………………………15 points

Summary: briefly restate the story in complete sentences. Use proper language conventions.

Page 3

Worth …………………………………………………………………35 points

Analysis of the story:

Development of the character: how did the main character change from the beginning, to the middle, to the end of the story? (Hint: How did the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life evolve)?

How did the plot influence the development of the character? In other words, how did the problem change the character? (Hint: In thinking of the Joyful Mystery, how did the annunciation affect Mary’s life)?

Symbolism: was there something shown at the beginning of the story that allowed you to predict the outcome or the end? Were there any other symbolisms? What were their meanings?

(Hint: In thinking of the Sorrowful Mystery, the apostles kept falling asleep. How was that symbolic of what came to pass)?

How is the overall story pertinent to your life? If it took place in the past, how is it pertinent to today? Does the story restate, highlight, or solve any of our problems in the world?

Page 4

What was your favorite line? Why?

Which line could have been omitted? Why?

Cite any new words you learned? What is its connotative definition? What is its denotative definition?

In what tense does the story take place: present tense, past tense, future tense, a combination, or flashback? Cite examples.

Cover Page

“Name of Show”

Name

Name of School

Teacher’s Name

Grade

Date

Sitcom Analysis by Michele Jeanmarie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.