You will write a Research Paper over a film picked from the list below. You will use supporting scholarly sources to develop and support your individual assessment based on the assignment criteria.
Why are you doing this? Throughout this semester, you have learned elements of critical thinking and have become familiar with specific issues in psychological research methods that affect the conclusions that can be drawn from research data. Additionally, you have demonstrated your ability to critically review, analyze, consolidate, and present information to your peers in a manner that is understandable while retaining accuracy. This final project serves as a capstone and provides you with an opportunity to weave all these various threads of research, analysis, critical thought, and presentation together.
Make sure you read the instructions very carefully. Ask questions early. Do not wait until the last minute to ask questions. Waiting until the last moment to ask questions is an excellent way to fail the paper.
Information Literacy Project: Film Review
Watch and analyze any one of the following films in relation to information in your textbook concerning mental health disorders, and locate at least two (2) scholarly supporting articles you may find through research—
Important Note: I will allow substitutions to the movies listed with prior approval. Just discuss it with me early enough in the semester so that we can ensure you have plenty of time to watch the movie and write your paper.
The following titles are no longer available as film choices:
- All the Bright Places (2001)
- Beautiful Boy (2018)
- Good Will Hunting (1997)
- Inside Out (2015)
- Inside Out 2 (2024)
- Joker (2019)
- Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
- Rain Man (1988)
- Split (2016)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Approved Film List
The following films have been pre-approved by me for this project. I update this list at the end of each semester. Check back to ensure you have the latest list of choices for your paper.
- 9 (2009) [Animated Film]
Rated PG-13 for violence and scary images. - A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, sexual content, and a scene of violence. - Black Swan (2010)
Rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use. - Collateral Beauty (2016)
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language. - Contamination (2013)
Not Rated - “Contamination – A short film by R. Shanea Williams” is available for viewing at https://vimeo.com/120979833
- Dead Poets Society (1989)
Rated PG for sexual innuendo, smoking, brief partial nudity, strong language, and suicide. - Fight Club (1999)
Rated R for disturbing and graphic depiction of violent anti-social behavior, sexuality, and language. - Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Rated R for strong language and war violence, and sexual references. - Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Rated R for strong language and content relating to drugs, sexuality and suicide. - Gone Girl (2014)
Rated R for a scene of bloody violence, some strong sexual content/nudity, and language. - If Anything Happens I Love You (2020) [Animated Film]
Rated PG for strong thematic material involving gun violence. - Minor Premise (2020)
Not Rated. - Mirrormask (2005)
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements and scary images. - One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Rated R for sex and nudity, violence and gore, profanity, alcohol, drugs and smoking, and frightening and intense scenes. - Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Rated R for intense prolonged realistically graphic sequences of war violence, and for language - Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity. - Sucker Punch (2011)
Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexuality, violence and combat sequences, and for language. - The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) [NOTE: This film is in French with subtitles.]
Rated PG-13 for nudity, sexual content, and some language. - The Fisher King (1991)
Rated R for language and violence. - The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
Rated PG-13 for brief violent images. - The Piano Teacher (2001) [NOTE: This film is in French with subtitles.]
Rated R for aberrant sexuality including violence, and for language. - The Scribbler (2014)
Rated R for violent images, some strong sexuality/nudity, and language. - The Soloist (2009)
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some drug use and language. - What Dreams May Come (1998)
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving death, some disturbing images and language. - X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
— Note: Any of the Wolverine movies [except the Deadpool & Wolverine movie] could be used for a similar analysis
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some partial nudity.
If you cannot find any of these on streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.), copies may be found in a local library. Due to potential availability issues, I recommend that you try to watch the films as early in the semester as possible to get a head start. If you have questions about a particular film’s availability, ask me early. I am more than happy to help or determine an alternative if necessary. Do not wait until the last moment.
You may watch the movies in groups with other people and talk about it as you watch. However, it is considered a violation of the honor code if you simply copy someone else’s list in part or whole.
Brief Instructions
After watching the film, in at least 4-6 pages:
- Write a very brief summary of the movie (2-4 paragraphs). Give me some clear evidence that you watched it.
- Write a description of how of the psychological disorder that was portrayed.
- Write a critical analysis of how accurate or inaccurate you found the portrayal of the disorder. Show evidence of your knowledge of the psychological disorder/mental illness (e., include information from class, textbook, and/or references).
Verbose Instructions
- Your paper must use at least two (2) scholarly works for support. You may use more.
- You are required to have, at least, Introduction, Sources, and Discussion sections—including any appropriate Headings—for your paper. (You do NOT need the Abstract Skip that!)
- Introduction: At least 2-4 paragraphs introducing your film, including a summary of the film and your proposed conclusions as to the psychological disorder and/or therapy that is the topic of your research.
- Remember: An Introduction does not have a Heading under the APA Style Guide.
- Sources: This is an analysis of the credibility and validity of both of your scholarly articles in support of your subsequent Discussion. This should be at least two (2) paragraphs per source.
- Discussion: This is the meat of your paper that lays out your argument for your perspective. It will use quotes and/or paraphrasing from all of your sources. This will make up the remaining page count for the paper. I recommend that it be at least two (2) full pages.
- The page and paragraph counts above are suggested minimums. You are free to write as much as you want. I prefer that you not write a 15-page paper, but I will accept it.
Each submission requires APA standards: (1) cover page, (2) proper formatting, and (3) reference page. The cover page and reference page are not included in your final page count.
You can find information about how to approach each of these correctly at the Purdue OWL website on the fifth page of this syllabus. If you have questions about APA formatting, ask me early. I am more than happy to help. Do not wait until the last moment.
Learning Objectives
After completing this assignment, you should be able to
- Review, analyze, and defend a conclusion in relation to the presentation of a mental illness or therapy in a film using supporting sources [CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4]
Objectives in Relation to the APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major
Overall, the Information Literacy Project and Final Paper reflects one of the objects of this course which is to teach you how to demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, obtain and review scholarly material [APA-GUPM2.0 §2.2].
It also provides evidence of the following objectives:
- Engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem solving [APA-GUPM2.0 §2.3]
- Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes [APA-GUPM2.0 §4..1]
- Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes [APA-GUPM2.0 §4.2]
- Exhibit self-efficacy and self-regulation [APA-GUPM2.0 §5.2]
- Refine project-management skills [APA-GUPM2.0 §5.3]
Updated: 08/2025