Comparative Study
The Comparative Study makes up 30% of your overall IB grade. This task requires students to create a 10 minutes multimedia production documentary.
Students at SL carry out research into a chosen area of film focus, identifying and comparing two films from within that area and presenting their discoveries as a recorded multimedia comparative study.
Each student submits the following for assessment.
Students at SL carry out research into a chosen area of film focus, identifying and comparing two films from within that area and presenting their discoveries as a recorded multimedia comparative study.
Each student submits the following for assessment.
- A recorded multimedia comparative study (10 minutes maximum).
- A list of all sources used.
Comparative Study Lesson Sequence:
Starting on the first day of Semester Four (Y2--January), the focus of IB Film will be placed primarily on the Comparative Study process. Each lesson will help students navigate through the CS, examining every element that the CS touches upon throughout the assessment process. Starting with Lesson 3, each lesson will be reviewed and work will be completed during the designated week. All course content and assignment details are located within the lessons.
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Examples of possible CS topics:
Here is a list of sources that students can investigate and use during the CS process. Check them out:
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Comparative Study: Rubric and Markbands
Assessment Process
In preparation for this task, students at SL and HL must have undertaken the activities outlined within the “Contextualizing film” section as part of the core syllabus. Students then undertake the following process for assessment.
Inquiry
Action
Reflection
In preparation for this task, students at SL and HL must have undertaken the activities outlined within the “Contextualizing film” section as part of the core syllabus. Students then undertake the following process for assessment.
Inquiry
- Each student carries out broad research, using both primary and secondary sources, in order to investigate possible areas of film focus and films for comparison from within the areas of film focus, using materials from a range of sources, including original films, critiques, publications and other media. Each student decides the selection of the task components, which includes a clearly defined topic for the comparative study (which in most cases is likely to be expressed in the form of a research question). Each student defines the cultural context of the selected films and justifies why these task components were chosen for the comparative study.
- Each student undergoes a process of comparing and contrasting their selected films (and carrying out further focused research into the task components) in order to deepen their understanding of each film. It is likely that the student will consider the ways in which film elements work together to convey meaning in their analysis of how the selected films compare and contrast.
Action
- Each student assembles their findings, developing a personal and critically reflective perspective, and identifies and gathers appropriate audio-visual material to support the study.
- As a result of the inquiry and action processes outlined above, each student prepares a recorded multimedia comparative study (10 minutes maximum) for submission, ensuring a balance between visual and spoken elements, while making clear reference to their sources as on-screen citations. The primary weight of evidence for the study should be selected from the two chosen films, which should be given equal consideration.
Reflection
- Students reflect on the learning undertaken in this task, and review and refine their comparative study ahead of submission.
Comparative Study: Exemplars
Here are some exemplars of the Comparative Study. Please take note of the IB examiner's grades and notes that provide additional insight into this assessment task.
Your Comparative Study: A How To Guide
The Task:
Your Comparative Study assessment piece should have the following elements:
- A 10 minute multimedia presentation (MP4)
- A list of all sources used
Film focus
For this task, students select an area of film focus that interests and excites them from one of the following.
- Film movements (such as French New Wave, German expressionism, Third Cinema, and so on)
- Film genre and film style (such as film noir, romantic comedy, science fiction, Western, and so on)
- Film theory (such as auteur theory, feminism, Marxist film theory, and so on)
Cultural context
For this assessment task, cultural context involves consideration of some of the following factors, some of which may be blended (such as socio-economic factors).
- Economic
- Geographical
- Historical
- Institutional
- Political
- Social
- Technological
Preparation process
The early stages of this task require students to carry out research into film concepts, theories, practices and ideas that interest and excite them, and that will ensure maximum potential for meeting the needs of the assessment task criteria. From this research, they identify the task components for a recorded multimedia comparative study.
Task Details:
The comparative study is a recorded multimedia presentation (10 minutes maximum) comprising sound and images. The selection and assembly of the material for submission is an important aspect of the task, and students should ensure that information is communicated clearly, logically and audibly in a visually appropriate manner.
In this task, the examiner is looking for evidence of the extent to which students are able to demonstrate an understanding of the following.
- The task components selected for the study (the area of film focus, two films and the topic), which should include the cultural context of the selected films and a justification of why these components were chosen for the comparative study. The work should be supported throughout with accurate and appropriate film vocabulary.
- The links that exist between the selected films, as well as the student’s ability to identify connections, similarities and differences while relating these back to the chosen area of film focus. It is likely that the student will consider the ways in which film elements work together to convey meaning in their analysis of how the selected films compare and contrast. Students should ensure they give equal weight to both of the films selected for study in their analysis.
- How to effectively construct a comparative study in order to present the work undertaken clearly, logically and in a visually appropriate manner. The study should be supported by a suitable range of relevant sources.
Recorded commentary
The comparative study must contain a recording of the student’s voice throughout, introducing the study and justifying the chosen topic and selected films, as well as providing the commentary for the main body of the work. This voiced commentary may be recorded numerous times until the student is happy with the material. Students may also, if they choose, use a pre-written script (which must be the student’s own work) to be read, recorded and edited into the comparative study. They may also include breaks in their recorded commentary to enable other audio-visual material included in the study to be clearly heard, and likewise should reduce the volume of audio-visual material during the recorded commentary to ensure it is entirely audible.
Please note: The student must not appear on screen at any time in the comparative study.
The Plan:
This file includes a comprehensive planning guide and template to use to begin your CS process.
comparative_study_planning_template.docx | |
File Size: | 72 kb |
File Type: | docx |
The Topic:
The subject of your Comparative Study should include these required task components:
- An area of film focus
- Film 1
- Film 2
- The CS topic
There are sample Comparative Study example subject/topics provided above. Here is one of those examples:
- Film Movement--German Expressionism
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
- Edward Scissorhands (1990)
- The representation of social pressure and "the outcast"
If you follow this format, you will be able to start your CS research and writing as well as creating your black slate that starts your CS multimedia presentation.
Screenwriting:
You will want to write the script for the CS before you produce the video. The best format to use is the Audio/Visual Screenplay. This format not only has the audio portion of what will be said, but also includes the video imagery/footage used. To gain a better understanding of the format and what this looks like, please refer to these files:
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Producing the CS Video Essay
Once you have the script all written and planned out, it is time to begin producing the video. Here is a comprehensive guide that explains the CS production process and all of the elements you need to address and consider when creating your video essay.
producing_your_videessay_-_cs-compressed.pdf | |
File Size: | 3857 kb |
File Type: |
The Black Slate:
The comparative study must begin with a 10-second black slate (included in the total time limit) that clearly states the chosen task components using on-screen text. The student’s recorded commentary, which begins simultaneously with the black slate, should address the justification of these task components.
TASK COMPONENTS
- Area of film focus
- Titles of the two films for comparison
- The chosen topic
Follow either of these examples:
Use of Audio-Visual Material and Copyright:
On-screen text, keynote slides, still images, animations, audio recordings and carefully selected and relevant clips from the selected films are all permitted within the comparative study, where appropriate. The primary weight of audio-visual evidence must come from the two chosen films and the student’s recorded voice. While the length of film clips a student can use is not dictated, the clip length should directly match the specific point being made by the student in the recorded commentary.
- Each student must use legal copies of their two chosen films in order to extract the video or audio content for editing into the comparative study. Once the final comparative study has been submitted for assessment to the IB, each student must ensure that the extracted media files are destroyed.
- Students must be aware that their work is solely for academic purposes and that they are not permitted to share or distribute any copyright-protected content used in the comparative study outside of the IB without the express written consent of the copyright holder(s).
- Students are required to clearly reference the two chosen films in the submitted list of sources.
- It is the responsibility of the student to obtain, extract and delete any copyright materials used for this task.
Academic Honesty and On-Screen Citation:
All sources must be acknowledged following the protocol of the referencing style chosen by the school.
- If a student uses work, ideas or images belonging to another person in the comparative study, the student must acknowledge the source as an on-screen citation during the submitted multimedia study, either as a voiced reference as part of the recorded commentary or as on-screen text.
- Students must also submit a separate list of these sources using a standard style of referencing in a consistent manner.
- A student’s failure to appropriately acknowledge a source used in the recorded multimedia comparative study (as outlined in the “Use of audio-visual material and copyright” section), will be investigated by the IB as a potential breach of regulations that may result in a penalty imposed by the IB final award committee.
The Works Cited Page
The Works Cited page is an assessment requirement. Here are two files that will show you exactly how to format and create your WC document.
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Here are three examples of the CS Works Cited page. Please follow this format and save this document as a PDF.
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You will be submitting this document as a PDF following this file naming protocol:
Last Name_First Name_Cohort_CSWS
If your name is Sanjay Kumar the file name would look like this:
Kumar_Sanjay_M2019_CSWS
Last Name_First Name_Cohort_CSWS
If your name is Sanjay Kumar the file name would look like this:
Kumar_Sanjay_M2019_CSWS
Preparing For Submission:
Before you finalize your film and export it, make sure you are following these guidelines and IB requirements. If your video does not adhere to these directions IB will not assess your work.
Submitting Your Comparative Study
Preparing the work for submission.
The comparative study should adopt a formal, academic register and may be delivered in the first person, as appropriate, presenting the student’s personal opinion and perspective as a film student.
The finished comparative study will be submitted online. Students must ensure that their recorded voiceover is clear and audible, and that any text is legible when viewed on screen. Overcrowded or inaudible materials may result in examiners being unable to interpret and understand the intentions of the work, which will result in the examiner being unable to reward the full scope of the work. Where appropriate, students may use subtitles to facilitate understanding.
The comparative study must not be labelled with the student’s name in order to ensure anonymity in the marking process.
Students should be informed that where the submitted materials exceed the maximum time limit for the comparative study, examiners will only assess the work that falls within the prescribed limits. Materials that fall under the minimum time limit are likely to be self-penalising. Submitted work must not contain any appendices as these will not be read by examiners.
You will be submitting the 10 minute multimedia video as an MP4 following this file naming protocol:
Last Name_First Name_Cohort_CSWS
If your name is Sanjay Kumar the file name would look like this:
Kumar_Sanjay_M2019_CSWS
The comparative study should adopt a formal, academic register and may be delivered in the first person, as appropriate, presenting the student’s personal opinion and perspective as a film student.
The finished comparative study will be submitted online. Students must ensure that their recorded voiceover is clear and audible, and that any text is legible when viewed on screen. Overcrowded or inaudible materials may result in examiners being unable to interpret and understand the intentions of the work, which will result in the examiner being unable to reward the full scope of the work. Where appropriate, students may use subtitles to facilitate understanding.
The comparative study must not be labelled with the student’s name in order to ensure anonymity in the marking process.
Students should be informed that where the submitted materials exceed the maximum time limit for the comparative study, examiners will only assess the work that falls within the prescribed limits. Materials that fall under the minimum time limit are likely to be self-penalising. Submitted work must not contain any appendices as these will not be read by examiners.
You will be submitting the 10 minute multimedia video as an MP4 following this file naming protocol:
Last Name_First Name_Cohort_CSWS
If your name is Sanjay Kumar the file name would look like this:
Kumar_Sanjay_M2019_CSWS
Also, you will need to download the 6FCAF form, sign it, and submit it to your teacher as a PDF document. The form has been made available below: Students will need to look over the form and fill out the following areas:
Save the file using the following format:
Last Name_First Name_Cohort_6FCAF Smith_John_M2019_TAA |
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comparative_study_checklist_with_submission_guidance_m2020.docx | |
File Size: | 29 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Comparative Study Post-Submission Reflection:
Now is the time to write a reflection on these three major moments of your Comparative Study process. You will need to provide insight into your journey in executing this submission piece. For each of the three sections students will write 80-100 words detailing your process. This can include:
Section 1: (80-100 words)--Finding a Focus
At the end of this week, students will submit this document to their teacher. What you write in this document will be used by the teacher to write the Film—Coursework Authentication Form.
Section 1: (80-100 words)--Finding a Focus
- Understanding the Comparative Study assessment
- Finding a film theory or concept to focus on
- Justification for selecting the chosen films
- How you went about your research and analysis
- Continuation of research and analysis
- Making connections or comparisons with the films
- Viewing the films using the lens of film theory or concept
- Strategies for structuring the presentation
- Writing the A/V screenplay
- Producing the multimedia presentation
- Incorporation of evidence and citations
- Process of recording sound
- Submission process
At the end of this week, students will submit this document to their teacher. What you write in this document will be used by the teacher to write the Film—Coursework Authentication Form.