Thinking about the Text >
1. Write a one-paragraph SUMMARY of Bernardin's review, being sure to identify
his criteria for evaluation and the extent to which he claims the movie did or did
not satisfy them.
2. Do you find Bernardin's TONE authoritative? Why or why not? How does
Bernardin establish his own AUTHORITY and CREDIBILITY or fail to do so?
Point to specific parts of the text to support your response.
3. What assumptions does Bernardin make about his AUDIENCE and the things they
are familiar with? How do you know? You might start by considering the
vocabulary he uses and the topics he mentions as he discusses the film.
4. How does Bernardin frame his review? In other words, how does the review open,
and how does Bernardin use this OPENING to make a crucial point about the
significant achievement of Black Panther?
5. Bernardin states that he has two main criteria for reviewing Black Panther: "what it
is” and “what it means." Think of a movie, book, television show, concert-
anything—that represents an important milestone, either for you personally or to
the larger culture it impacted. Write a REVIEW in which you evaluate not just
what this significant thing “is” but also what it “means." Be sure to state your
CRITERIA clearly and use EVIDENCE to support your claims.