Red Dog Text Response Essay Your task is to write a text response essay on the film Red Dog. An essay is a

structured and detailed analytical response that answers a set question. To write a

successful essay, you must do the following:

1. Write in a formal and structured manner, including the use of TEEL.

2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the text through the use of evidence.

3. Provide an argument and analyse the text (and not retell the story!).

First: Read the topic carefully, identify key terms and make sure you understand all

aspects of the topic.

Second: Identify key parts of the text which may be relevant to the topic (What

characters, scenes, events, etc) and gather quotes.

Third: Plan your essay thoroughly (What will be your overall contention? What will be

the focus of each paragraph? What will be each paragraph’s argument? What evidence

will you use?). Remember that this is not about whether you liked the film or not.

Finally: Write your essay, taking care with your writing and using your plan to guide and

develop your response. Remember to proofread and edit your final copy carefully before

submitting.

Final Essay Checklist – have you remembered:

You must have an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

You must use TEEL to structure your paragraphs.

All quotes must be incorporated/blended into your own sentences, and there must

be at least one quote per paragraph.

You must write in the third person.

You must use full words – NO CONTRACTIONS!

You must italicise the title of the film Red Dog, capitalising both words. When needed,

refer to the ‘director’ (Kriv Stenders), not the ‘author’.

You must proofread your work before submitting and catch any spelling mistakes,

typos, etc.

You must choose ONE of the following essay topics to respond to:

1. The miners’ stories explore a range of human emotions, yet ultimately each story

ends in happiness. Discuss with at least three stories from Red Dog.

2. The Cribbages described the town of Dampier as populated by ‘just a bunch of

dirty miners working, drinking and whoring’. How does the Director of the film

prove them wrong?

3. How does the film Red Dog discuss how belonging matters?

4. ‘It is only when we lose something in life, we realise that we truly value it.’ Do

you agree? Discuss with reference to the film Red Dog.

5. How does the filmmaker use filmic techniques such as music, costume, camera

angles and montages to tell the story of Red Dog?

6. “Somebody who is just like all of us; men and women who understand the meaning

of independence, and the importance of a generous heart… And I say that

somebody, damn it, is a dog!” Why is Red Dog important to the community of

Dampier?

Approximate Word Count: 700 words Due Date:

Assessment Criteria

CONTENT

The topic has been understood and an effective strategy has been adopted for the response.

Clear and detailed knowledge of the film is evident.

Every claim made is supported by detailed evidence from the film

Film techniques are explored

The examples are well chosen and neatly integrated.

Quotations are used (minimum of one per body paragraph)

There is complex, thoughtful commentary on the film

STRUCTURE

The essay is clearly structured into paragraphs: Introduction (1 paragraph containing the contention),

Main Body (3-4 paragraphs), Conclusion (1 paragraph to sum up).

Each body paragraph is well organised: Topic sentence, Expand and Explain, Evidence and Examples,

Link back to the contention.

Topic sentences present the main argument of the paragraph, linking to the contention.

The essay targets the topic all the way through, arguing a case and not just telling the story.

The essay flows sensibly from one idea to the next, with effective links between paragraphs.

EXPRESSION

Ideas are fluently expressed and meaning is clear.

Sentences are complete and soundly constructed.

Vocabulary is precise, interesting and varied.

Appropriate, formal language is used.

Care has been taken to proofread work to self-correct spelling, including use of dictionary.

Punctuation, including full stops, commas, capital letters and quotation marks, has been used

correctly.

Grammar details are correct, including consistency of tenses and agreement of plural/singular.

STRUCTURING AN ESSAY

Introduction: The introduction is the first paragraph of your essay, and will need to communicate how you will be

responding to the essay topic. It provides an outline of how you will be structuring your answer. In

particular, the introduction needs to introduce:

The text (What is it? Who wrote/directed it? Very briefly, what is it about?)

The essay topic (Rewrite it in your own words. Pay close attention to key terms!)

Your overall answer to the essay (your overarching argument, or CONTENTION)

Outline how your argument will unfold (Generally speaking, what are your arguments? What

will you be looking at?)

The introduction gives us your argument. You do not need to provide evidence at this point, and we

do not need to know everything – the person reading your essay just needs an overview of your

response so that they know what to expect.

Body paragraphs: The ‘body paragraphs’ are the real guts of your essay. This is where you

explore your ideas and provide your arguments and evidence. Your essay will

need to have between 3 and 5 body paragraphs. Each paragraph will need

to be AT LEAST four sentences long, and will normally need to be longer. A

typed paragraph should not be more than half a page in length (with single

line spacing).

Each body paragraph will need to follow the TEEL formula. It will need: (1) a TOPIC SENTENCE; (2) an

EXPLANATION; (3) EVIDENCE; and (4) a LINK. This is explained in detail on the following pages.

You must make sure that each body paragraph has its own argument, which then links back/answers

the overarching Essay Topic. You need to be exploring an argument – if you are just retelling the story,

they you are not writing an essay.

Conclusion: Your conclusion is the last thing that we read in your essay. It is a paragraph that sums up your

argument in a clear manner. In particular, your conclusion needs should provide the following:

Summing-up statement about the text and main idea of ideas you have covered.

Summarise/draw together the content of the body of your essay, drawing together main

points.

Give a final evaluation of issues/point of view.

Have links back to the intro – key words are important.

Strong terminating sentence. It could relate back to the topic.

There should not be any new information in your conclusion which

influences your overall argument. It should be a final, comprehensive

answer to the essay topic.

Sample Essay Paragraphs on the topic : Why is Red

Dog important to the community of Dampier?

Sample Introduction:

In the film Red Dog, Kriv Stenders explores how a group of independent and isolated miners are forged

into a community by a smelly but lovable kelpie. Set in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia,

the inhabitants need a companion with whom they can share their feelings of loneliness and provide

them with a sense of purpose. It is only through their friendship with Red Dog that the characters learn

to love and trust again, form meaningful relationships and bond together.

Sample Body Paragraph:

Red Dog’s independent nature is appealing to the miners because of their different backgrounds and

their lack of shared connections. Just as Red Dog hitches a ride into Dampier, the miners come from

all around the world, and lack a common culture or sense of belonging. At the beginning of the film,

the Hamersley Iron Mining community is little more than a group of homesick men. Red Dog “was an

excellent listener” with whom the miners could share their worries and stories. He became “a doggie

for all” but “no one in particular”, as he respected and helped all the miners equally. Red Dog initially

became valued by the community for these listening skills and the comfort he brought these otherwise

lonely men.

Sample Conclusion:

Red Dog is important to the community of Dampier because he is just like all of its members. He

reflects their independence, a shared life that has emerged despite a vast number of different

backgrounds, the free spirit and wanderer in all their natures, and the capacity for companionship,

loyalty and love. He shows us that there is more to this community than a “bunch of dirty miners”;

that beneath their dusty exterior, they are a community, and a dog, “who are loyal by nature, not

design…[and] know the meaning of love and loss”.

Topic 1: The miners’ stories explore a range of human emotions, yet

ultimately each story ends in happiness. Discuss with at least three stories

from Red Dog.

The story of VANNO: His story begins in sadness due to homesickness, but ends in happiness as he finds a new

family, home and sense of purpose.

The story of JOCKO: His story also begins in sadness, this time due to guilt, but he eventually learns to move beyond

his dark and mysterious past to begin living life again.

The story of JOHN: His story is different. He begins as someone without anything to really live for, always moving

on to a new place, until he finds happiness. However, his story is ultimately a tragic one,

bringing sadness to the rest of the town, but also helping to emphasise how much of a

community now exists.

Topic 4: ‘It is only when we lose something in life, we realise that we truly

value it.’ Do you agree? Discuss with reference to the film Red Dog.

Losing a HOME: Vanno only realises how much he misses his hometown of Abruzzi after he moves to the

Pilbara and keeps thinking about all the things he leaves behind.

Losing a LOVED ONE: This is seen when John dies, and in Red Dog’s response by becoming the ‘Pilbara Wanderer’.

This is also seen in the community’s response to Red Dog’s sickness and death: it brings them

together and they reminisce about how important Red Dog was to them.

The importance of MOVING ON: While many of the characters only realise how much things mean once they lose them,

remaining focussed on what is lost can keep people from finding new purpose in their lives

and new things to value.

If Vanno remained obsessed with Abruzzi, he never would have found Rosa and considered

starting a new life with his family in Dampier.

It isn’t until Jocko is able to overcome the tragedy of the loss of his family that he is able to

find happiness in his life in Dampier.

Topic 6: Why is Red Dog important to the community of Dampier?

He demonstrates INDEPENDENCE: Like the miners themselves, Red Dog is independent, not tied down to one place or person (at

least initially). This allows them to see themselves in him.

Red Dog is a wanderer, seeking help from others and providing help and companionship in

return, but never becoming tied down (for example when he hitch-hikes rides around the

Pilbara). This is seen especially strongly during his search for John

He helps create LOVE: Red Dog brings people together (John and Nancy, Vanno and his Wife, Nancy and Tom)

Red Dog bonds the community together (they realise their strength when they confront the

Cribbages, and they bond together in around Red Dog’s deathbed and during the celebration

of his life)

His GENEROUS HEART helps people feel like they can belong: Red Dog listens to Vanno and helps him feel that there is someone who he can talk to and

who won’t judge him.

Red Dog helps Peeto feel more comfortable with his softer side and realise that he doesn’t

need to follow the stereotypes imposed by others.

Red Dog helps to save Jocko’s life and feel emotions again, allowing him to move on with his

life.

He demonstrates LOYALTY: Red Dog shows tremendous loyalty during his search for his dead master.

Red Dog heals rifts between old enemies, such as when he becomes “mates” with Red Cat.

Red Dog inspires loyalty within the community when they rally against the Cribbages.

USE THIS SPACE TO BEGIN PLANNING YOUR RESPONSE

Overall contention (your response to the essay topic):

First Paragraph

Focus/Argument:

Example 1 (with EVIDENCE):

Example 2 (with EVIDENCE):

Second Paragraph

Focus/Argument:

Example 1 (with EVIDENCE):

Example 2 (with EVIDENCE):

Third Paragraph

Focus/Argument:

Example 1 (with EVIDENCE):

Example 2 (with EVIDENCE):