Developed for a high school quinmester unit on film, this guide provides the teacher with teaching strategies for an inquiry into the form and development of the motion picture and television film documentary, the preparation and production of students' individual or group documentaries, and the evaluation of the documentary as social commentary and as an art form. The range of subject matter includes (1) distinguishing and identifying the documentary film; (2) methods of translating subject matter into film; (3) literal language of film; (4) figuarative language of film; (5) propaganda; (6) thematic approach of documentaries to contemporary problems; and (7) presentation of student documentaries. The guide is arranged according to performance objectives with suggested teaching ideas listed under each objective. Appendixes contain information on how to write a scenario and a list of resources. (HOD)