Course Activities
Here are the activities and assignments you can expect in this course, along with the grading policies. All of this information can also be found in the Course Syllabus.
Readings
Every week you will read from Filmish, The Routledge Encyclopedia of Film Theory or a provided scholarly article. You will be informed of these reading assignments in the week's module and through the course schedule.
Important course concepts are provided in these readings and you will be asked questions based on the readings in the course quizzes.
Screenings
Each week you will watch and analyze film content: either a whole film, film clips, or video essays. These screenings are available to stream through Kanopy, Swank, and Youtube. They will be linked within each module as well as on the Course Schedule.
Assignments
You will be completing several different kinds of assignments throughout the semester, of varying size and scope. There will be weeks when you are asked to do multiple assignments and it is recommended that you break up your time instead of cramming everything in on a Monday night!
Discussions (15%)
Almost every week, you will be asked to view a film and read advanced theoretical materials. Discussions are a low-stakes way to test drive what you are learning by applying theoretical ideas to your own film analysis. By writing/sharing analysis in a discussion-format, you get the benefit of seeing many different points of view and interact with your classmates. The lowest discussion grade will be dropped.
Writing/Criticism Activities (15%)
Throughout the semester, you will be asked to complete writing assignments that will develop analytical techniques and active criticism. These will be more in-depth and structured than the discussions. Some may require outside research. The lowest writing activity grade will be dropped.
Quizzes (20%)
In this course, we cover some dense academic ideas, so retention of information is important from unit to unit. Four quizzes will be administered testing your comprehension of readings, screenings and other module materials. The quizzes open at the beginning of the week (Monday) and close the following Monday night at 11:59 p.m. Each student will have 60 minutes to complete 10 questions. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Mid-Term Essay Exam (20%)
Your Mid-Term assessment for the course will be an essay exam. You will be asked to choose and respond to multiple prompts in essay form. Comprehensive directions will be provided closer to the Mid-Term.
Final Creative Project (30%)
For this culminating project, you will create a short video essay, short graphic novel, or short series of critical essays in which you apply ideas and concepts explored this semester, modeled on the materials studied in class. Form and content requirements are outlined in the directions; the subject, creative approach, perspective, and insight are yours to develop and express. You will receive extra credit for posting your final project into a discussion during the final week of the course.
You may choose to work in pairs or individually on the final project.
For full completion of the assignment you must turn-in a proposal, present your work-in-progress, provide feedback on other classmates’ projects, and deliver the final draft. Specific details and requirements will be provided after the mid-term exam.
Submission Requirements
Assignments will be submitted directly to Webcourses. All Writing/Criticism assignments are required to use MLA formatting, with 12pt font and default margins.
Grades
Consult the latest Undergraduate or Graduate catalog for regulations and procedures regarding grading such as grade changes and grade forgiveness. The following is how the grades will break down in this course:
|
Assignment Group |
Percentage of Grade |
|
Discussions |
15% |
|
Writing/Criticism Activities |
15% |
|
Quizzes (4 total) |
20% |
|
Mid-term essay exam |
20% |
|
Final Creative Project (short video essay, graphic novel, or series of essays)
|
30% |
|
Total 100% |
Grades will be posted to Webcourses so that student may keep track of grades throughout the semester. Students will receive graded tests and materials as promptly as possible after the deadline.
Late Work and Makeup Policy:
All assignments are expected to be submitted by the posted due date. Peer reviews and discussions are only valuable when completed in a timely manner. You are expected to alert the Instructor if issues arise that prevent you from completing work on time.
Assignments will not be reopened unless your absence documents one of the following circumstances from the Undergraduate Catalog, “Reasons for acceptable absences may include illness, serious family emergencies, special curricular requirements (e.g., judging trips, field trips, professional conferences), military obligations, severe weather conditions, and religious holidays.” In order for your absence to be excused, you must provide me with official documentation. If an absence is excused, it is your responsibility to meet with me virtually during office hours to arrange to make up the missed work.
COVID NOTICE: For those dealing with issues that arise from the pandemic, please contact me to discuss any difficulties with the completion of your assignments.
Extra Credit Policy:
Occasionally, extra credit opportunities will be offered to the entire class, at my discretion. Please note as well that a significant number of low scoring assignments will be dropped in this course, as a buffer to anyone experiencing setbacks or having a bad week.
Grades of "Incomplete":
A grade of “I” (Incomplete) may be assigned by the instructor when a student is unable to complete a course due to extenuating circumstances, and when all requirements can be completed in a short time following the end of the term.
It is expected that the student will have completed a majority of the course. When an instructor assigns an “I” grade for a course, the student is notified through email about the grade. The student is responsible to arrange with the instructor for the completion of the requirements of the course. The Incomplete must be changed within one year of the last day of the term attempted or prior to graduation from the University, whichever comes first. Unresolved Incomplete grades automatically will be changed to “F” by the Registrar’s Office. Unresolved “I” grades in courses graded with “S” or “U” will be converted to “U.” Students cannot graduate with an "I" unresolved for any course.
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