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| Course M-TH, 12:00-2:10 More 225 |
| Instructor K. Gillis-Bridges Padelford A305 543-4892 MW, 11:00-11:50 and by appointment |
| Page last updated 6/21/03 |
Class Participation
Class discussion constitutes one key method of developing your analytical skills. Thus, I expect prompt, regular attendance and active participation in discussions of films and supplemental readings. You should come prepared for each class session, with assigned reading completed. You should also plan to ask questions, make comments, summarize critical arguments, analyze clips, paraphrase your electronic postings, or contribute to small-group discussions. Like all skills, speaking in class becomes easier with practice. I do not expect fully polished analyses in class discussion; rather, your contributions represent ideas for further development.
Electronic Postings
Students will use the class discussion board to post responses to each film. To facilitate discussion, I will post questions to which I want you to respond. Your posting should provide a 200- to 250-word response to a selected question; you may also address your classmates’ ideas as you respond to the question. The electronic discussion site allows us to extend class discussion and to raise issues for in-class discussions. Occasionally, I will give you the opportunity to do optional postings in which you respond to your classmates or develop an idea only partially explicated in class. Both required and optional postings receive points on a credit/no credit basis.
I have divided the class into three groups to keep the discussion manageable:
- Group One: Students with last names A-I
- Group Two: Students with last names J-M
- Group Three: Students with last names N-Z
During the first week of class, students will complete a take-home essay exam in which they analyze selected clips from class films.
Group Presentation
Students will work together in groups of two or three to create a 15- to 20-minute analysis of a selected clip from a course film.
Essays
You will complete two essays on assigned topics, a 3- to 4-page essay on a single film and a 5- to 6-page comparative analysis of two films. Reader Stefanie Martin and I will be available to discuss ideas-in-progress and drafts, should you wish to meet with us. You can also seek feedback from consultants at the English Department Writing Center, located in Padelford B-12.
Policies
Lateness Policy
I will not accept late electronic postings, presentations, or take-home midterms. Late essays will receive a 10-point deduction per day late, including weekends. I will not accept Essay 2 responses submitted after the last week of the term. I will make exceptions to the lateness policy only in cases of documented illness or family emergency. Technology glitches do not constitute valid excuses for lateness. To avoid computer problems, you should save frequently while working, and you should back up work saved to a hard drive on disk or your Dante account. Remember also to avoid storing floppy disks next to cellular phones. To avoid problems submitting essays and exams via E-Submit, make sure to save in Word or Rich Text format and to use only alphanumeric characters to name files; otherwise, the program will not accept your document. You should also give your files distinct names so that you do not upload the wrong paper to E-submit. If the posting board or E-Submit breaks down, email your work directly to me.
Plagiarism Policy
In your electronic postings, essays, and take-home midterm, you may draw upon the ideas and words of other writers. However, you must make clear to your audience that you are incorporating another’s work by placing quotation marks around exact words and citing the author’s name whenever you quote, summarize or paraphrase. Failure to credit sources may result in a failing grade for the assignment, a failing grade for the course, or expulsion from the university.