Course Grading
Course grades will be computed as follows.  Students must complete all major assignments (film presentation, Web project, and take-home midterm) in order to pass the course.

Course participation: 10%
Take-home midterm: 10%
Electronic postings: 25%
Film presentation: 20%
Web project: 35%

Midterm Grading Criteria
An A-range midterm will have the following characteristics:

• A clear thesis; the thesis is defendable, clearly explained, and supported in the body of the essay
• Depth, fullness, and complexity of thought
• Clear expression of ideas
• Coherent organization
• Full and detailed development, with arguments supported by persuasive reasoning and references to films under study; there is an appropriate balance between providing evidence and analyzing that evidence 

Presentation Grading Criteria
Web project presentations will be graded on a credit/no credit basis, with credit granted to presentations that cogently summarize the Web site's arguments and evidence.  Failure to complete the Web project presentation will result in a .5 deduction in the final Web project grade.

The group film presentations will be graded on the following criteria:

• Focus--The group presents a clear argument regarding the relationship between the film and its context and focuses the presentation around the argument.
• Organization--The presentation has a logical structure; the progression of points is easy to follow.  All information and evidence related to a particular argument is presented along with that argument.
• Coherence--The group structures the presentation in a coherent manner.  Each element of the presentation has an obvious relation to the other elements and to the central argument.  Activities incorporated into the presentation have a discernible purpose.
• Evidence--Each claim is supported by sufficient and persuasive evidence (film clips, references to research and course readings, documents, etc.).
• Completeness--The presentation demonstrates sufficient research of relevant sources.  The group has not ignored important contextual materials and can answer questions about all information presented.
• Delivery--The group has coordinated elements of the presentation.  Speakers convey their points smoothly, and the group adheres to the time limit.   If the group incorporates visual aids, the aids are well prepared (tapes cued to clips, handouts and slides readable and uncluttered, etc.) and play an essential role in the presentation.

Web Project Grading Criteria
An A-Range (3.5-4.0) Web Site 

• Has a substantive thesis that is fully explored and supported
• Shows substantial depth, fullness and complexity of thought 
• Expresses ideas clearly and commands the reader’s attention 
• Demonstrates clear, unified and coherent organization 
• Is fully developed and detailed with arguments supported by persuasive reasoning, well chosen images and links,  and references to research and film(s) under study; there is an appropriate balance between providing evidence and analyzing that evidence 
• Incorporates research, citing a minimum of four sources
• Offers clear citation of all ideas and words not the author’s own
• Has superlative page design:  clear text and images, skillful use of color, no clutter; all images, links, and animations serve a purpose
• Has a sophisticated style (remarkable variety of sentence pattern, smooth transitions between ideas, superior control of diction) 
• Has few, if any, minor errors in grammar, usage or mechanics 

• Has a clear thesis, but may not fully explore or support thesis 
• Shows some depth and complexity of thought 
• Expresses ideas clearly  
• Demonstrates effective organization 
• Is well developed with sensible reasoning, links, images, or references to research and film(s) under study; however, some evidence may detract from the thesis, purpose or goals and some ideas might not be fully explored
• Demonstrates balance between evidence and analysis for the most part, but balance may be weak in places 
• Integrates text and images effectively
• Incorporates research, citing a minimum of four sources
• Offers clear citation of all ideas and words not the author’s own
• Has strong page design: clear text and images, effective use of color, minimal clutter; the majority of images, links, and animations work toward a purpose
• Has an effective style (some variety of sentence patterns, transitions between ideas, accurate diction)
• Has few errors in grammar, usage or mechanics 

• Has a thesis that may not be entirely clear or supported 
• Shows insufficient awareness of the complexity of issues addressed; may offer simplistic or repetitive analysis 
• Communicates ideas clearly for the most part, but may have some lapses in clarity 
• Has a recognizable organizational pattern, but the relation among parts is not consistently clear enough to provide a coherent focus 
• Is unevenly developed; writers may offer sufficient reasoning, links, images, or references to research and film(s) for some of the ideas but not for others 
• Demonstrates some balance between evidence and analysis 
• Integrates text and images adequately
• Incorporates research, but cites fewer than four sources
• Gives clear citations for any ideas and words not the author’s own
• Has adequate page design: satisfactory text and images, adequate use of color, some page clutter; some images, links, and animation do not work toward a purpose
• Has an adequate style (limited variation in sentence patterns, transitions between most ideas, diction accurate for the most part) 
• Has some errors in grammar, usage or mechanics, but demonstrates basic control of these areas 

• Has an unclear thesis
• Lacks focus or demonstrates confused, stereotyped or simplistic thinking; writers may demonstrate no overall conception of the issues raised by the film
• May not communicate ideas clearly 
• Is ineffectively organized, with no clear relationship between the parts of the essay 
• May not provide adequate or appropriate reasoning, links, images, or research and film references to support generalizations, or may provide details without generalizations 
• Demonstrates little relationship between evidence and analysis
• Uses images and text, but with little connection between the two
• Incorporates little research
• Offers unclear citations of work not the author’s own 
• Has weak page design:  some confusing text and images, poor use of color (glaring), page clutter; many images, links, and animations do not work toward a purpose
• Has stylistic weaknesses (no variety of sentence patterns, few transitions, imprecise diction) 
• Has occasional major errors in grammar, usage or mechanics or frequent minor errors that interfere in the reader's understanding of the essay 

• Has no identifiable thesis 
• May be deliberately off-topic and demonstrate no understanding of the issues raised by the film(s) 
• Does not communicate ideas clearly 
• Lacks coherent organization 
• Shows no development of ideas; may simply summarize film(s)
• Has no connection between text and images
• Incorporates no research
• Represents another writer’s work as the author’s own
• Has incoherent page design:  unclear text and images, no sense to color choice, clutter makes page incomprehensible; images, links, and animations have little or no purpose
• Has an incoherent style (difficulties with sentence structure, pattern of diction errors) 
• Has pervasive pattern of errors in grammar, usage and mechanics that renders the essay unreadable