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 Discussion

Students will use the class discussion board to post responses to films and readings. 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. Your postings receive points on a credit/no credit basis, with full points granted to on-time postings that meet the length requirement and demonstrate serious engagement with the discussion questions. 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. These postings will also receive full points for length and genuine engagement.

To access the electronic discussion board, go to the course web site, click on “Discuss,” and follow the instructions. I have divided the class into three groups to keep the discussion manageable:

• Group One: Students with last names A through J
• Group Two: Students with last names K through M
• Group Three: Students with last names N through Z

Group Video Trace

Students will use a program called Video Traces to complete a group verbal annotation of a film scene. In their annotations, groups will address the cinematic codes at play in the scene, analyzing those codes through a cultural studies lens.

Essays

Students will complete two 4- to 5-page essays on assigned topics. You will compose your essays in two stages, writing a draft in class, receiving comments from me, and revising the draft for a grade. As part of the midterm essay sequence, you will attend a short conference with me; final essay conferences are optional. In addition to speaking with me, you can seek feedback from consultants at the English Department Writing Center, located in Padelford B-12.

Please submit essays on 8.5" by 11" paper, titled, paginated, typed and double-spaced, with one-inch margins. In the upper left hand corner of the first page, include your name, the course number, the assignment, and the due date; this information should be single-spaced. You may use a 10- or 12-point Arial, Bookman, Century Schoolbook, or Times New Roman font for your papers. You may submit revised essays in hard copy or via the course E-submit tool. 

Policies

Lateness Policy

I will not accept late electronic postings, traces, or essay drafts. Late essay revisions will receive a 10-point deduction per day late, including weekends. Failure to submit essay drafts will also result in a 10-point deduction, as revising from feedback constitutes an essential part of the assignment. 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 trace, 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.

Page Last Updated 10/19/03
Email Questions and Comments