Policies:

Learning Outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze films as texts.
• Students will gain an enhanced knowledge of the medium's distinctive qualities.
• Students will demonstrate in both oral and written work a discipline-specific critical facility through thesis-driven analysis of related material.
• Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the history of developments in motion pictures.
• Students will develop the ability to discuss critically key concepts in film studies relating to distribution, exhibition, production, mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing, sound, and narrative conventions.
• Students will gain a familiarity with alternatives to classical Hollywood cinema, for instance documentary, experimental, independent, or global cinema.
• Students will develop an introductory understanding of basic concepts in film theory.

Program Goals:

• Oral and written communication will be characterized by clarity, critical analysis, logic, coherence, persuasion, precision, and rhetorical awareness (Core Curriculum learning outcomes I)
• Cultural and Social Perspectives: Cultural and social perspective will be characterized by cultural awareness and an understanding of the complexity and dynamic nature of social/political/economic systems; human and institutional behavior, values, and belief systems; historical and spatial relationship; and, flexibility, open-mindedness, and tolerance. (Core Curriculum learning outcomes III)
• Aesthetic Perspective: Aesthetic perspective will be characterized by critical appreciation of and ability to make informed aesthetic judgments about the arts of various cultures as media for human expression (Core Curriculum learning outcomes V)
• Area C (Humanities/Arts) Learning Outcomes:

1. To develop the ability to recognize and identify achievements in literary, fine and performing arts;
2. To have an appreciation of the nature and achievements of the arts and humanities; and
3. To develop the ability to apply, understand, and appreciate the application of aesthetics criteria to "real world circumstances.

• This course contributes to the program goal of equipping students with a foundation in the issues surrounding literary study in contemporary culture.

Screenings:  Film screenings act as perhaps the most essential 'reading' assignment for each week and should be regarded with the utmost scholarly attention. This is a film class and these texts are your primary sources so they should be treated as such. With this in mind, I recommend you take notes during screenings or just after--your participation and written responses will depend on it. You can find many of the films in the usual places (for rent in your local video store, for rent on an on-line video store, or for purchase in stores), but I have also put two copies of every film on four-hour reserve in the library. You may take the film out of the library during that four hours to watch in a computer lab or on a laptop or you can use the library's viewers.

Note: Readings and assignments are due on the day they are listed on the Reading Schedule. Many readings are password protected; you will be given this password on the first day of class.  Changes or additions to the readings may occur during the semester. I will announce these in class and post them on the Reading Schedule. 

Assignments: 

• For this class you will be writing three critical analyses of the major elements of film making.  Essentially, you will explore how meaning is created in the assigned films through the use of specific elements:  Marketing, Mise-en-scène, Cinematography, Editing and Sound.  All essays must adhere to MLA standards.  These papers will be graded according to the standards set out in the departmental rubric which can be found at http://www.westga.edu/~engdept.  (Grading Rubric (upper-division)).

• You are also required to write a Shot-by-Shot Analysis and Narrative for one film which consists of a  2-3 page paper that will ask students to provide an overview of the narrative structure and analyze the significance of the ordering of events, with attached documentation of the storyboard.  This essay must adhere to MLA standards.  This paper will be graded according to the standards set out in the departmental rubric which can be found at http://www.westga.edu/~engdept.  (Grading Rubric (upper-division)).

• You will also have a midterm and final, with the option of writing a creative final.  These tests will require critical analyses of films screened for the class.

• The class will be forming its own production company and creating a film with students serving as directors, editors, cinematographers, sound editors, graphic editors, and actors.  Active participation in this film is mandatory.  The purpose of the film is to demonstrate how meaning is created through the elements of filmmaking.  While we will be analyzing the assigned films, we will have to perform a reverse-analysis and know in advance what meaning we wish to capture before the camera begins to roll.

• Daily Quizzes and Class Participation:  You will be expected to participate as much as possible in this class. Active participation involves, of course, attending class, but you are also expected to have done all the reading before class and screened the films (well enough for pop quizzes), to listen attentively to the instructor and your other classmates, and to offer provocative and interesting questions or contributions to class discussion. Your participation (together with quizzes) accounts for a significant portion of your final grade, so I highly recommend that you come to class with your own discussion questions in mind and that you stay on top of any and all absences or tardiness problems. The daily quizzes are meant to prepare students for the more difficult task of the examination and will comprise 10% of the student's final grade, averaged together with other daily assignments. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.

• Screening Journal:  I recommend that you maintain a screening journal wherein you will take notes on the films assigned for class.  Pay attention to not only the story but how the story is told.  Note any unusual film techniques and camera movements.  While this journal will not be graded, you will be allowed to refer to it during quizzes. 

Recap of Grade Breakdown: 

Policies:

Attendance:  Class attendance is mandatory. There is too much material to cover in the short time allowed in two meetings a week to be able to afford an absence. I understand, however, that emergencies occur. Do your best to keep me aware of when and why you will miss a class. Be advised, though, that every absence after your 2nd absence will lower your participation grade by 5 points, and a total of five or more absences will result in an administrative withdrawal from the course with an F. Although, again, I understand that emergencies occasionally arise, consistent tardiness will not be tolerated.

*Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before class begins.*

Disruptive Behavior: Students may be dismissed from any class meeting at which they exhibit behavior that disrupts the learning environment of others.  Such behavior includes—but is not limited to—arriving late for class, allowing cell phones to ring, speaking disrespectfully to the instructor and/or to other students, checking email or surfing the web, and using personal audio or video devices. Each dismissal of this kind will count as an absence and will be applied toward the attendance requirements policy above.

As stated above, all cell phones, pagers, PDAs or any other communication devices must be turned off at the beginning of class.  Any disturbance caused by such devices or by disruptive student behavior can result in said student being dismissed from class, which will be counted as an unexcused absence.  Late arrivals are disruptions.  Any arrival after 10 minutes into the class will be counted as an absence. If a student is presenting, you are not allowed to enter until he/she has completed the presentation.  Your professor and fellow classmates deserve respect and any disruption of class should be as minimal as possible.

Deadlines and Late Papers:  Papers are due at the beginning of class and late papers (even 15 minutes into class) will be penalized. We are often starting new material on the days papers are due, so a late-comer will miss course material and disrupt discussion. More seriously, late papers will lose a letter grade for each day they are late. After a week (seven days late including weekends), the paper will automatically receive a failing grade (F). If a student has a verifiable medical excuse or family emergency and requests an extension (by e-mail, phone, or in person) before the paper deadline, then an extension can be granted. Excuses such as having papers or exams for other classes, discovering a schedule conflict with work or other responsibilities, or simply feeling overwhelmed occur too commonly to be considered "serious" and will not result in an extension.

Paper Formatting:  MLA Format--Papers should be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font Times New) with 1" top and bottom margins and 1" right and left margins, and without title pages. Using large margins and enormous fonts (i.e. Courier New) to fulfill the page requirement fools no one, least of all me, so follow these guidelines and come for extra help or use the writing workshops to learn how to present a full, well-supported argument that meets the page requirements.

Extra Help:  If you feel you need help or if you have any questions regarding the class, come by my office, Room 1113F in the TLC. I will always be in my office and prepared to offer assistance during my office hours. If for some reason you are unable to see me during my office hours, I can arrange an alternative meeting time. Always bring your notes and past assignments with you when you come to see me so that I can better determine how your preparation is affecting your overall performance. In the worst case scenario (i.e. you can't find me or have to ask me a question immediately), you can always e-mail me. Also, do not forget about the Writing Center where the instructors and staff work to assist writers at any point in the writing process. For more information or to make an appointment, e-mail the Writing Center at writing@westga.edu.

E-mail:  If you need to reach me for any reason, you will have the best luck via e-mail at pburgey@westga.edu. For all official correspondence with me, you must e-mail me from your university (MyUWG) account in order to make it easier to identify the sender of the e-mail and to avoid unnecessary security or virus risks.  Remember that email must be written in standard English.  No text message lingo.  You will be conferring with a professional; therefore, you must be professional as well. 

PLAGIARISM AND EXCESSIVE COLLABORATION: 

Students who turn in plagiarized material will receive an F for the course—no exceptions.

Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty

The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.

See also, excessive collaboration.

The University policies for handling Academic Dishonesty are found in the following documents:

The Faculty Handbook, sections 207 and 208.0401:  http://www.westga.edu/~vpaa/handrev/

Student Uncatalog: "Rights and Responsibilities"; Appendix J:  http://www.westga.edu/handbook/

Excessive Collaboration

By the end of the term in both ENGL 1101 and 1102, students should demonstrate the ability to produce independent writing (writing without collaborative assistance of peers, writing tutors, or professionals in the field) that shows an acceptable level of competence. Although classroom activities and out-of-class assignments may highlight collaborative learning and collaborative research, excessive collaboration (collaboration that results in the loss of a student's voice/style and original claims to course-related work) is considered another form of academic dishonesty and therefore will not be permitted.

Role of the Writing Center

The role of the Writing Center is to offer consultation in which tutors question, respond to, offer choices, and encourage revision in student essays. Tutors do not evaluate or prescribe solutions to problematic areas in student essays, and tutors are specifically trained to avoid appropriating the student's work. For more information, visit the Writing Center online at http://www.westga.edu/~writing.

PLAGIARISM IS GROUNDS FOR FAILING THE CLASS.

DISABILITY PLEDGE:  I pledge to do my best to work with the University to provide all students with equal access to my classes and materials, regardless of special needs, temporary or permanent disability, special needs related to pregnancy, etc.

If you have any special learning needs, particularly (but not limited to) needs defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and require specific accommodations, please do not hesitate to make these known to me, either yourself or through Disability Services in 272 Parker Hall at (770) 839-6428.

Students with documented special needs may expect accommodation in relation to classroom accessibility, modification of testing, special test administration, etc. This is not only my personal commitment: it is your right, and it is the law!

For more information, please contact Disability Services at the State University of West Georgia.  See website at http://www.westga.edu/~dserve/. 

Writing Center Statement: 

TLC 1201                             678-839-6513     

Writing@westga.edu       www.westga.edu/~writing

The University Writing Center works with students and other members of the UWG community to improve writing skills.

What We Do:

·         Discuss ideas, read drafts, and work through revisions of essays; we do not proofread

·         Regents’ Test Preparation (both the reading and essay sections)

·         MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, and other citation formats

Policies:

·         Please make appointments in advance. We accept walk-ins, but we cannot guarantee that a tutor will be available.

·         If you cannot keep your appointment, you must call or email us 24 hours in advance to cancel. If you do not notify us 24 hours in advance, you will be counted as a No Show.

·         Please arrive at your appointment on time. If you are 10 minutes late or more, you will be counted as a No Show and will not be able to have your appointment.

·         If you have 3 No Shows in one semester, you will not be able to have any more appointments for that semester.

Hours: 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10:00am-7:00pm

Thursday 10:00am-3:00pm

Friday 10:00am-12:00pm

Syllabus Contract: 

Print and turn in the attached document on the second day of class. 

ArtOfFilm/Spring2010/Syllabus Contract.docx