LITE216 - Marklin Fall2008

LITE 216: Film Interpretation

Fall 2008

Instructor:	Lin Marklin
Phone:	KCC voice mail available at (269) 965-3931, ext. 2281
Office Hours: Online:	Arranged. It is best to contact me via marklinl@kellogg.edu I will respond to student email within two working days.
Course Prerequisites:	Required: Grade of "C" or higher in either ENGLISH 151 or an equivalent first-year first semester English composition course at a different college or university. Recommended: English 152 or an equivalent first-year second semester English composition course at a different college or university.
Textbook	Required: Anatomy of Film, 5th edition. Bernard F. Dick. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2005.
Online Course Features and Requirements	Number of tests which must be proctored: None Required on campus sessions: None Special labs or practicum: None Number of assignments: 11 Responses of 100 - 180 words and three large Analysis papers of 400 - 800 words. Online Participation: Regular online participation is imperative. Important material is discussed in the bulletin board each week, and it is crucial that students plan to log on at least four times per week. Successful students log on each day to stay current. Preparation is an important part of effective participation. Complete all reading and writing assignments and come to class bulletin board prepared to contribute. Estimated time per week: For a full semester class of 15 weeks, students need to plan to spend 3-5 hours per week viewing films, 2-3 hours per week on reading/writing assignments and 2 hours (30 minutes on 4 different days) per week in online discussion. The total estimated weekly time commitment is 7-12 hours. Group interaction required: Yes Scheduled activities or self paced: Scheduled activities Film Requirements: Over the course of the semester you are required to view twenty films of my choice and three films by the same director of your choice. While you may rent and view the assigned films any time during the week, I have set midnight Monday as the weekly deadline because we will begin discussing the film Tuesday morning. The cost of renting these films is NOT included in the tuition you paid for the course. You are responsible for the cost of renting the assigned film, which will probably run between $30-$50 for the semester. The majority of the assigned films should be readily available at chain video stores such as Hollywood Video, Blockbuster Video and Family Video. However, some films such as Fisher King and Silkwood have been hard to find. For this reason, students are encouraged to sign up for NetFlix to ensure that they will be able to view all the necessary titles. Blockbuster online is also an option although previous students have recommended NetFlix. The subscription cost via Netflix for the required move is comparable to or less than renting from a chain store. Most of the 'Mom and Pop' video stores will NOT have all the titles required in this course. Plan ahead and make sure you will have access to the assigned films and are able to view them prior to the due date listed on the syllabus. Students must have access to the following: Equipment: You will need a computer that is able to access and interact with the Web. For best results, a Pentium or PowerMac with a 56 Kbps or faster modem and 256 MB or more of RAM should be considered the minimal system. Software: You will need one of the following Internet browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher; Firefox; Mac users may use Safari or Firefox. Internet connection: Home users need Internet access through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that offers a reliable connection to the Internet. Other requirements: A subscription to Netflix is highly recommended.
Course Site:	http://bb.kellogg.edu
Curriculum Statement:	Upon completion of this course, students will be able to identify and analyze film themes, cinematic technique, and visual symbolism.
Description	Lite 216 is designed to introduce students to film analysis. Participants will learn about cinematic techniques as the class studies several major genres of films. You will utilize knowledge gained from your reading of the text book and class discussions to inform the film critiques you will write this semester. The first part of the semester will focus on learning the material from the text and the remaining part of the semester will focus on applying that knowledge. COURSE GOALS 1. Develop student knowledge of the creative process 2. Develop student ability to appraise the significance of the visual arts. 3. Develop student competent in film analysis. FILM CONTENT Some of the films included in this course may contain sexually explicit, violent, and/or disturbing material, all of which will be discussed in an intellectually responsible manner. Films and clips depicting adult subject matter, sexuality, violence, drug use and explicit language will be shown. If you feel that such material does not belong in the classroom, please do not take this course. Your continued attendance in this course beyond the first day indicates your willingness to be exposed to these and other subjects and to deal with them in a mature and open-minded manner.
Objectives	Upon completion of this course, successful students will 1. Demonstrate competency in film analysis through written critiques 2. Exhibit knowledge of cinematic terms and concepts through quizzes and paragraphs. 3. Develop communication skills in both face-to-face and online discussion forums. 4. Recognize film's influence on contemporary communication processes. 5. Develop critical skills in evaluating film as an art form 6. Develop an enhanced perception in the process of viewing films. 7. Identify and use film terminology correctly. 8. Raise questions regarding values stimulated by film 9. Explain how the medium of film can enhance our lives by showing us ways of life that are different from our own. 10. Demonstrate knowledge of the creative process 11. Demonstrate ability to appraise the significance of the visual arts.
Grading	Quality Expectation for Written Assignments You need to revise and redraft prior to turning in a preliminary draft to me. Writing is a mode of thinking; the composing process only gradually brings together ideas that initially exist only half-formed in your mind until the act of writing gives them shape. The drafts I read must represent ideas and opinions that have already been coherently shaped and formed. The majority of your assignments will be graded the first time that I read them. For the final research paper, you will be given the option of using a late slip to revise your paper for a higher grade. All drafts that are handed in to the instructor must be done on a computer. Expectations for your written assignments are clearly explained in the course reading material, and questions will be answered in the bulletin board forum and during office hours. Students who log on regularly and who complete their readings rarely experience difficulty in writing or in structuring their papers. No paper re-treads. All papers submitted in this course must have been written during this 15 week semester. No re-treads of high school or college papers will be acceptable. It may be possible to tailor a paper written in this course to meet the requirements of a concurrent course, provided you have the explicit consent of both instructors.
Grading Scale	Grades will be computed on a point system. At the end of the semester, the total number of points earned will be divided by the total number of points possible to determine a percentage. 100 - 93% - A 92 - 89% - A- 88 - 87% - B+ 86 - 83% - B 82 - 79% - B- 78 - 77% - C+ 76 - 73% - C 72 - 69% - C- 68 - 67% - D+ 66 - 65% - D 64 - 63% - D- 62% and below - F A grade of W can be given by the instructor after a student has failed to complete all the assignments for any of the units. Please note that a grade of W in a course affects scholarship, financial aid, and athletic eligibility.
Grading Criteria	LITE 216 is a second year college course. Consequently, students are expected basic competency. Consequently, the grades your writing assignments receive represent your instructor's estimate of how well each assignment demonstrates your mastery of the composition skills appropriate at that point in the course. The following briefly describes the general requirements for each grade level. To receive a grade of A, your writing should: CONTENT - contain a central idea that is clearly defined, developed with originality and careful thought, and supported substantially and concretely ORGANIZATION - follow a plan that progresses by clearly ordered and necessary stages STYLE - contain paragraphs that are unified and developed with unusual effectiveness, transitions within and between paragraphs that are clear/effective, and paragraphs and sentences that are coherent and effective DICTION - utilize language that is appropriate, fresh, accurate, concise, and idiomatic To receive a grade of B, your writing should: CONTENT - contain a central idea that is defined with more than usual care and clarity, developed fully and with consistent attention to proportion and emphasis, and supported with sufficient and consistently relevant detail ORGANIZATION - follow a plan whose purpose and method are consistently apparent & completely fulfilled STYLE - contain paragraphs that are well-developed and unified, transitions between paragraphs that are explicit and effective, and paragraphs/ sentences that are coherent and emphatic DICTION - utilize language that is appropriate, clear, carefully chosen, and idiomatic To receive a grade of C, your writing should: CONTENT - contain a central idea that is adequately defined but trite, trivial, or too general; or that is developed adequately but with occasional disproportion or inappropriate emphasis; or that is supported adequately but with occasional repetition or sketchiness ORGANIZATION - follow a plan whose purpose/method is apparent but fulfilled unimaginatively or incompletely STYLE - contain paragraphs that are unified and coherent but occasionally ineffective in their development, or utilized transitions that are abrupt or mechanical, or contains sentences that while coherent are occasionally monotonous, un-emphatic, or ineffective in structure DICTION - utilize language that is often inappropriate, vague, trite, or unidiomatic Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Placement in LITE 216 presupposes a basic competence in English grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling. An piece of writing will not receive a high grade merely because it is grammatically error-free. If the grammar in your work is so problematic as to obscure meaning, then you may be required to utilize some sources of help from outside the course.

Attendance Regular online participation is imperative. Important material is discussed in the bulletin board each week, and it is crucial that you plan to log on at least 4 times per week. The most successful students log on every day.

Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is NOT permitted. Any students caught engaging in academic dishonesty will receive NO points for the exam, quiz, or writing assignment in which the cheating occurred, and/or will be subject to the disciplinary procedures of Kellogg Community College (at the discretion of the instructor).

Types of Academic Dishonesty
Un-permitted collaboration. A small amount of collaboration is permitted in this course, and guidelines for collaboration are given below. Students who work together in violation of the collaboration policy in this class are guilty of academic dishonesty and will receive the penalties outlined below.

Plagiarism - Plagiarism is using another person's writing dishonestly. If you submit for a grade any writing that was written by an author (profession or non-professional) other than yourself, you are guilty of academic dishonesty, and you will receive the penalties outlined below.

Cheating � The most common form of general cheating is the sharing of answers on quizzes, tests, homework, or other assignments when the work is to be completed individually. If you cheat in this manner, you are guilty of academic dishonesty, and you will receive the penalties outlined below.

Fabrication- Fabrication is the falsification if information, sources, or citations in an academic exercise. "Invented" information may not be used in any academic exercise without authorization from the instructor.

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty - Students who knowingly or negligently allow their work to be used by other students or who otherwise aid others in academic dishonesty are violating academic integrity.

Disclaimer
Information contained in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract between Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between any student and the instructor. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.

Make-up Policy All assignments are due by midnight the date indicated on the pacing chart. Late assignments will be accepted only if they are completed by midnight of the next day, and this option is only available twice to each student. Assignments not submitted according to this policy will receive no credit, but students are still required to complete and submit the assignment to avoid being dropped from the course. It is strongly suggested that students set a personal deadline two days prior to the course deadline and complete all assignments by that deadline. This arrangement allows for unexpected life events and technology crashes.

Penalties for Academic Dishonesty
The penalty for any form of academic dishonesty, at a minimum, is a zero on the assignment, which will often seriously jeopardize your semester grade. The incident will then be reported to the KCC�s Dean of Student Services who will keep a record of the incident in your permanent file. If, at this time, it is discovered that you have any other incident of academic dishonesty on file at KCC, you will be dropped from this course with an "F" and considered for suspension from the college. If you choose to cheat more than once in this class, you will be dropped from this course with an �F.�

Collaboration Policy
Students can talk with each other about the assignments, and this discussion is encouraged. In this class, collaboration is permitted when the assignment specifically indicates that working with another student is allowed. Always assume that collaboration is NOT allowed unless you are told something different.

Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 Statement Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Attendance	Regular online participation is imperative. Important material is discussed in the bulletin board each week, and it is crucial that you plan to log on at least 4 times per week. The most successful students log on every day.
Academic Dishonesty	Academic dishonesty is NOT permitted. Any students caught engaging in academic dishonesty will receive NO points for the exam, quiz, or writing assignment in which the cheating occurred, and/or will be subject to the disciplinary procedures of Kellogg Community College (at the discretion of the instructor). Types of Academic Dishonesty Un-permitted collaboration. A small amount of collaboration is permitted in this course, and guidelines for collaboration are given below. Students who work together in violation of the collaboration policy in this class are guilty of academic dishonesty and will receive the penalties outlined below. Plagiarism - Plagiarism is using another person's writing dishonestly. If you submit for a grade any writing that was written by an author (profession or non-professional) other than yourself, you are guilty of academic dishonesty, and you will receive the penalties outlined below. Cheating � The most common form of general cheating is the sharing of answers on quizzes, tests, homework, or other assignments when the work is to be completed individually. If you cheat in this manner, you are guilty of academic dishonesty, and you will receive the penalties outlined below. Fabrication- Fabrication is the falsification if information, sources, or citations in an academic exercise. "Invented" information may not be used in any academic exercise without authorization from the instructor. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty - Students who knowingly or negligently allow their work to be used by other students or who otherwise aid others in academic dishonesty are violating academic integrity.
Disclaimer	Information contained in this syllabus was, to the best knowledge of the instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed for use at the beginning of the semester. However, this syllabus should not be considered a contract between Kellogg Community College and any student, nor between any student and the instructor. The instructor reserves the right, acting within the policies and procedures of Kellogg Community College, to make changes in course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
Make-up Policy	All assignments are due by midnight the date indicated on the pacing chart. Late assignments will be accepted only if they are completed by midnight of the next day, and this option is only available twice to each student. Assignments not submitted according to this policy will receive no credit, but students are still required to complete and submit the assignment to avoid being dropped from the course. It is strongly suggested that students set a personal deadline two days prior to the course deadline and complete all assignments by that deadline. This arrangement allows for unexpected life events and technology crashes.
Penalties for Academic Dishonesty	The penalty for any form of academic dishonesty, at a minimum, is a zero on the assignment, which will often seriously jeopardize your semester grade. The incident will then be reported to the KCC�s Dean of Student Services who will keep a record of the incident in your permanent file. If, at this time, it is discovered that you have any other incident of academic dishonesty on file at KCC, you will be dropped from this course with an "F" and considered for suspension from the college. If you choose to cheat more than once in this class, you will be dropped from this course with an �F.�
Collaboration Policy	Students can talk with each other about the assignments, and this discussion is encouraged. In this class, collaboration is permitted when the assignment specifically indicates that working with another student is allowed. Always assume that collaboration is NOT allowed unless you are told something different.
Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 Statement	Kellogg Community College does not discriminate in the admission or treatment of students on the basis of disability. KCC is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.