The
student's grade will depend upon four separate components:
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An analytical exercise based on the principles discussed
in David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson's Film Art.
Worth 10 points.
-
Three directed papers--assigned over the course
of the first two months. These four-page (1200 word
minimum) papers will respond to questions handed out
in class and will deal with specific topics covered
during a particular week. Questions will be handed
out on a Wednesday and will be due the following week
(see below for dates). At least one of these papers
will be graded and returned before midterm. Each paper
is worth 16 points for a total of 48 points.
Please see the handout, Notes
on Writing Film Analyses, for tips on preparing
these papers.
These papers must be word processed and will
be graded on the basis of conceptual rigor and fluency
of writing style (i.e., grammar, spelling, etc.).
Writing proficiency is required for a
passing grade in this course. You are not expected
to do extra research for these papers, but any references
to sources other than yourself must be properly
footnoted--see Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for
Writers of Research Papers, fifth edition (NY:
Modern Language Association, 1999) or a similar
style book. This includes references to Websites
and the course readings. To quote or paraphrase
without citation constitutes academic misconduct.
The paper grading will include suggestions for improving
your writing. Students who are concerned about their
writing style are urged to come in during office
hours to discuss their work in more detail. In addition,
style guides will be available in the instructor's
office--as well as in the reference room of the
main library.
-
One ten-page (3000 word minimum) research paper. This
paper will take one film and analyze it in the context
of its genre, director, or major star--using
the principles learned in class. The film chosen may
not be a film noir or a melodrama, directed by
Howard Hawks or Douglas Sirk, or star Humphrey Bogart or Lana
Turner.
As with the directed papers, this project must be
word-processed and will be graded based on conceptual
rigor and fluency of writing style. This paper should
involve outside research. Any use of outside sources
must be properly footnoted. A bibliography and a
filmography (that is, the credits for the film analyzed)
must be provided. (One online source for credits
is the Internet Movie Database: us.imdb.com
. See links below to credits for films used in class.)
-
An open book, open note final exam--worth 12 points.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students
Beyond
the requirements for undergraduates, the grad student
must lead one discussion (worth 3 points). The directed
papers should be five pages (1500 words) instead of
four (worth 15 points), and the final paper should
be 13 pages instead of 10.
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