COURSE BLOG/ONLINE SYLLABUS

In addition to this syllabus, we will be working from an “online syllabus,” a link to which is available in OAKS in the “Course Materials” module. There you have access to all of the information included here. In addition, the online syllabus will host supplementary course materials, as well as short films and short clips. These will be found in the “Lobby” sections of the online syllabus. In many instances, you will be asked to watch clips to supplement the week’s reading(s) and film and respond to them in your Discussion Posts.

LATE PAPERS

If you need to submit the short paper late, you may ask for an extension. Late papers submitted without an extension will be penalized 1/3 grade per day (e.g., a B paper submitted two days late will receive a C+).

FORMAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT

A formal writing assignment consists of a thesis-driven, analytical paper that addresses a given topic, either provided by me or developed by you in consultation with me. For supplemental guidance, you may consult the “Writing About Film” handout in OAKS. Exact guidelines for a formal writing paper will be outlined in the writing assignment topic sheet, which will be handed out at least 3 weeks before the due date.

Note: you are not permitted to include in your papers Internet sources (such as Wikipedia, Internet Movie Database, RottenTomatoes.com, etc.) unless approved by me prior to the paper’s submission.

FINAL EXAM

Only under extraordinary circumstances may you request to reschedule the exam. The date of our final exam is posted in the “Course Requirements” section on page two of this syllabus. Plan your travel accordingly. The “Request to an Instructor to Change a Final Exam” form can be found here: 

https://academicaffairs.cofc.edu/documents/final-exam-change-request-form.pdf

CONTACTING ME

For questions about the assignments or course content, please post them in the “Course Lounge” Discussion Board on OAKS (under Communications tab). Others will benefit from reading your question, and it will make responding to these questions more efficient for me. My office location and office hours are posted at the top right corner of page one of this syllabus. As we continue to grapple with COVID-19, office hours will be conducted online via Zoom.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Any student eligible for and needing accommodations because of a disability is requested to speak with the professor during the first two weeks of class or as soon as the student has been approved for services so that reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

INCLEMENT WEATER, PANDEMIC OR SUBSTANTIAL INTERRUPTION OF INSTRUCTION

If in-person classes are suspended, faculty will announce to their students a detailed plan for a change in modality to ensure the continuity of learning. All students must have access to a computer equipped with a web camera, microphone, and Internet access. Resources are available to provide students with these essential tools.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT: 

Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when suspected, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved. 

Incidents where the instructor determines the student’s actions are related more to misunderstanding and confusion will be handled by the instructor. The instructor designs an intervention or assigns a grade reduction to help prevent the student from repeating the error. The response is recorded on a form and signed both by the instructor and the student. It is forwarded to the Office of the Dean of Students and placed in the student’s file. 

Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XXF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This status indicator will appear on the student’s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the XX to be expunged. The F is permanent. 

Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook at: http://deanofstudents.cofc.edu/honor-system/studenthandbook/

INCLUSION

The College of Charleston offers many resources for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff along with their allies.

Preferred Name and Pronoun Information

On Campus Gender Inclusive facilities

Campus Resources

College of Charleston Reporting Portals

National Resources for Faculty & Staff

GSEC Reports

Documenting LGBTQ Life in the Lowcountry (CofC Addlestone Library Special Collections Project)

College of Charleston Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

Articles about CofC and LGBTQ+ Issues

GRADING POLICIES

• Characteristics of an F paper: Plagiarism; complete failure to address given topics; minimal attempt to meet paper length requirements—a paper that meets any of these criteria will receive an F even if it exhibits other characteristics of higher grade levels.
• a D paper: Some attempt to address given topics; fragmentary writing; failure to meet paper length requirements (no more than three pages below minimum paper length requirements); widespread sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a D+ paper: Some attempt to address given topics; fragmentary writing; failure to meet paper length requirements (no more than two pages below minimum paper length requirements); widespread sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a C- paper: Addresses given topics but lacks an argument; too much descriptive plot summary; poor organization; no more than one page below minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a C paper: Some attempt at an argument but no clear thesis; too much descriptive plot summary; poor organization; no more than one page below minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness
• a C+ paper: Argument discernable but dominated by descriptive plot summary; inadequately supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; lack of clear, argumentative thesis; choppy paragraphing and organization; meets minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness
• a B- paper: Argument and thesis clear but not cogent; some descriptive plot summary; minimally supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; some breakdowns in organization; failure to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a B paper: Argument and thesis clear but insufficiently developed; some descriptive plot summary; supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; generally clear organization; failure to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a B+ paper: Generally strong analysis but not completely developed; some descriptive plot summary; well supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; some attempt to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• an A- paper: Strong, original analysis that pushes past the surface; a minimum of descriptive plot summary; exceptionally well supported with c lose analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; clear argumentative thesis and organization; engagement with opposing points of view; minor sentence level errors or carelessness.
• an A paper: Striking, original analysis that pushes past the surface; a minimum of descriptive plot summary; exceptionally well supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; clear argumentative thesis and organization; effective engagement with opposing points of view; no surface level errors or carelessness.