COURSE BLOG/ONLINE SYLLABUS

In addition to this syllabus, we will be working from a Word Press blog, 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 course blog will host supplementary course materials as well as short films and short clips.

ATTENDANCE

Consistent attendance is important to both your own progress in this class and the effective functioning of the class overall. Regular attendance is required. More than two unexcused absences will adversely affect your grade. Excessive absences may result in failure.

LATE PAPER

Late papers submitted will be penalized 1/3 grade per day (e.g., a B paper submitted two days late will receive a C+). Students are required to submit the paper in order to receive credit for the course.

The essay is a thesis-driven, analytical paper that addresses a given topic, provided by me. Exact requirements and guidelines for the paper will be outlined in the writing assignment topic sheet, which will be handed out approximately 2 weeks before the paper’s due date. I provide a handout, “Writing About Film,” which will assist you as you write your analytical film paper. This handout is available on OAKS.

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. The use of ChatGPT or other essay writing sites is forbidden and will result in an F for the course and disciplinary action from the College’s Honors Board.

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 in the “Contact Me” page of this blog.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Any student eligible for and needing accommodations because of a disability is requested to speak with the professor as soon as the student has been approved for services so that reasonable accommodations can be arranged. Please email me a PDF copy of your accommodation letter the first week of class.

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 (use of AI, ChatGPT, etc.) 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 LGBTQIA+ 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.