Instructor: Lauren Glenn
E-mail: laurenglenn@ufl.edu
Office Hours: M 2:10-2:55 pm
and by appointment
Office: TUR 4359
Classroom: ROL #115
Screening Room: TUR #2334
Meeting Times: MWF/8 (3:00-3:50 pm)
Screening Times: W/E1-E3 (7:20-10:10 pm)
Section: 4784
Course Description:
As an introduction to film analysis, ENG 2300 will provide students with a working knowledge of film vocabulary (mise-en-scène, cinematography, editing, sound, etc.). However, as opposed to the “film appreciation” model, ENG 2300 develops these analytical tools in the context of film history and film theory. Thus the course involves films and essays that have proved central to subsequent ways of thinking about cinema. Having completed this course, students will have a sense of both film history’s general outline and film theory’s most important issues. The main purpose of this class, however, is to develop more engaged analyses of a given film’s style and structure, and to write about that elegantly.
We will spend the first part of the semester learning the vocabulary of film studies and applying this knowledge to the analysis of individual films. While our focus on the language of cinema will continue throughout the semester, we will also engage with more theoretical concepts (such as genre, film diegesis, intellectual montage, etc.) through our readings and discussions as the semester progresses. In addition, we will read essays that correspond to the screenings and different approaches to film analysis, which will serve as models for the writing we will do in this course.
Goals/Objectives:
The student learning outcomes for this course are as detailed in the Undergraduate Catalog at: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/advisinggened.html#requirements
Required Texts/Materials:
1. Film: A Critical Introduction (second edition) by Maria Pramaggiore and Tom Wallis (available on Amazon or at Orange and Blue Textbooks)
2. An active Blogger account
3. All online readings will be posted to our class Sakai site under the “Resources” tab
Attendance Policy:
Much of the learning that takes place is spontaneous and difficult to reproduce outside of class. Because a large amount of our work depends upon discussion and group work, you should plan to attend every class session. However, you may miss up to four classes without penalty EXCEPT that you will lose credit for whatever in-class work you miss. Every absence over the allowed four will reduce your overall grade by 50 points. Since the screenings are an integral part of this course, missing one screening time will count as two absences. If you have an exam or some other class conflict, make sure to provide me with documentation prior to missing a screening in order for your absence to be excused.
Tardiness
Of course, you should come to class on time. If you do arrive late, please come in as quietly as possible and begin work quickly. (After class, you must make sure that I change my attendance record to reflect that you attended after all.) If you are more than 15 minutes late, it will count as an absence for the entire class session. In such a case, however, you may enter the class and receive credit for in-class work that you complete during the remaining class time.
Assigned Work Deadlines
You must submit assigned work on the specified due date even if you are absent and even if you are taking one of your allowed absences. Take responsibility for getting any notes, handouts, or assignments that you miss due to absence. Inform me as early as possible in advance if you will miss class due to a university-approved reason (i.e., varsity athletics, etc.). Similarly, you should inform me in advance if you will miss class to observe a religious holiday. Your first absence (for whatever reason) will count toward your "allowed" ones.
**LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED**
Special Dispensations
If you have a learning disability, hardship, or other special dispensation approved by the Office of Student Affairs, please meet with me to discuss your requirements as early in the term as possible.
Online Work
This class is designed as a hybrid course, meaning that part of the required work will be completed in class and part will be completed online. If you fail to submit your work by the assigned deadline on the given class day, you will not receive credit for your work and you will be counted absent for the day.
Communication with Your Instructor
The best way to contact me is via email. Please allow at least 24 hours for me to respond to all requests/questions/inquiries by email. If you would like to meet face-to-face, you can visit me during office hours or contact me to schedule an appointment time that works for both of us.
Technology Use in Class
All cell phones and hand-held devices must be turned off during class. If I see your phone I will confiscate it until the end of the class period and 50 points will be deducted from your final grade. Laptops are not necessary for class participation, so they will not be allowed in class unless otherwise specified.
Final Grade Appeals:
In 1000- and 2000- level courses, students may appeal a final grade by filling out a form available from Carla Blount, Program Assistant. Grade appeals may result in a higher, unchanged, or lower final grade.
Statement of Composition (C) and Humanities (H) credit:
This course can satisfy the UF General Education requirement for Composition or Humanities. For more information, see:
Statement of Writing Requirement:
This course can satisfy the UF requirement for Writing. For more information, see:
Statement of student disability services:
The University of Florida complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students requesting accommodation should contact the Students with Disabilities Office, Peabody 202. That office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. The Disability Resource Center in the Dean of Students Office provides students and faculty with information and support regarding accommodations for students with disabilities in the classroom. For more information, see: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/
Statement on harassment:
UF provides an educational and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from sex discrimination and sexual harassment. For more about UF policies regarding harassment, see:
Statement on academic honesty
All students are required to abide by the Student Honor Code. For more information about academic honesty, including definitions of plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration, see:
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious violation of the Student Honor Code. The Honor Code prohibits and defines plagiarism as follows:
Plagiarism—a student shall not represent as the student’s own work all or any portion of the work of another. Plagiarism includes (but is not limited to):
a. Quoting oral or written materials, whether published or unpublished, without proper attribution.
b. Submitting a document or assignment which in whole or in part is identical or substantially identical to a document or assignment not authored by the student. (University of Florida, Student Honor Code, 15 Aug. 2007 <http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/honorcode.php>)
University of Florida students are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the entire Student Honor Code.
Academic Honesty
As a University of Florida student, your performance is governed by the UF Honor Code, available in its full form at http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/students.html . The Honor Code requires Florida students to neither give nor receive unauthorized aid in completing all assignments. Violations include cheating, plagiarism, bribery, and misrepresentation. Visit http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/procedures/academicguide.php for more detail.
Graded Materials
Students are responsible for maintaining duplicate copies of all work submitted in this course and retaining all returned, graded work until the semester is over. Should the need arise for a re-submission of papers or a review of graded papers, it is the student's responsibility to have and make available this material.
Classroom Behavior
Please keep in mind that students come from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. Some of the texts we will discuss and write about engage controversial topics and opinions. Diverse student backgrounds combined with provocative texts require that you demonstrate respect for ideas that may differ from your own.
Statement on Grade Point Equivalencies
The University of Florida has recently instituted minus grades. As a result, letter grades now have different grade point equivalencies. For more information see: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html
Graded Assignments:
Blog Assignments
Screening Notes 150 Points
Blog Entries (x 3) 150 Points
Short Essays
#1: Moments of Choice (Perkins) 100 Points
#2: Key Scene (Cavell) 100 Points
Quizzes
Reading 100 Points
Vocabulary 75 Points
Participation and Blog Commentaries 25 Points
Film Analysis Essay (7-8 pages) 300 Points
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Total Possible: 1000 Points
Explanation of Assignments
Blog Assignments: Each student will maintain an individual blog throughout the semester. The blog will have two tabs: (1) Screening Notes and (2) Blog Entries.
(1) Screening Notes: For each film screened in class, you will write a short entry in note format. Your notes do not need to be written in complete paragraphs; instead, this space will serve to compile ideas for use in future essays. You should relate your notes to topics discussed in class. For example, we will be discussing Psycho the same week we discuss Roland Barthes’ 5 Codes of Meaning. Your entry on Psycho should incorporate elements of Barthes’ code (enigma, delays, etc.) in relation to things you notice in the film.
(2) Blog Entries: There are six blog assignments total. The class will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will compose original entries in response to a posted prompt on three designated days (1/21, 2/18, 3/25) and each member of Group 2 will chose one student’s entry to comment on for those days. For the other three assignments, Group 2 will compose original entries (on 2/4, 3/4, and 4/8) and Group 1 will choose a student entry to comment upon. Each blog assignment has been designed to develop composition skills that will be necessary to complete the film analysis essay at the end of the term. Each assignment will integrate elements of the films we screen, class discussions, and reading materials. In order to meet the composition requirement for this course, you must complete all of the online discussions as well as the short essays and the final film analysis essay.
Short Essay #1: For this essay, you will compose a scene analysis emulating V.F. Perkins’ “Moments of Choice” approach. You can choose a scene from any of the following films: The Rules of the Game, Shark in the Head, Memento, Psycho, or Full Metal Jacket. The scene you chose to analyze should be no longer than three minutes. The minimum length required is 2-3 pages of text (not including images if you choose to incorporate them). This paper should focus on one element of mise-en-scène. Due: February 14, 2011.
Short Essay #2: Using Stanley Cavell’s “key moment” approach, you will compose a scene analysis from one of the following films: Atonement, Breathless, The Hurt Locker, Citizen Kane, or Late Spring. The minimum length for this essay is also 2-3 pages of text. This paper should focus on one element of cinematography or editing. Due: March 28, 2011.
Quizzes:
Reading: In-class reading quizzes will be given periodically to assess your reading comprehension of
both written materials read and films screened. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of the class
period and cannot be made up.
Vocabulary: There will be 3 vocabulary quizzes composed of matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short
answer questions (see course schedule for dates).
Participation: I am a huge advocate of small and large group discussions. Your participation in class discussions and group activities will be integral to the success of this course. I will evaluate your participation on a daily basis. You are expected to be prepared for every class, including completing all reading and writing assignments on time. Failure to be prepared for or to contribute to discussion will lower your participation grade. In addition, the three commentaries you will compose in response to another students’ blog post will contribute to your participation grade. Failure to complete one blog commentary will lower your participation grade by 5 points. You will also schedule an individual conference with me to discuss the progress of your final paper. Failure to attend this conference will lower your participation grade by 15 points.
Film Analysis Essay: This essay will require you to compose a detailed analysis of one or two scenes from a single film. You must use the film terminology and topics that we have discussed in class. You can choose to write on any film screened in class. Your essay should include a brief synopsis of the film and your own analysis of the elements at work within the scene(s) you choose to examine. You should discuss your topic in relation to the film theories we have discussed in class. (7-8 pages minimum) Due: April 25, 2010.
