SUMMER 2008

Class begins: 6/2/08

Class ends: 7/24/08

Last Day to Withdraw: 7/10/08

Instructor Information:

Name: Dr. Richard Fulton	Office: L101-I
E-mail: rfulton@frederick.edu	Phone Number: 301.846.2547
Office Hours: by appointment	Campus Mail Box #: 109

Course Information:

Credits: 3
On-campus Meetings: none	On-campus Exams: One
Prerequisites: none	Co-requisites: none

Course Description:

An analytical and interpretative study of film masterworks. The class will cover the historical development of film from silent short movies to the present and will include an analysis of film from several perspectives: artistic, technological, social, and economic.

Core Learning Outcomes:

Students completing this course will be able to:

1. Have broadened his or her film experience by viewing several significant films within the scheduled 8-week course time.

2. Be able to recognize major figures and trends in movie history because of reading the assigned textbook and conducting research. The student will have already demonstrated that recognition and knowledge through the successful completion of the examination.

3. Demonstrate a basic understanding of film technique and evaluation. This understanding will be enhanced by participating in class discussions and by completing course assignments.

4. The student will have gained greater awareness of specific points of film theory through the successful completion of various homework assignments during the semester.

Instructional Methods:

Methods of instruction will include mini lessons, reading, quizzes/exam, group discussion, group activities, use of multi-media materials, research and presentations.

How this course is organized:

Students will be required to take weekly on-line quizzes pertaining to the chapters in the text. Students will also have to view an average of one full-length film each week. There will be several Discussion opportunities in which each student will be responsible for participating. Additionally, there are Papers and Projects that will require students to create a finished product. Finally, one exam will be taken in the FCC testing center on campus.

Text(s) for Course:

Film Art: an Introduction, 8th Edition by David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson

Progress Report:

By the end of the third week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course. Students may check the status of their grades at anytime by going to the "Tools" section of the course site and selecting "View Grades." Students should check their course progress during Week 3. By that time, your first paper should be graded, and feedback from the instructor regarding how you are doing on the Discussion Board and quizzes should be given.

Since this is a condensed summer session (8 weeks), you should plan on spending 10 to 12 hours a week on this course. That would include the reading as well as the viewing of motion pictures.

Academic Honesty:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Honesty. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times. Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas.

Evaluation Methods:

Exam: 100 total points
The exam counts 100 points. It is comprised of essay and objective questions.
Quizzes: 50 points
Each week there are one or two quizzes that you take on-line. Submit each quiz to the instructor after you have 100% correct answers.
Discussion Board: 150 points
There are several required whole class discussions that take place in the Discussion Board section of this course site.
Reaction Paper: 50 points
You will view a film from a prepared list.
Contemporary Film Analysis: 50 points
You will view a contemporary motion picture (one that’s playing now) at the movie theater.

6. Final Comparison Project: 100 points

Projects comparing Auteur and Contemporary film directors will be presented

using a discussion board.

Total Points: 500 POINTS
Grading Scale:
450 (90%) to 500 = A
400 (80%) to 449 = B
350 (70%) to 399 = C
300 (60%) to 349 = D
299 and below = F

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional assessments.

Attendance/Participation Policy:

All students are expected to participate in all class assignments and discussions. Late assignments will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. No late quizzes or discussions will be accepted. Contact me as soon as possible if an emergency occurs.

Email Policy:

Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

Students are only permitted to use their myFCC email when corresponding with the instructor or other students regarding this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

Tentative Topical Outline

Week	Date	Subject	Content
1	6/2/08	Technology and Business Film History	How Movies Work Chapter 1 Distribution and Exhibition Early Cinema pp. 440-447
2	6/9/08	Film History Cont. Film Form	German Expressionism pp. 447-450 Soviet Montage pp. 453-456 Film Form and Principles Chapter 2
3	6/16/08	The Narrative Mise-en-Scene Cinematography	The Film Narrative Chapter 3 Putting it all into The Shot Chapter 4 Framing Chapter 5 The Long Take
4	6/23/08	Editing Film Genres	Rhythm, Space and Continuity Chapter 6 The Western Chapter 9 Horror The Musical
5	6/30/08	Exam Classical Narrative Style as a Formal System	Classic Hollywood pp. 456-459 Citizen Kane pp. 309-315
6	7/7/08	The New Hollywood Documentary Experimental Animated Film	Independent Filmmaking pp. 463-468 Chapter 10
7	7/14/08	Final Presentation	Auteur and Contemporary Directors
8	7/21/08	Final Discussion	Wrap-up and Review

NOTE: This is a tentative schedule. Your instructor reserves the right to make changes to this outline as needed. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on the course site and you will be responsible for noting them.

Specific Course Requirements: The information above is an overview. To see the specific requirements, look in the Assignments, Projects and Discussion sections of this course site. Information about the exam and quizzes are contained in the Syllabus in the Course Information section. Due dates and other important dates are in the Calendar section.

Student grades are posted online and are not mailed. Check www.frederick.edu for help.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! J