Writing About Film

ENG 317/FST 317, Spring 2009
Writing about Film
317-001 TR 11:00-12:15
317-002 TR 12:30-1:45
Morton 201

Dr. Nicholas Laudadio, Morton 138
Office Hours, TBA
laudadion@uncw.edu
http://people.uncw.edu/laudadion/

Course Description
In this course we will begin with the basics of film language/terminology and then move through several different genres of film writing: reviews, critical essays, personal analysis, etc. We will discuss the mechanics of and practice writing in most of these formats, but there will be a particular focus on the critical/analytical essay and film review. While much of this class concerns itself with film studies and history, it is at heart (and in practice) a writing course, and therefore a writing intensive course.

Required Texts
• Course reserves available through the online course schedule in pdf or txt format.
• Corrigan, Timothy. A Short Guide to Writing About Film. Latest edition. Pearson Longman.

Required Films:
• Henry Fool (Hal Hartley, 1998)
• Superstar (1987)
• Thin (Lauren Greenfield, 2006)
• Night of The Living Dead (George Romero, 1968)
• Wall-E (1976)
• Gimme Shelter (1987)

Supplies
• Notepad and writing implement to take notes in class. I expect you to take notes in class (it helps you remember things, and I'll be calling on you occasionally).
• A printed copy of the day's readings (with notes), or a digital copy on a laptop/device.
• USB key on which you keep every thing you write for class (keep it on you at all times).
NB: Always save repeatedly and backup regularly as important documents have a tendency to disappear and crashes/losses are not an acceptable excuse for late/missing assignments.

Film Screenings
As you might expect, nearly every other week you will be watching a film. I will try to make these available on reserve in the library, but I would strongly recommend that you buy some (or all) of the films (or get a Netflix membership for the semester). However you watch the film, realize that you MUST WATCH THE FILM BY THE DATE IT IS LISTED ON THE SYLLABUS, NOT AFTER.

Class Requirements and Assignments
• You will be required to digitally submit eight responses (see below), write three longer essays, participate in class discussions, and attend class regularly (see attendance policy below).
• Each response should be 500 words (1 page single spaced) and sent to laudadion@uncw.edu as text files (see below). Your essays should be typed in a standard 10 or 12 point serifed font (Times or Times New Roman) in MLA style (refer to the website for more info). Hand in all versions of the paper with your final drafts.
• I do not guarantee acceptance of late assignments without notification before the due date. When accepted, all late assignments will be reduced by one-third of a grade per class day. (Absence from class on the date due (as well as computer problems) does not excuse the lateness of your assignment.)
• When you turn in your final essay at the end of the semester, you must also turn in all your journals, your drafts, and every graded paper you turned in this semester--all organized chronologically in your folder.
• Regarding the above requirements: no exceptions without my verbal/written consent.

Responses
This semester you will be required to submit 500-750 word responses to the prompts listed on the syllabus and will be due by 11 pm the night before class (all assignments are due they day they are listed on the syllabus—so, the response listed on April 2 will actually be due to me at 11pm on April 1. No fool). You don’t need to print these out, submit them as text files (.txt, .rtf, .doc, .docx). I expect the tone of these to be professional and curious—avoid boring taste/value judgments (“I didn’t like it,” “This sucked”)--try to center your discussion on tangible and specific aspects of the film/scene/article you are discussing, not on just your emotional ("gut") responses.

Breakdown of Grades
Three essays: (60%)
Eight responses: (30%)
Participation: includes group work, quizzes, class participation, attendance, and general attitude (10%)
In-Class Grades
A 95; A/A- 93; A- 91; A-/B+ 89; B+ 88; B+/B 87; B 85; B/B- 83; B- 81; B-/C+ 79
C+ 78; C+/C 77; C 75; C/C- 73; C- 71
Final Reporting Grades
A 94-; A- 90-93; B+ 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C+ 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73

Attendance
You are allowed to miss two classes before you are penalized. Use these wisely (i.e. save them for when you are really sick). After three missed classes, your participation grade drops a level. After four missed classes, your final grade drops by a third. After five missed classes, you will receive a failing grade. The class depends upon your presence and you CAN and WILL fail if you do not show up.
• If you miss more than one class, you must contact me in person; otherwise, I will assume you have dropped the class.
• Do not schedule meetings with your advisor, doctor’s appointments or anything else during this class time. (Having a doctor’s note does not gain you a “free” absence.)
• Don’t leave class early.

Lateness
If you are late to class two times (that is, if you come in after I have taken attendance), you will receive one absence. If you are late, please make sure that I have marked you present. If you find that parking is a problem on the first day (and it almost always is) come earlier.

Incompletes
The incomplete grade may be given only to students who have 1) fulfilled the attendance requirement for the course and 2) completed all but one of the written assignments.

Academic Dishonesty
As a reminder: plagiarism is using another person’s words (even just a few words and even if they are from some old website) and/or ideas as if they were your own. To avoid plagiarism, simply put the material you have taken in quotation marks and cite the person’s name and publication information in your paper. Please note that turning in an assignment that you wrote for another class also falls under the heading of academic dishonesty and is prohibited. If you turn in any such assignments, you will receive an “F” for the course and I will notify the Dean.

For more information on the university's Honor Code, see http://www.uncw.edu/policies/documents/03.100_Academic_Honor_Code_final_071905.pdf

Writer’s Block
Feel free to stop in during office hours for any reason; as paper time draws near, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment if you’re desperate for additional feedback. Please do not wait until the last minute to do so; I cannot (as you can probably imagine) schedule time for very many students two days before the deadline. If you need additional assistance on your paper draft beyond this meeting, please seek out the Writing Place; the staff are there to provide feedback on papers. (Please keep in mind, however, that merely having someone on the staff read your paper does not ensure you a higher grade. http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/writingplace/ 962-7155 (appointments are recommended) Hours: M-Th 10-9; Friday 10-3; Sun 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Disabilities
If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodation, you should inform me of this fact in writing within the first week of class. If you have not already done so, you must register with the Office of Disability Services in Westside Hall (extension 3746) and obtain a copy of your Accommodation Letter. You should then schedule an appointment with me to make mutually agreeable arrangements based on the recommendations in your letter.

Links
grammar/style links
MLA style for print and online sources (important)
grammar quizzes

film writing/resource links
'prewriting' a review
writing a review
writing about a film, a basic guide general review sites
sight and sound review archive
the new yorker film reviews
allmovie.com
the internet movie database
rotten tomatoes
movie review query engine