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Classic American Film and Modern American Film
Syllabus and expectations
This course is based on the theory that film is part of our linguistic environment and that strong connections can be made between the language arts and the media arts: between composing and film making, between literature and narrative film, between reader response and viewer response, among trends in literary and film criticism. The course responds to the media strands of the learning standards established by the Massachusetts Language Frameworks: that students will obtain information by using a variety of media and evaluating the quality of media material they obtain.
The course follows the curriculum developed by William Castanzo in 1992 for the National Council of Teachers of English. The background considers film making as an art, comparing it to literature and other arts, tracing its technology and chronology, identifying major trends and variations, and reflecting on its place in our culture and private lives. Reflection, discussion, analysis, and evaluation will focus on the following films viewed in class, as recommended by the NCTE:
Citizen Kane, On the Waterfront, Rebel Without a Cause, The Graduate, Modern Times, Singin' in the Rain, Vertigo, Rear Window, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like it Hot...
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Certainly, we all have favorite and noteworthy films we would like to see included in the curriculum: hopefully the independent review will fulfill at least some part of this desire; obviously a nine-week course can only provide an introduction to some of the classics of a vast genre.
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School Year 2021 - 22
Students will be graded on their writing. Writing assignments will include note-taking during lectures, journal entries, and Viewer's Response. Viewer's Responses will have a strict deadline. Students will be asked to cite a moment in a film would like to discuss in class. This will be identified with a timestamp and submitted through a google form. I will then incorporate students' comments into my lecture. This is a strict deadline. Viewer's Responses will not be accepted late.
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Homework Policy
Written assignments are all required to be passed in on time. Work passed in late will not be accepted. That being said, I realize that this is an elective in addition to your English class. Deadlines are important. Life sometimes gets in the way of deadlines. With that in mind, one assignment can be submitted late each quarter. You cannot carry over this extension from quarter to quarter.
Assignment due dates will be arrived at through class discussion/agreement. If you have a huge assignment in another class, there will be the opportunity to let me know. Use this opportunity. I can be flexible with information.
Grading:
Essays will be graded on a 4 point scale. If, when you receive your grade, you are unhappy with it, you can resubmit that essay with rewrites for a new grade. That rewrite is due one week after your receive the graded paper.
Essay prompts can be found on the classroom website. There will be several questions to choose from.
A notebook dedicated to this class is required and will be collected and checked once a quarter. When we are discussing films, it is my expectation that you will be taking notes that you will be able to refer to when writing essays.
A reflection on your own writing will be required each quarter.
Alternative Assignments:
If you would like to write a review of a film in place of an essay, you can review a film that I have approved.
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Ideas/Analysis
4
Demonstrate a high level of analysis of tone. You offer evidence of perceptive viewing and use precise language to communite your ideas
3
Accurate and well documented analysis of the topic and its message in the film.
2
Themes need to be more fully developed instead of synopsized.
1
You need further development and analysis. Fails to folllow directions
Organization of Argument
4
Clear ideas are developed. The complex ideas are clearly connected or contrasted to one another.
3
Clear and developed. Essay reflects solid development of thought.
2
The argument needs to be restructured to have credence. Repeats the analysis rather than showing the significance of the idea.
1
Needs structure to develop the argument.
Citation of the film
4
Apt and specific examples from the film support your thesis
3
Examples chosen are strong, but not connected to analysis
2
Vague exmaples
1
Needs specific examples and references
Writing and mechanics
4
Demonstrate skills to communicate ideas. Shows a consistent mastery of language
3
Clear and consistent. Precise language expressed a high level of analysis
2
Errors may make the message of the essay difficult to understand. Language of the essay needs to be more precise.
1
Too many errors in the writing. Language needs to reflect the sophistication of the film.