In English 213--Film and Literature--classes, which I have taught on a regular basis since 1978, I have incorporated the best student essays (and I find that many outstanding students have been attracted to these classes) into Montage, class journals for the students in subsequent classes. See below.
Students may use computer labs to type their papers and the library and the internet to do extra research. Students are encouraged to email the professor about questions related to the course.
The Racer Oral Communication Center offers free, one-on-one help with all aspects of the presentation process. We provide assistance with topic selection, outlining, research, visual aids, and can video record your presentation. To make an appointment, please call 809-3458 or visit our website (http://comcenter.murraystate.edu) to schedule through our online calendar. To best make use of your time at the Center, please bring a copy of your assignment with you to your appointment.
The Racer Writing Center offers free, one-on-one assistance with all aspects of writing, at any stage in the writing process, and for any class a student may be taking. To make an appointment, please call 809-2267 or drop by the center in the northeast corner of Waterfield Library. To make the best use of your time there, please bring a copy of your assignment with you. The Writing Center will not proofread (mark corrections on) papers or talk with you about grades.
VIII. EVALUATION AND GRADING PROCEDURES:
Students will do a variety of written assignments and serve on at least one panel discussion.
(Or write an extra paper in lieu of the latter).
Brief written assignments (10) on the literary works (10 points).
At least 6 papers (300 word min.) on a precise aspect of a cinematic adaptation (10 points each--60 points).
Optional rewrites or revised essays to improve the grade, writing skills, and chance of having them included in Montage. The rewrite grade will be worth 1/4 the total theme grade. Each student may write extra essays, with each one eliminating another essay with a lower grade.
Students will be encouraged to hand their works via email, especially the revisions. After essays are suitably edited by the professor and the students, the essays, with the students' permission, will be put into HTML format and posted to the latest issue of Montage on the professor's website.
A fair degree of latitude in the choice of topics will be allowed: for example, more than one essay on one cinematic adaptation and/or comparison/contrast essays between two film versions. However, at least two essays must be handed in before midterm grades are assigned.
Students will keep journals in a format of their choice, to be handed in twice a semester. In these journals, they will comment on the assigned books and films both shown in class and outside, on the class discussions, and on the student essays both from this semester and in the Montage issues from previous years, plus any outside relevant experiences (10 points).
Students should serve on at least one panel discussion and may serve on more during the semester. Students will be free to select their book/film discussion(s). Each panel discussion will be worth a maximum of 10 points. Students may write an extra paper in lieu of being on a panel.
There will be a two-hour final essay exam (10 points).
The point scale for final grades is below:
A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 E=0-59 1 Panel Discussion
A=98-110 B=88-97.9 C=78-87.9 D=68-77.9 E=0-67.9 2 Panel Discussions
A=108-120 B=96-109.9 C=84-95.9 D=72-83.4 E=0-71.9 3 Panel Discussions
Students must complete all assigned work to get a course grade.
IX. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students should make every effort to attend class. If they miss a showing of a film, they should make arrangements to see the films on video at another time. Students must offer plausible excuses for any absence(s). Students missing 3 or more classes without excuses will fail the course. Students are responsible for presenting the professor with valid excuses to avoid being penalized. Students are encouraged to email their excuses to the professor.
X. ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
Murray State University takes seriously its moral and educational obligation to maintain high standards of academic honesty and ethical behavior. Instructors are expected to evaluate students’ academic achievements accurately, as well as ascertain that work submitted by students is authentic and the result of their own efforts, and consistent with established academic standards. Students are obligated to respect and abide by the basic standards of personal and professional integrity.
Violations of Academic Honesty include:
Cheating - Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized information such as books, notes, study aids, or other electronic, online, or digital devices in any academic exercise; as well as unauthorized communication of information by any means to or from others during any academic exercise.
Fabrication and Falsification - Intentional alteration or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. Falsification involves changing information whereas fabrication involves inventing or counterfeiting information.
Multiple Submission - The submission of substantial portions of the same academic work, including oral reports, for credit more than once without authorization from the instructor.
Plagiarism - Intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, creative work, or data of someone else as one’s own in any academic exercise, without due and proper acknowledgement.
Instructors should outline their expectations that may go beyond the scope of this policy at the beginning of each course and identify such expectations and restrictions in the course syllabus. When an instructor receives evidence, either directly or indirectly, of academic dishonesty, he or she should investigate the instance. The faculty member should then take appropriate disciplinary action.
Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to the following:
1) Requiring the student(s) to repeat the exercise or do additional related exercise(s).
2) Lowering the grade or failing the student(s) on the particular exercise(s) involved.
3) Lowering the grade or failing the student(s) in the course.
If the disciplinary action results in the awarding of a grade of E in the course, the student(s) may not drop the course.
Faculty reserve the right to invalidate any exercise or other evaluative measures if substantial evidence exists that the integrity of the exercise has been compromised. Faculty also reserve the right to document in the course syllabi further academic honesty policy elements related to the individual disciplines.
A student may appeal the decision of the faculty member with the department chair in writing within five working days. Note: If, at any point in this process, the student alleges that actions have taken place that may be in violation of the Murray State University Non-Discrimination Statement, this process must be suspended and the matter be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity. Any appeal will be forwarded to the appropriate university committee as determined by the Provost.
Montage '96
Montage '99
Montage 2000
Montage 2001
Montage 2002
Montage 2003
Montage II 2003
Montage 2004
Montage 2005
Montage II 2005
Montage 2006
Montage 2007
Montage 2008
Montage 2009
Montage 2010
Montage 2011Journal of Student Essays from Film and Literature Fall 2011
Montage 20122011
Montage 2013
Montage 2013
XI. NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT:
Murray State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability or veteran status in employment, student admissions, financial aid, student employment and placement or the provision of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities. For information contact the Executive Director of the Institutional Diversity (IDEA), Equity and Access, 103 Wells Hall, 270-809-3155 (voice) 270 809-3361.
XII. OTHER REQUIRED INFORMATION
Maiden Alley Cinema
112 Maiden Alley Downtown Paducah between Broadway and Kentucky
Movie Line: 1-270-441-7007
Business Office: 1-270-442-7723
Email Address for Up-to-Date Movie Information: info@maidenalleycinema.com
http://www.maidenalleycinema.com
http://www.afionline.org--American Film Institute
http://www.allmovie.com--all-purpose movie reference
http://www.film.com--all-purpose movie reference
http://www.filmtreat.com
http://www.hollywood.com
http://www.imdb.com (internet movie data base)--perhaps the best all-purpose movie site
http://LandmarkTheatres.com
http://moviereviews.com
http://www.mrqe.com--movie review query engine"
http://www.mrcranky.com--humorous movie reviews
http://www.reel.com
http://www.rottentomatoes.com--recent movie reviews
http://www.suntimes.com--then go to Roger Ebert's section--in-depth on selected films>
http://www.siskel-ebert.com
http://www.tvguide.com
http://web3.starwave.com/showbiz/--good all-purpose site about movies
http://www.well.com/user/vertigo/cliches.html--funny stuff about film
http://www.allmusic.com -- all purpose reference site about music
http://www.digital.library.upenn.edu/books--on-line books, classics and other titles