Readings
The readings listed on the syllabus are drawn from various sources. Many of them are
very short articles from newspapers and popular magazines; a very few are scholarly articles;
two books (mass market) are assigned virtually complete. See the list of readings
included with the syllabus for indications as to what books are required and which
recommended. If a reading is indicated as "Electronic Reserve," it is in the "Class
Documents" folder on the BlackBoard site
as a .pdf file for downloading and reading, and it is assumed to be required.
"Paper reserves" are readings that are on reserve at PCL, also as required.
They may make it to electronic form before they are due.
Supplementary information is available on the class website: links to
information pages for each film, to film terminology, and to various web sources,
linked to the appropriate days of the syllabus.
GENERAL NOTE:
Each type of assignment and exam has its own description below or appended to this page.
Please read them through carefully, because they constitute the contract that the
instructor is making with you -- they are the basis for your grades. All written
assignments must be submitted in hard copy at the start of the class period when
they are due (the one exception is the group film analysis, which will be posted online). N
either the professor nor the TA (if we have one) will accept emailed assignments.
The class will be using its BlackBoard site, accessible to each of you through your
UT Direct CLIPs page and the links posted there. Email reminders and updates will be
sent using that emailer, as well. Make sure you have updated your email with the University
(also through UT Direct); make sure you pick up your email and/or set your listservs on
digest so that your email account does not fill up. The instructor is not responsible
for emails rejected because your box is full, or lost because you've failed to update
your address.
All assignment grades will be posted on the E-Gradebook off the CLIPs pages
through UT Direct. The grades will be posted as points or percentages, with each
assignment's point totals indicated. Check your grades often; protests will only be
entertained within one week of grade postings. The final grade will be weighted as below,
combining the individual elements posted.
The instructor answers email during business hours (M-F 8-5). Do not expect responses before
class, in less than 24 hours, or on weekends. It might happen, but email must be used politely,
as the equivalent of a phone call, not as an on-demand message board. The instructor cannot
answer 80 emails an hour for this class the night before an assignment is due!!!
