Second Semester 2009/2010
Block A3, Mon. and Wed. 12:15-1:45
FILMS:
Down By Law, Jarmusch
Mystery Train, Jarmusch
Night on Earth, Jarmusch
Dead Man, Jarmusch
Ghost Dog, Jarmusch
Blood Simple, Coen Bros.
Raising Arizona, Coen Bros.
Miller's Crossing, Coen Bros.
Fargo, Coen Bros.
The Big Lebowski, Coen Bros.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Coen Bros.
ATTENDANCE: You are expected to attend every single class and view every film shown, be on time and be prepared (having done any readings, homework, have the necessary materials). Obviously, “Life Happens” and some of you will end up missing a day or two. If you miss a day, it is up to YOU to talk to your classmates and get notes, assignments, etc. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO RENT/BUY AND WATCH (ON YOUR OWN TIME) ANY FILM YOU HAVE MISSED. There might be second showings outside of class time and after school if there is a very unique circumstance or verified illness You can also check Kurtattrillium.blogspot.com for major assignments and syllabus updates.
You may not eat your lunch in my room when it is class time. You will not be permitted into the room with lunch and will considered to be tardy if you make a choice to go eat it elsewhere.
Absences/Tardies
You are considered to be absent if you are more than Ten (10) minutes late.
Absence issues will be dealt with on a case by case basis and may involve different consequences for different students.
Consequences for tardies (from 1 sec - 9:59 min late) will be dealt with on a case by case basis.
Five skipped classes and you will be dropped from class with no grade given.
Skipped Class = You leave class for more than five minutes without instructor acknowledgement or permission OR you have been in the school for the previous period or are in the school during Daily 2 and do not attend this class.
GRADING POLICY:
LATE PAPERS AND/OR THE CULMINATING PROJECT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. LATE PAPERS/PROJECT WILL AUTOMATICALY RESULT IN ZERO CREDIT.
The grading is based on a point system with a possible 100 points being the maximum. Completion of the course awards .5 Language Arts credit.
Participation = discussion and attendance 20 points
Paper 1 10 (pre mid term)
Paper 2 10 (pre mid term)
Paper 3 10 (after midterm)
“Emergent” assignments/homework 25
Culminating Project 25 (after midterm)
PARTICIPATION: 20% of your grade
This is a record of your active level of discussion and general participation. However, you DO NOT earn these points merely by showing up and sitting in class. See attached Participation Rubric for the expectations.
PAPERS: 30% of your grade (10% each)
Three papers will be assigned. All are required. All papers must be typed, using standard margins and fonts and meet MLA formatting and style guidelines. Students will be able to select from a set of provided essay topics or present their own (based on instructor pre-approval). Always print up two copies: one for me and one for you to have just in case. Always make sure to save a copy of your paper to a disc, back up hard drive or even something like Google Docs. The instructor reserves the right to suggest or REQUIRE A RE-WRITE on any paper. If a re-write is assigned the student and instructor will agree upon a new due date with the same late penalties as before. Suggested or required re-writes will earn new (usually better!) grades if the work
improves. Details TBA.
EMERGENT ASSIGNMENTS/HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: 25% of your grade
There will be many assignments relating to each film. Most of these will be “emergent” and will come directly from discussion and class interest. Each will be due the next time the class meets unless otherwise announced. The final number of these assignments therefore is not known, but all such assignments will count for a total of 25% of your final grade. Homework will be posted on the class blog within one week of being assigned. When classwork is assigned the expectation is that it be completed during class time.
CULMINATING PROJECT: 25% of your grade
One major combination writing and creative project will be assigned. The student must create a series of three artistic pieces of differing media (drawing, painting, poem, collage, video, performance art, interpretive dance, etc.) that exemplifies or questions thematic and philosophical paradigms as discussed in class and in relation to the films. All Culminating Projects must include essays that interpret and explains how each of the works of art fulfills the given criteria and one large “Meta” essay which explains the intent and execution of the entire series as whole. Details TBA.
