NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title: INTRO TO CINEMA
Course Prefix & Number: DRAM2366	Section Number: 340/310	Term Code:
Semester Credit Hours: 3	Lecture Hours: 48	Lab Hours: 0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): An  introductory course in  motion pictures which surveys the film industry as a business, a means of communication, but most importantly as an art form. The course places an emphasis on the analysis of the visual and aural aspects of selected motion pictures, the dramatic aspects of narrative films, and the historical growth and sociological effect of film as an art.
Course Prerequisite(s): There is no prerequisite for this course.
Course Type:
 - Academic General Education Course (from Academic Course Guide Manual but not in NCTC Core)   - Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course    - WECM Course

 

Name of Instructor:	Maribeth Stickel
Campus/Office Location:	Corinth
Telephone Number:	828-506-3734
E-mail Address:	mstickel@nctc.edu

 

 

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

 

Looking at the Movies,  newest edition by Richard Barsam and Dave Monahan

 

Students are required to obtain six films (Hugo (2011), Cloud Atlas(2012), Stagecoach(1939), Jaws (1975), Citizen Kane (1941), and Vertigo(1958)). It is up to the student to obtain these films they are not provided by the instructor or the college.  ALSO- links can sometimes go down during a semester without the instructor knowing.  If you find an imbedded link is down or won’t work- TRY searching the title in YouTube or Google.  If you aren’t able to find it or are unsure if it is correct please do reach out to the instructor.

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA   12 Chapter Quizzes (worth up to 20 points each.)	240
6 Movie Quizzes (worth up to 20 points each.)	120
18 Discussion Forums Original Posts (worth up to 30 points each.)	540
32 Discussion Responses (worth 10 points each.)	320
Integrity Pledge (10 points)  & Syllabus Quiz (20 points)	30
TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS

 

Here is my philosophy for grading the content of this course.  A “C” grade is a grade earned by doing the basic elements of a class.  You, the student, have demonstrated an average understanding of the material and have done the bare minimum asked of you in the class.  A “B” grade means you have achieved a basic understanding of the class material and you have demonstrated an ability to take that material and begin a personal re-interpretation of its lessons. An “A” grade means you have accomplished the prior two steps and demonstrated an excellent command of the vocabulary, techniques, and ideas of the class.  Additionally, you have shown an

advanced degree of analytical ability and personal discipline.  “D” and “F” grades are the result of failing to achieve a basic understanding of the material and/or a refusal to engage honestly in the intellectual pursuit of the class.

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

	Student Learning Outcome
	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	Analyze film through written response.
	Demonstrate a basic knowledge of film history, form, and genre.
	Describe the collaborative nature of cinema and the many jobs required to develop a motion picture.
	Discuss/Describe the relationship of cinema to society as it relates to his/her perspective.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

COVID-19 Specific Syllabi Statements Fall 2020

 

Syllabi statement regarding potential Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Syllabi Statement Regarding Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

 

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below.

 

Faculty will:

 

• Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

Students should:

• Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
• Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
• Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
• Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
• Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
• Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During this period, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website.

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM THIS COURSE IS 11/2/2020

 

 

 

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA                                                                                                                                                                           

Communication

Mathematics

Life and Physical Science

Language, Philosophy & Culture

X             Creative Arts

American History

Government/Political Science Social and Behavioral Sciences Component Area Option

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES

 

 Critical Thinking

 Communication

  Empirical and Quantitative

 Teamwork

  Personal Responsibility

 Social Responsibility

 

 

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Student Rights & Responsibilities

NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct. These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog.

 

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  See the Student Handbook for more information.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

 

 

Disability Services (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of

federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of

1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-

112).  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring in the evening. The program helps students acclimate to college by providing students free interactive workshops. For more information, please visit your nearest Student Success Center.

 

 

 

Reel One: Opening Credits

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

 

1-1: Demonstrate the ability to navigate in Canvas

1-2: Demonstrate the ability to take a quiz in Canvas

1-3: Demonstrate how to use a Submission Page Canvas.

1-4: Demonstrate how to post to a Discussion Forum in

Canvas.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read over the Syllabus.

(LO# 1-1)

 

Assignment #2: Read over the Films To Watch page and learn about where to obtain the films that are required for this course. (LO# 1:1)

 

Assignment #3: Take the Syllabus Quiz.

(LO# 1-2)

 

Assignment #4:   Read the Academic Integrity Pledge. Copy and paste the Academic Integrity Pledge into a Microsoft Word document- -sign it by typing your name and your student i.d.at the bottom then submit it using the Academic Integrity Pledge Submission Page by January 31^st no later than 1155pm.  No grades will be entered until I have your Integrity Statement.

Reel Two: HUGO (2011)

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

 

2-1: Appreciate the difference between passively watching movies and actively looking at movies.

2-2: Understand the defining characteristics that distinguish movies from other forms of art.

2-3: Begin to look at movies more analytically and perceptively.

2-4: Differentiate between form and content in a movie and be able to explain how they're related.

2-5: Understand how movie's use light and how lighting helps shape a movie's meaning.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read CHAPTER ONE in Looking at the Movies and then take the What is a

Movie? quiz. (LO# 2-1 & 2.2)

 

Assignment #2: Watch Hugo (2011) and then respond to the question on the Hugo discussion forum. You are responsible for one original post and two responses to peer's posts. (LO#2-2 & 2-3)

 

Assignment #3: After watching the movie, take the Hugo Quiz. (LO#2-3)

 

Assignment #4: Read CHAPTER TWO in Looking at the Movies and then and then take the

Form & Content quiz. (LO# 2-4 & 2-5)

 

Reel Three: CLOUD ATLAS (2012)

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

 

3-1: Explain how and why movies are classified.

3-2: Understand what genre is and why it is important.

3-3: Explain the most significant (or defining) elements of each of the six major American genres featured in Chapter 3 of Looking at the Movies.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read CHAPTER THREE in Looking at the Movies and then take the Film

Genre quiz. (LO# 3-1, 3-2, 3-3)

 

Assignment #2: Watch Cloud Atlas (2012) and then respond to the question on the Cloud Atlas discussion forum. You are responsible for one original post and two responses to peer's posts. (LO# 3-1, 3-2, 3-3)

 

Assignment #3: After watching the movie, take the Cloud Atlas Quiz. (LO#2-3)

Reel Four: STAGECOACH (1939)

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

1. Understand how narrative structure functions.

2. Differentiate between the story and the plot of a movie.

3. Know the difference between diegetic and nondiegetic elements of a movie's plot. .

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read CHAPTER FOUR pg 121-156 in Looking at the Movies and then take the

Narrative quiz. (LO# 4-1, 4-2 & 4-3)

 

Assignment #2: Watch Stagecoach (1939) and take the Stagecoach Quiz. (LO#2-3)

 

Assignment #3: Read the short story "Stage to Lordsburg" by Ernest Haycox that was the basis for John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) and then respond to the question in the Stage to Lordsburg discussion forum. (LO#4-2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reel Five: Jaws (1975)

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

5-1: Define mise-en-scène overall and in terms of its constituent parts.

5-2: Explain how composition is different from, but complementary to, design.

5-3: Understand the difference between open and closed framing.

5-4: Describe the difference among a shot, a setup, and a take.

5-5:  Understand the basic elements of composition within the frame.

5-6: Define the rule of thirds.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read CHAPTER FIVE in Looking at the Movies and then and then take the Mise-en-Scène: Design and the Mise-en-Scène: Composition quizzes. (LO# 5-1 & 5-2)

 

Assignment #2: Watch Jaws (1975) and then respond to the question on the Jaws Discussion

Forum. You are responsible for one original post and two responses to peer’s posts. (LO# 5-1 & 5-2)

 

Assignment #3: After watching the movie, take the Jaws Movie Quiz. (LO# 2-3)

 

Assignment #5: Read CHAPTER SIX in Looking at the Movies and then take the

Cinematography and the Framing the Shot quizzes. (LO# 5-3, 5-4 & 5-5)

Reel Six: Vertigo (1958)

 

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR REEL:

 

6-1: Describe how movie acting today differs from that of the classical studio era.

 

6-2:  Explain why the relationship between the actor and the camera is so important.

 

6-3:  Explain the potential effects on acting of framing, composition, lighting, shot types, and shot lengths.

 

6-4: Analyze film through a critical written response.

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Watch Vertigo (1958) and then take the Vertigo Movie Quiz. (LO# 2-3)

 

Assignment #2: Read CHAPTER SEVEN in Looking at the Movies and then take the Acting

quiz. (LO# 6-1, 6-2 & 6-3)

 

Assignment #3: Respond to the question on the Vertigo: Acting discussion forum. You are responsible for one original post and two responses to peer's posts. (LO# 6-1, 6-2 & 6-3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reel Seven: CITIZEN KANE (1941)

 

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR THE REEL:

 

7-1: Understand the relationship between the shot and the cut.

7-2: Understand the significance of the rhythm of a movie and describe how editing is used to establish that rhythm.

7-3: Describe the fundamental building blocks of continuity editing.

 

ASSIGNMENTS:

 

Assignment #1: Read CHAPTER EIGHT in Looking at the Movies and then take the Film

Editor and the Editing: Continuity and Discontinuity quizzes. (LO# 7-1, 7-2 & 7-3)

 

Assignment #2: Watch Citizen Kane (1941) and then respond to the question on the Citizen Kane Editing discussion forum. You are responsible for one original post and two responses to peer's posts. (LO# 7-1, 7-2 & 7-3)

 

Assignment #3: After watching the movie, take the Citizen Kane Movie Quiz.

The Final Credits – Genre Paper

Due on December 10 at 11:55 PM

 

Worth 150 Points

Turn the paper in by December  8 at 11:55 PM and receive 15 extra credit points

 

Assignment #1: Choose three films (not sequels of each other) of the same genre. Discuss the genre and how certain elements are used in all three films. Identify signature forms, icons, or themes that each of the films have in common. In that particular genre, how is the lighting established, what is the style in music, camera placement etc. You need to write a minimum of 4 complete pages. This needs to be thoughtful analysis. This is not a research paper. Make sure

that your paper has a beginning, middle, and end. You should discuss all three films and then discuss them together. What you are wanting to show with this paper is that you can use the information that you have learn over the last four weeks in a clear and concise way. Though you do not need to discuss all the topics that we have covered you need to use enough of them to properly cover the subject matter. This is not a comparison of the plot summaries of each of