posted: 2/6/2008
|
Spring 2008 (session B) |
Ted Morrissey (CV) |
ENGLISH 201-70—Literature
on Film
(3 Credit Hours)
I. Course Description: English 201 Literature on Film is a literary analysis
course in which the student intensively examines a poem, short story, play and
novel to develop analytical skills, which are applied to films, made from
pieces of literature, allowing for a comparison of literature and film and an
understanding of the elements of fiction in the two media. Prerequisite:
English 111 with a grade of “C” or better. IAI HF
908.
II. Textbooks:
Austen,
Jane. Pride and Prejudice.
1813. Ed. Candace Ward.
Dick, Philip
K. Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
1968. New York: Gollancz,
1999. [978 1857988130]
Proulx,
E. Annie. “
Shakespeare,
William. Much
Available at SCI's Bookstore.
The following films are
not required, but since you will be writing about at least two of these films,
you may find it useful to purchase them as it is helpful to view a scene you
are analyzing several times. You could
also rent them through libraries; however, this approach is less reliable than
purchasing them because it is difficult to say when they may be available; and
when they arrive, they may be damaged (rental material is often abused). I purchased three of the four films from
Walmart. There are other outlets in
Blade Runner.
1982. Dir. Ridley Scott. Perf. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean
Young, and Edward James Olmos.
Much
Pride and Prejudice.
2005. Dir. Joe Wright. Perf. Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, and
Donald Sutherland. DVD. Universal Home Entertainment, 2006.
Note: I will go
over much of this syllabus in class but not every word. It is your responsibility to read the entire
syllabus and ask questions if you do not understand any part of it. Being familiar with the contents of the
syllabus will enhance your performance in this course.
III. SCI Mission
Statement: The
mission of
IV. Goals, objectives
and outcomes:
A. Goals:
1. To develop a critical
awareness of both literature and film through the examination of their
similarities so that each is revealed as art contributing to an understanding
of life.
2. To learn to analyze various “texts,” including film versions of
literature.
3. To develop analytical expression in both writing and oral presentation.
B. Common Student
Learning Objectives:
CK-1 Content Knowledge
(Lifelong learning): Know and apply the central concepts of the subject matter
CK-1 Content Knowledge (Lifelong learning): Use current research to support
assumptions and beliefs
CS-1 Communication Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership): Communicate
effectively in oral and written forms
PS-2 Problem-Solving Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership):Seek information
and develop an in-depth knowledge base, grounded in research
SR-2 Social Responsibility (Service and Leadership): Make ethical and informed
decisions
SP-1 Self-Direction and Personal Growth (Lifelong learning): Develop a sense of
intellectual curiosity
GP-1 Global Perspectives (Diversity): Recognize the importance of diversity of
opinion, abilities and cultures.
C. Course Based Student
Learning Objectives: Students who have successfully completed ENGLISH 201 will
be able to . . .
1. Examine the elements of
poetry, short fiction, drama, and the novel as a means of evaluating
literature. (CK-1, CS-1)
2. Examine, closely, films based on these literary genres as a means for
evaluating films through common elements of fiction. (CK-1, CS-1)
3. Examine the similarities and differences of films and literature so that an
appreciation for both may be gained. (CK-1, CS-1, PS-2)
4. Begin to establish criteria for evaluating both film and literature. (CK-1)
5. Be conversant with literary, theatrical, and film terminology, knowing how
each relates to its medium and how each coordinates or differs with terms in
another medium. (CK-1)
6. Recognize the validity of artistic interpretation as it derives from
original creation. (GP-1)
7. Develop the ability to make critical judgments in response to literature and
to support those judgments through analysis. (CK-1, CK-2, CS-1, PS-1, SR-1)
SCI’s
SCI’s
Resource Director: Joanna Tweedy: jtweedy@sci.edu
V. Teaching
Methodology:
The classroom is
considered a discourse community in which students collaborate in the learning
process. Students will be involved in peer work, group discussions, pre- and
rewriting activities, and projects. There will be intervention in students’s writing process, and response to
student writing, by both the instructor and other students. To be successful,
students must come to class prepared, which means having all reading and
writing assignments done before
they are due.
VI. Course
Requirements:
Attendance: As in every
other class, absences will negatively affect your grade. To avoid class
disruption, students must be seated by 6:00. Arriving between 6:00 and 6:05
will be considered a “late” (three lates equal one-half
hour absence); between 6:05 and 6:30, one-half hour absence; between 6:30 and 7:00, one hour
absence; etc. Missing an entire class session equals 4.0 hours. If you attend only part of the class session,
you run the risk of being counted absent for the entire session at the
instructor’s discretion. Missing six hours is an automatic F, regardless of a student's current
grade.
Your goal should be to
attend all classes and to have an absence only when it is a true emergency. If
you know you are going to be absent (or late), you should contact me as early
as possible. This will not “excuse” the absence, but it is considered the
appropriate behavior in college. College is like a job in this respect: If you
were going to miss work, you presumably would call your supervisor in advance—you
would not simply fail to come to work, then wander in the next time you were scheduled (if so, you
would not be scheduled a next time).
Behavior: Be attentive to
the instructor and your classmates. Private conversations and jokes are rude
and disruptive. Turn off your cell phone too.
Work:
1. Completion of all
assigned readings and writings according to given deadlines.
2. In-class and out-of-class assignments.
3. Participation in peer activities, sharing of written work, and group
discussions.
4. Active involvement in mechanics of all writing projects.
5. Conferences regarding writing assignments as needed.
6. Final project.
VII. Evaluation Criteria:
There are numerous
required activities for this course, and not all of them will be graded. Work
(generally described as “homework”) that does not receive a
numerical score, may
be given one of three grades: A check mark indicates an assignment was completed
in an acceptable and timely manner; a plus signifies that an assignment was
completed with special thoroughness and accuracy; and a minus signifies that an
effort was substandard. Each check is worth one point; a plus 1.5 points, and a
minus .5; the total will be multiplied by an appropriate number determined by
the instructor to establish a homework grade.
Note that there will be
frequent reading quizzes, and these grades will be counted as homework even
though they are completed in class, because you did the reading “at
home.” Also note that you must be in class at the
time the quiz is given; you cannot make up a missed quiz, even if you attend
class on the same evening that the quiz was given. That is, if you arrive after the quiz has
been collected, you will have to take a zero for that homework grade. Students
are expected to complete all assignments, graded or not.
Points will be deducted
for issues of misspelling and nonstandard mechanics according to the SCI English/Speech Department Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Formal Composition (unless the departures from
standard written practice are knowingly done for creative or rhetorical
effect).
Late
papers will not be accepted, and each will be scored as a zero. Assignments are due even
if you are not physically in class. If
you do not turn in the First Critical Paper on time, you may turn it in by the
due date for the optional revision; however, you will not be able to improve
the grade you receive for this “revised” draft; also, this
draft must be submitted
to Blackboard’s SafeAssign as if it were turned
in on time in the first place.
Plagiarism—presenting
the ideas or words of
another as if they are one’s own—is literary dishonesty
and will not be
tolerated. Nor will others forms of academic dishonesty be tolerated. If the
instructor deems that the plagiarism is a willful attempt to cheat, the student
will receive a zero for the paper with no opportunity to revise, and the SCI
administration will be notified.
Midsemester grades will
be based on work completed and graded at that time.
Final Grade will be based
on a percentage of the total score: A- to A+ = 90 to 100%; B- to B+ = 80 to
89%; C- to C+ = 70 to 79%; D- to D+ = 60 to 69%. Note that plus and minus will
be affixed to the letter grade as deemed appropriate by the instructor based on
various factors, including attendance, work ethic, attitude, and overall
participation.
Incomplete
grades: According to the SCI catalog, students requesting an incomplete
grade for a class must have completed at least 75% of the course work.
Students must make a request to me in writing no later than one week
before final exams explaining in detail why they cannot finish the remainder of
the coursework. Acceptable reasons are student illness requiring bed rest
or hospitalization, major family crisis, or circumstances beyond the student’s control. I will only issue an incomplete grade at my
discretion.
Directions for Written Work:
Keep all assignments,
formal and informal, prewriting, revisions, and final drafts until final grades
are received.
Out-of-class Paper
Requirements:
Each paper must be . . .
1. Typed (printed) in
12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
2. Presented in MLA style and format (see A
Writer's Reference (from ENG 111 or 112)), or another printed or
online MLA source, like the following:
http://www.library.ilstu.edu/assets/pdf/handouts/mlaprint.pdf
(print sources)
http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu/ressubj/subject/intrnt/mla.htm
(electronic & online sources)
3. Three to five pages in length (not including required Works Cited page) and
represent a “completed” paper.
4. Submitted to Blackboard’s SafeAssign feature.
Three Keys to Success:
* Attend all classes and
be on time.
* Turn in all assignments on time.
* Ask for help when you need it.
One or More of the
Following Will Lead to Failure:
* Miss class and/or
consistently be late.
* Fail to turn in assignments or to turn them in on time.
* Not asking for help when you need it.
VIII. Weekly Assignments: (Note: Syllabus is subject to
change).
|
Week 1 March
4 Classic
Novel Adaptation |
Before
the first session, read: |
|
Week 2 March
11 Classic Novel Adaptation |
Read: * Pride and Prejudice, Chs. XXXVI-end
(138-262) * Consider
reading and contributing to the Pride and Prejudice blog on Blackboard. Reflection
on readings & film / Discussion / Quick
Response |
|
Spring
Break March 17-22: No classes |
|
|
Week 3 March
25 Drama/Poetry
Adaptation |
Read: *
Consider reading and contributing to the Much Ado about Nothing blog on Blackboard. Reflection
on reading / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 4 April
1 Drama/Poetry
Adaptation |
Read: * Much *
Consider reading and contributing to the Much Ado about Nothing blog on Blackboard. In
class: Reflection
on readings & film / Discussion / Quick
Response Prewriting
for first critical paper: Issues in Pride and Prejudice and/or Much Ado about Nothing (Note: Verify movie quotes by looking up the title
on the Internet Movie database, and
clicking on “memorable quotes.”) |
|
Week 5 April
8 Science
Fiction Novel Adaptation |
First Critical
Paper Due: Issues in Pride and Prejudice and/or Much Read: Handout on Literary Theory. Reflection on reading /
Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 6 April
15 Science
Fiction Novel Adaptation |
Read: Reflection on reading & film / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 7 April
22 Short
Story Adaptation |
Revision
of First Paper Due (optional) Read: Reflection on reading
& film / Discussion / Quick Response Prewriting for second
paper: Issues in Do Androids . . .
?/Blade Runner/Brokeback Mountain (Note:
Verify movie quotes by looking up the title on the Internet Movie database, and clicking on
“memorable quotes.”) |
|
Week 8 April
29 Synthesizing
Print & Film Texts |
Second
Critical Paper Due: Issues in Do Androids . . . ?/Blade Runner/Brokeback Mountain (400 pts.) – make sure to
also upload your paper
to Blackboard
(requirement) In-class Final (Group) Project & Presentation Due: Connecting print text and film text (200 pts.) |
Grades:
First Paper 400 pts.
Second Paper 400 pts.
Final Project & Presentation 200 pts.
”Homework” 100 pts.
Total 1,100 pts.
IX. Americans with Disabilities Act (
X. Assessment:
Assessment will be an on-going part of the course. In
addition to providing feedback on essays and homework assignments, the
instructor will ask that you complete a Quick Response form
at the conclusion of each class period. Your responses may be shared with the
class if the instructor determines that it would be useful to do so.
Instructor assessment:
You are invited to visit RateMyProfessor.com,
and give your instructor an informal evaluation. This is purely for the
instructor's own use; your rating has no bearing on his employment with the
college; nor will it affect your grade since it is completely anonymous.
XI. Illinois Articulation Initiative: ENG 201 has been approved by the Illinois
Articulation Initiative as meeting the criteria stipulated for HF
908.