REQUIREMENTS

• Careful reading of all assignments
• Attentive viewing of all films
• Active (and informed) participation in class discussions (and other participation options)
• Frequent in-class quizzes on the reading, the films, and the lectures (typically once a week)
• Weekly Film & History Worksheets on the films – due in class (I will collect these on several occasions)
• One film commentary (per assigned schedule) posted to our WordPress site by Sunday @ 5pm
• Two short formal papers (5-7 pp.) or one longer research paper (12-15 pp.)
• Three short exams (30 mins), a chance to demonstrate your mastery of key developments and turning points
• A comprehensive final examination

GRADING

Your grade will measure your effort, the level of your thinking and writing, as well as the progress you make across the semester. The following is offered as a rough guide to the computation of final grades and I reserve the right to make minor changes. It assumes a good faith effort on all assignments:

• 5% in-class quizzes (I’ll drop one grade for every four quizzes)
• 5% film worksheets
• 5% film commentary
• 25% two short papers (or one longer research paper)
• 25% three short exams
• 20% final examination
• 15% professionalism & participation

I grade quizzes, film worksheets, film commentaries, and news blog on a check/check plus/check minus scale, in which a check equals 5 of 6 points, a check plus equals 6 of 6 points, and a check minus equals 4 of 6 points.

I follow the College of Wooster guidelines for grading. A grade in the “A” range indicates excellent work, the “B” range indicates good work, the “C” range indicates satisfactory work, the “D” range indicates a minimal passing performance. A grade of “F” indicates unsatisfactory work.