Fall 2017 Course Syllabus INTD 101-30 4 Credits

RAMAPO COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY

First-Year Seminar

Film and Modernity, Modernity in Film

Course Information

Prerequisites and/or Co-requisites: First-time, first-year student status
Class Meeting Day(s), Time and Room Location: Mon., Wed., Thu., 9:55am – 11:05am, G123

Instructor Information

Prof. Francesco Pascuzzi
Office Location: B221
Office Hours: Wednesdays 11:30 and via Skype by appointment
E-mail:
Mailbox Location: B224

Common FYS Description Designed for first-time, full-time, first-year students, First-Year Seminar (FYS) provides a comprehensive introduction to college-level learning. Seminar courses are developed around an academic theme or topic that is based on one of Ramapo College’s academic pillars. First-Year students will have the opportunity to select a seminar that best suits their interests while learning about Ramapo’s academic foundation. The First-Year Seminar course helps students in their transition from high school to college life both in and out of the classroom. The common learning outcomes of FYS are: critical and creative thinking, college-level writing, oral communication, and information literacy. FYS classes are small to emphasize open discussion and experiential learning within the context of the theme of the seminar course. Peer facilitators play an essential role in each FYS class ensuring that first-year students have guidance from a more experienced student. FYS is also the home of the Ramapo Summer Reading Program; all first-year students read the same book and discuss and write about it in their seminars. FYS encourages new students to participate in a community of learners, to strengthen their critical thinking skills, and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Course DescriptionThis course is designed to introduce students to the study of film and filmmaking by looking at the works of a few select contemporary auteurs. We will learn to engage film as an art form and as a language sui generis by studying and considering the more technical aspects of filmmaking (direction, editing, sound, cinematography, etc.); students will acquire the appropriate vocabulary and core knowledge to discuss, analyze, and critique film among their peers. We will also consider the ways in which contemporary world cinema is grappling with diverse issues such as gender and gender inequality, life in urban areas and in decentralized locations, biopolitics, communication and language, the role and influence of technology in our daily lives, and queerness, both visually and narratively. A short response essay will be assigned after each screening, and students will actively engage in open classroom discussion by sharing and confronting opinions and ideas. Students will also prepare group oral presentations as part of their midterm assignment in which they will analyze a scene, character, or theme of their own choosing among the five films included in the course. The summer reading will be used to get our feet wet in the practice of unpacking a text critically both orally and in written form, and it will serve as a thematic bridge to the screening of the first film.

Course Goals

In this course, students will develop critical thinking skills to advance college-level study and research. They will also develop presentational skills, researching skills, and discussion and writing skills. On top of that, students will also acquire:

-  Core knowledge of the art and technical aspects of filmmaking;

-  Technical vocabulary to appropriately approach and unpack a visual text;

-  Critical knowledge of trends and themes in contemporary world cinema.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Students will: / Midterm Project / Class discussions and essays / Final Project
demonstrate the ability to think critically and creatively / x / x
demonstrate proficiency in written communication / x / x / x
demonstrate proficiency in oral communication / x / x / x
demonstrate information literacy / x / x

Peer Facilitators

As an added resource for first-year students, each section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) will have a peer facilitator. These upper-level students will attend FYS classes and assist the instructor with the academic topics covered in this seminar. They will serve as discussion leaders on issues that pertain to your personal and social development and they will facilitate weekly discussions on the class readings. Your peer facilitator will be your mentor and will be available to you to provide guidance on navigating the different personal and social hurdles that you may encounter in your first year at Ramapo.

First-Year Academic Advising

Each First-Year Seminar course is assigned a professional Academic Advisor from the Center for Student Success who serves as your Academic Advisor during your first year. This advisor will attend your First-Year Seminar class for an advisement session or provide a group advisement session to review general academic advising policies and procedures. They will also be available to answer any general questions regarding college policies/practices. Students will be scheduled for individual appointments with their Student Success Advisor for assistance with course selection and the development of a personal academic plan. If you have any questions regarding Academic Advisement please call CAAFYE at (201) 684-7441 or via email at:

Texts, Readings, Materials

Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson, and Jeff Smith. Film Art: An Introduction. 11th ed. McGraw Hill, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-259-67398-6.

Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. Rules for Writers. 7th ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-312-64795-7.

Ronson, Jon. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed. Penguin, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-59463-401-7.

Screenings:

Pulse (Kurosawa, 2001)

Memories of Murder (Bong, 2003)

Blue Is the Warmest Color (Kechiche, 2013)

It Follows (Mitchell, 2014)

Arrival (Villeneuve, 2016)

Please note: Each film will be paired with the reading of a scholarly essay to guide the screening and class discussion. All essays will be available electronically on the first day of class.

Course Requirements

Participation – Attendance and active participation are expected for every class meeting. Students are expected to actively participate to class discussion and peer reviewing activities by sharing ideas, asking questions, and assisting their classmates. Use of mobile phones is not allowed in class.

Writing Assignments – A short reaction essay will be assigned in connection to each film screening. Additionally, students will also have to prepare a 500-word essay concerning the summer reading. Students will deliver their midterm assignments orally as part of group presentations and then turn in the assignment in written form; the midterm may be used as a rough draft for the final assignment. Students will not have to prepare the short reaction essay for the film they have selected for their midterm and final projects.

Examinations, Laboratory/Studio, Library Research – For the Midterm assignment, students will work in groups of 4 and each student shall deliver a 5-minute presentation (20 minutes total for each group) on a character, scene, theme, or technical aspect of one of the five films screened for the class. The groups will be tasked with doing scholarly research in support of this assignment, and approach the topic critically. This research will expand as each student works on the final paper which will be due by the last class period. Please note: all five films will be on reserve at Potter Library. Please screen all five films as soon as possible, and plan to screen each film at least twice.

General Education Program Course

This course fulfills the First-Year Seminar category of the general education curriculum at Ramapo College. Common to all First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses, you will develop critical thinking skills that are basic to college level study, regardless of your area of interest. You will be reading, writing, and participating in thoughtful group discussions with the aim of developing the skills of a scholar. You will learn to support your arguments using a foundation of knowledge and facts rather than simply using personal opinions and experiences.

This course is an Interdisciplinary Studies FYS course drawing from film theory, technical filmmaking, and critical analysis. Students will approach each filmic text by its considering technical, narrative, and thematic components.

Writing Intensive (WI) Course

Writing will be integrated into the life of this course. You will receive comments, direction, and support as you work on strengthening your writing skills. Your writing will be evaluated and returned in a timely fashion, allowing you to incorporate my comments into your future work. For help outside the classroom, please see me during my office hours and/or work with a writing tutor in the Center for Reading and Writing (CRW), Room: L-211, x7557, .

Weekly Class Schedule

Date / Class topic, reading assignment / Exam/assignment/paper due date
September 5th / Opening Convocation: Jon Ronson, author of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed
Week 1 / Introduction of course, discussion on the summer reading
Week 2 / Writing workshops and peer review of 1st essay / Summer reading essay
Week 3 / Class discussion: Pulse (Kurosawa)
Peer Facilitators: Adjustment Issues
Week 4 / Library Research Workshop
Writing workshops and peer review of 1st film essay / 1st film essay
Week 5 / Class discussion: Memories of Murder (Bong)
Peer Facilitators: Academic Performance Tasks
Week 6 / Academic Advisement Session
Writing workshops and peer review of 2nd film essay / 2nd film essay
Week 7 / Class discussion: Blue is the Warmest Color (Kechiche)
Week 8 / Writing workshops and peer review of 3rd film essay / 3rd film essay
Week 9 / Midterm Presentations
Peer Facilitators: Academic Advisement and Course Registration
Week 10 / Class discussion: It Follows (Mitchell)
Week 11 / Writing workshops and peer review of 4th film essay / 4th film essay
Week 12 / Final assignment workshop
Thanksgiving recess (Wednesday, November 22nd to Sunday, November 26th)
Week 13 / Class discussion: Arrival (Villeneuve)
Week 14 / Writing workshops and peer review of 5th film essay / 5th film essay
Week 15 / Class discussion and peer review on final project / Final Paper
Final Exam / Final due last day of class

Important Dates

First Day of Classes: September 6th

Last day for Class Adjustments (on the Web): September 12th

Last day to withdraw from courses with “W” grade: November 20th

Thanksgiving Recess: Nov 22nd – 26th

Final Exam Week: December 16th – 22nd

Common Finals: December 16th

Last day to request “I” grades: December 22nd

Final Exam Snow Make-Up Day: December 23rd

Grading Policy

·  Participation 15%; Written essays 40% (10% each); Midterm 20%; Final 25%

·  A: 100 – 97 A-: 96 – 92
B+: 91 – 87 B: 86 – 82 B-: 81 - 77
C+: 76 – 72 C – : 71 – 68
D+: 67 – 64 D: 63 - 60
F: 59 – 0

·  Rubrics and assessment tools will be included in the instructions for each assignment.

·  Incomplete grades are given under exceptional circumstances in documented cases of illness or emergency. To request an incomplete grade, a student must have satisfactorily completed at least two-thirds of course requirements prior to the end of a term. Please review the Academic Calendar for Incomplete Dates.

Attendance Policy

·  Two (2) unexcused absences are allowed throughout the semester, but students will need to produce appropriate documentation in support of any additional absences. Please be aware that four (4) absences will put you at serious risk of failing the class, and six (6) absences are an automatic F. Absence from class is not an excuse for late or missing work. Do not be late for class: a pattern of lateness (5 minutes or less) will affect your participation grade negatively. Tardies of 5 – 20 minutes will count as half an absence. Tardies of over 20 minutes will count as one absence.

·  Make-ups for missing or late assignments are only granted under exceptional circumstances in documented cases of illness or emergency.

·  College policy states that students must notify faculty within the first three weeks of the semester if they anticipate missing any classes due to religious observance.

Electronic Forms of Communication|
In accordance with College policy, I will use your Ramapo College email address () to communicate with you about all course-related matters.

Relevant materials and announcements will be posted on our MyRamapo course shell. Please check your email frequently.

Students with Disabilities
If you need course adaptation or accommodations because of a disability that has been documented with the Office of Specialized Services, please make an appointment with me. Please note: Students must be registered with the Office of Specialized Services (OSS) to receive course adaptation or accommodations.

Academic Integrity Policy

All members of the community are expected to be honest and forthright in their academic endeavors. Since violations of academic integrity erode community confidence and undermine the pursuit of truth and knowledge at the College, academic dishonesty must be avoided.

Procedure
Responsibilities

The Office of the Provost has responsibility for the oversight and enforcement of the Academic Integrity Policy and for making the policy an institutional priority. The Office of the Provost is also responsible for publishing the policy and for educating both faculty and students about the policy.

Faculty members play a crucial role in the Academic Integrity Policy. They are responsible for educating their students about the importance of academic integrity and for communicating to students their expectations with respect to academic integrity in course work. They are also urged to report alleged violations of the policy to the Vice Provost.

Students have the responsibility to understand the Academic Integrity Policy and to comply with the policy in their academic work.

Criteria

There are four (4) broad forms of academic dishonesty:

1.  Cheating

Cheating is an act of deception by which a student misrepresents his or her mastery of material on a test or other academic exercise. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to:

o  copying from another student’s work;

o  allowing another student to copy his/her work;

o  using unauthorized materials such as a textbook, notebook, or electronic devices during an examination;

o  using specifically prepared materials, such as notes written on clothing or other unauthorized notes, formula lists, etc., during an examination;

o  collaborating with another person during an examination by giving or receiving information without authorization from the instructor;