Syllabus
Fall 2018
Dr. Alexandra Hidalgo, Assistant Professor
Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Office: 265 Bessey Hall
Office Hours: Mondays 1 -2 and by appointment
Email: hidalgo5@msu.edu
Dr. Alexandra Hidalgo, Assistant Professor
Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures
Office: 265 Bessey Hall
Office Hours: Mondays 1 -2 and by appointment
Email: hidalgo5@msu.edu
Course Goals And Outcomes
This course is an introduction to the study of documentary film. Through a combination of watching documentary films and reading theoretical writing, you will:
- Develop a sense of the kinds of questions documentaries address and the techniques they use to address them.
- Become familiar with a number of approaches to representing reality through documentary film.
- Develop a basic understanding of the history of documentary film.
- Learn to apply theoretical thinking to analyze documentary films.
Required Texts
You will need to purchase these two texts:
Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction by Patricia Aufderheide
Publisher: Oxford University Press (2007)
Introduction to Documentary by Bill Nichols
Second Edition
Publisher: Indiana University Press; Second Edition (December 7, 2010)
We will watch films in class every Monday. If you are unable to be present for screenings, you will be responsible for watching the films on your own.
Documentary Film: A Very Short Introduction by Patricia Aufderheide
Publisher: Oxford University Press (2007)
Introduction to Documentary by Bill Nichols
Second Edition
Publisher: Indiana University Press; Second Edition (December 7, 2010)
We will watch films in class every Monday. If you are unable to be present for screenings, you will be responsible for watching the films on your own.
Projects
Documentary Presentation (10%)
For this 7-9 minute Powerpoint/Prezi presentation, you will screen the preview for or a short scene from a documentary we are not watching in class and by discussing three of its filmmaking elements (cinematography, sound, soundtrack, editing, character development, affect, historical/political/social message), you will make a case for why the film should be part of a class like this one.
Analytical Essay (30%)
In this 5-6 page (1,500-1,800 words) essay, you will choose one film we have watched in class and using two of our readings, as well as two outside sources, you’ll analyze the piece’s arguments or craft.
Podcast (40%)
In pairs, you will create a 3-5 minute podcast in which you use narration and sound recordings from two of the documentaries we’ve watched this semester in order to make arguments about the ways in which these films portray gender, race, sexuality, class, ability, or nationality. You will need to cite two sources we have read in class, as well as two outside sources. We will learn how to use Audacity in order to record and edit your podcasts.
For this 7-9 minute Powerpoint/Prezi presentation, you will screen the preview for or a short scene from a documentary we are not watching in class and by discussing three of its filmmaking elements (cinematography, sound, soundtrack, editing, character development, affect, historical/political/social message), you will make a case for why the film should be part of a class like this one.
Analytical Essay (30%)
In this 5-6 page (1,500-1,800 words) essay, you will choose one film we have watched in class and using two of our readings, as well as two outside sources, you’ll analyze the piece’s arguments or craft.
Podcast (40%)
In pairs, you will create a 3-5 minute podcast in which you use narration and sound recordings from two of the documentaries we’ve watched this semester in order to make arguments about the ways in which these films portray gender, race, sexuality, class, ability, or nationality. You will need to cite two sources we have read in class, as well as two outside sources. We will learn how to use Audacity in order to record and edit your podcasts.
Reading Assignments
For almost every Tuesday class period I will assign readings. You will not succeed in this course if you don’t keep up with the readings. Watching the films with your peers is just as important.
Reading Quizzes (10%)
Quizzes will take place at the beginning of each class for which readings have been assigned. The questions will be easy to answer if you do the readings and pay attention to the points the authors are making. Quizzes will be worth one point each. You will start the semester with 10 points. If you don’t miss any quizzes, you will have 10 points at the end. If you miss half a quiz, you’ll have 9.5 points, if you miss a whole quiz, you will have 9 points, and so on. The quizzes’ role is to give you an incentive to engage with the texts we discuss in class, since without understanding the assigned texts, you will not profit from this course.
Reading Quizzes (10%)
Quizzes will take place at the beginning of each class for which readings have been assigned. The questions will be easy to answer if you do the readings and pay attention to the points the authors are making. Quizzes will be worth one point each. You will start the semester with 10 points. If you don’t miss any quizzes, you will have 10 points at the end. If you miss half a quiz, you’ll have 9.5 points, if you miss a whole quiz, you will have 9 points, and so on. The quizzes’ role is to give you an incentive to engage with the texts we discuss in class, since without understanding the assigned texts, you will not profit from this course.
Attendance
Students will be expected to show up for every class and pay attention, but I realize that illnesses and other complications do occur. Therefore, you may miss three classes without penalty. After that, two percentage points will be deducted for every unexcused absence. If you miss more than six classes, whether your absences are excused or not, you will receive a failing grade. For extended absences due to medical or family emergencies, you should consult me upon return, if not sooner. A student who attends class but is not participating or paying attention may be counted as absent. Tardiness disrupts the class and everyone’s learning experience, so every tardy equals half an absence. The same applies for anyone who leaves class early. Bonus points will be awarded to students who miss fewer than their allotted three absences and who participate responsibly in class. You will receive an extra credit percentage point per each class you attend beyond your allotted three absences, i.e. if you miss no classes and have no tardies, you will earn three percentage points of extra credit.
Late Work
An assignment received after the due date is considered late (unless prior arrangements have been made). Late work is penalized 20% for each day it is late. After five days, including weekends, late projects receive a 0.
Grading
Your final grade is made up of 100 points. Here is the breakdown:
Quizzes (10 points)
Due: Throughout the semester
Documentary Presentation (10 points)
Due: You will sign up for a date to present
Analytical Essay (30 points)
Due: proposal (10/17 by class time), draft (10/31 by class time) and final version (11/16 by 11:59pm)
Podcast (40 points)
Due: proposal (11/7 by class time), draft (11/26 by class time), and final draft (12/5 we will listen to final drafts in class and they are due to me 12/7 by 11:59pm)
I will use the following scale to determine your grades:
94-100 = 4.0
87-93 = 3.5
80-86 = 3.0
75-79 = 2.5
70-74 = 2.0
65-69 = 1.5
60-64 = 1.0
< 59 = 0
Quizzes (10 points)
Due: Throughout the semester
Documentary Presentation (10 points)
Due: You will sign up for a date to present
Analytical Essay (30 points)
Due: proposal (10/17 by class time), draft (10/31 by class time) and final version (11/16 by 11:59pm)
Podcast (40 points)
Due: proposal (11/7 by class time), draft (11/26 by class time), and final draft (12/5 we will listen to final drafts in class and they are due to me 12/7 by 11:59pm)
I will use the following scale to determine your grades:
94-100 = 4.0
87-93 = 3.5
80-86 = 3.0
75-79 = 2.5
70-74 = 2.0
65-69 = 1.5
60-64 = 1.0
< 59 = 0
Services and Resources
MSU Writing Center: http://writing.msu.edu. 432-3610. 300 Bessey Hall. The MSU Writing Center is the primary writing resource on campus. You’ll also find satellite centers in several campus locations including the main library.
MSU ESL Lab: http://www.elc.msu.edu. 353-0800. 714 Wells Hall. The ESL Lab assists international students with writing in a second language.
MSU Learning Resource Center: http://lrc.msu.edu. 202 Bessey Hall. This center offers individualized assistance to help students develop successful learning strategies and study habits.
MSU Libraries: http://www.lib.msu.edu.
Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab provides information about writing, such as how to use MLA and how to plan and structure your texts.
MSU ESL Lab: http://www.elc.msu.edu. 353-0800. 714 Wells Hall. The ESL Lab assists international students with writing in a second language.
MSU Learning Resource Center: http://lrc.msu.edu. 202 Bessey Hall. This center offers individualized assistance to help students develop successful learning strategies and study habits.
MSU Libraries: http://www.lib.msu.edu.
Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Purdue’s Online Writing Lab provides information about writing, such as how to use MLA and how to plan and structure your texts.
Americans with Disabilities Act
In order to receive any accommodation for any disability, students must first register with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD). The RCPD will request appropriate documentation and make a determination regarding the nature of the accommodation to which a students is entitled. The RCPD will then give the student a “visa” that specifies the kind of accommodation that may be provided. It is then the responsibility of the student seeking accommodation to present the visa to his/her instructor.
Title IX Services
Mandatory Reporting: http://titleix.msu.edu/policy-info/mandatory-reporting.html
How to Make a Report: http://titleix.msu.edu/make-a-report/index.html
Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) policy: https://www.hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/university-wide/RVSM_policy.html
MSU Title IX-related resources: http://titleix.msu.edu/find-resources/index.html
How students can “get involved” with Title IX programs: http://titleix.msu.edu/getting-involved/index.html
How to Make a Report: http://titleix.msu.edu/make-a-report/index.html
Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct (RVSM) policy: https://www.hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/university-wide/RVSM_policy.html
MSU Title IX-related resources: http://titleix.msu.edu/find-resources/index.html
How students can “get involved” with Title IX programs: http://titleix.msu.edu/getting-involved/index.html
