COURSE BLOG/ONLINE SYLLABUS

In addition to this syllabus, we will be working from an “online syllabus,” a link to which is available in OAKS in the “Course Materials” module. There you have access to all of the information included here. In addition, the online syllabus will host supplementary course materials, as well as short films and short clips. These will be found in the “Lobby” sections of the online syllabus.

CONTACTING ME

For questions about the assignments or course content, please post them in the “Course Lounge” Discussion Board on OAKS (under Communications tab). Others will benefit from reading your question, and it will make responding to these questions more efficient for me. My office location and office hours are posted at the top right corner of page one of this syllabus. As we continue to grapple with COVID-19, office hours will be conducted online via Zoom.

ATTENDANCE

Consistent attendance is important to both your own progress in this class and the effective functioning of the class overall. Regular attendance is required. More than two unexcused absences will adversely affect your grade. Excessive absences may result in failure. If you need to excuse yourself from the room during class for a restroom break, please raise your hand so as not to disrupt others, and I will excuse you.

LATE PAPERS

If you need to submit the short paper late, you may ask for an extension. Late papers submitted without an extension will be penalized 1/3 grade per day (e.g., a B paper submitted two days late will receive a C+).

FORMAL WRITING ASSIGNMENT

A formal writing assignment consists of a thesis-driven, analytical paper that addresses a given topic, either provided by me or developed by you in consultation with me. For supplemental guidance, you may consult the “Writing About Film” handout in OAKS. Exact guidelines for a formal writing paper will be outlined in the writing assignment topic sheet, which will be handed out at least 3 weeks before the due date.

Note: you are not permitted to include in your papers Internet sources (such as Wikipedia, Internet Movie Database, RottenTomatoes.com, etc.) unless approved by me prior to the paper’s submission.

GRADING POLICIES

• Characteristics of an F paper: Plagiarism; complete failure to address given topics; minimal attempt to meet paper length requirements—a paper that meets any of these criteria will receive an F even if it exhibits other characteristics of higher grade levels.
• a D paper: Some attempt to address given topics; fragmentary writing; failure to meet paper length requirements (no more than three pages below minimum paper length requirements); widespread sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a D+ paper: Some attempt to address given topics; fragmentary writing; failure to meet paper length requirements (no more than two pages below minimum paper length requirements); widespread sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a C- paper: Addresses given topics but lacks an argument; too much descriptive plot summary; poor organization; no more than one page below minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a C paper: Some attempt at an argument but no clear thesis; too much descriptive plot summary; poor organization; no more than one page below minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness
• a C+ paper: Argument discernible but dominated by descriptive plot summary; inadequately supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; lack of clear, argumentative thesis; choppy paragraphing and organization; meets minimum paper length requirements; many sentence level errors or carelessness
• a B- paper: Argument and thesis clear but not cogent; some descriptive plot summary; minimally supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; some breakdowns in organization; failure to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a B paper: Argument and thesis clear but insufficiently developed; some descriptive plot summary; supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; generally clear organization; failure to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• a B+ paper: Generally strong analysis but not completely developed; some descriptive plot summary; well supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; some attempt to address opposing points of view; some sentence level errors or carelessness.
• an A- paper: Strong, original analysis that pushes past the surface; a minimum of descriptive plot summary; exceptionally well supported with c lose analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; clear argumentative thesis and organization; engagement with opposing points of view; minor sentence level errors or carelessness.
• an A paper: Striking, original analysis that pushes past the surface; a minimum of descriptive plot summary; exceptionally well supported with close analysis of scenes, shots, and/or sequences of shots; clear argumentative thesis and organization; effective engagement with opposing points of view; no surface level errors or carelessness.

NO PERMISSIBLE USE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GAI)

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools are not permitted for any work in this class. If you use GAI tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of the College of Charleston’s Honor Code and Code of Conduct.

Students are bound by honor and by their enrollment at the College to abide by the specific policies of the Honor Code and the Code of Conduct, and to report any violations of the Honor System. All work submitted in this course must be your own, completed in accordance with the College’s Honor Code. You may not engage in unauthorized collaboration or make use of ChatGPT or other GAI tools.

Since writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills are part of the learning outcomes of this course, all writing assignments should be prepared solely by the student and without any assistance. Questions in this regard should be shared directly with your professor. Developing strong competencies in this area will prepare you for a competitive workplace. Therefore, support of any generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools is not permitted, and submissions using GAI will be treated as plagiarism per the College of Charleston’s Honor Code.

AUTOMATED WRITING TOOLS

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI), including ChatGPT and similar tools, is strictly prohibited in this course, even when appropriately referenced. The use of automated writing tools will be considered plagiarism and a violation of the CofC Honor Code.

FINAL EXAM

Only under extraordinary circumstances may you request to reschedule the exam. The date of our final exam is posted in the “Course Requirements” section on page two of this syllabus. Plan your travel accordingly. The “Request to an Instructor to Change a Final Exam” form can be found here:

https://academicaffairs.cofc.edu/documents/final-exam-change-request-form.pdf

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The College of Charleston is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who anticipate or experience disability-related barriers in the academic setting should notify their professor, and initiate contact with the Center for Disability Services (CDS) to move forward with the college’s established accommodation process (email: snap@cofc.edu; phone:  843-953-1431; location:  Lightsey Center 104). Students already connected with CDS for academic-related accommodations should share their Professor Notification Letter (PNL) with each professor as early in the semester as possible so that accommodations can be made promptly. The PNL informs faculty of potential course access and accommodations that might be necessary and reasonable. It is the student’s responsibility to follow this process each semester.

INCLEMENT WEATER, PANDEMIC OR SUBSTANTIAL INTERRUPTION OF INSTRUCTION

If in-person classes are suspended, faculty will announce to their students a detailed plan for a change in modality to ensure the continuity of learning. All students must have access to a computer equipped with a web camera, microphone, and Internet access. Resources are available to provide students with these essential tools.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT:

As members of the College of Charleston community, we affirm, embrace and hold ourselves accountable to the core values of integrity, academic excellence, liberal arts education, respect for the individual student, diversity, equity and inclusion, student centeredness, innovation and public mission.  Congruent with these core values, the College of Charleston expects that every student and community member has a responsibility to uphold the standards of the honor code, as outlined in the Student Handbook, In pursuit of academic learning, you are expected to reference the work of other scholars, and complete your own academic work, while utilizing appropriate resources for assistance.  Any acts of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students and addressed through the conduct process.  Your adherence to these practices and expectations plays a vital role in fostering a campus culture that balances trust and the pursuit of knowledge while producing a strong foundation of academic excellence at the College of Charleston.

INCLUSION

I am committed to creating an inclusive and accessible classroom environment for all students. I view the diversity that students bring to this class as a resource, strength, and benefit. I intend to present materials and activities respectful of diversity: gender, sexuality, disability, generational status, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, religious background, and immigration status. Any suggestions for promoting a positive and open environment will be appreciated and given serious consideration.

I will gladly honor your request to address you by the name and gender pronouns of your choice. Please advise me of this early in the semester via your college-issued email account or during office hours so that I may make the appropriate notation on my class list.

The Multicultural Student Programs and Services provides a safe haven for students to develop connections with other students. It exists to help students be successful, provide advocacy, support services, and culturally based programs that educate about diversity and multiculturalism and empower them to be agents of social change in an increasingly diverse and global community.

The Gender & Sexuality Equity Center enhances the well-being of our diverse LGBTQ+ community at the College of Charleston. We provide programs, services and resources to build and maintain a visible and accessible community for our LGBTQ+ students. For more information about LGBTQ+ resources including the Campus Pride Center, Gender Inclusive Facilities, Name and Pronouns information, and more. Please visit at the Campus Pride Center at 9 ½ Glebe Street or contact Dr. Naomi Simmons at simmonsn1@cofc.edu.

MENTAL & PHYSICAL WELLBEING

We take each student’s mental and physical wellbeing seriously. If you find yourself experiencing physical illnesses, please reach out to student health services (843.953.5520). And if you find yourself experiencing any mental health challenges (for example, anxiety, depression, stressful life events, sleep deprivation, and/or loneliness/homesickness) please consider contacting either the Counseling Center (professional counselors at CofC Counseling Center or 843.953.5640 3rd Floor of Robert Scott Small Building) or the Students 4 Support (certified volunteers through texting “4support” to 839863, or meet with them in person 411 (4th Floor) Stern Center). Learn more about Students 4 Support on CofC’s Hub. These services are there for you to help you cope with difficulties you may be experiencing and to maintain optimal physical and mental health.

FOOD & HOUSING RESOURCES
Many CofC students report experiencing food and housing insecurity. If you are facing challenges in securing food (such as not being able to afford groceries or get sufficient food to eat every day) and housing (such as lacking a safe and stable place to live), please contact the Dean of Students for support (SALT – Student Affairs Leadership Team). Also, you can go to Student Food and Housing Insecurity to learn about food and housing assistance that is available to you. In addition, there are several resources on and off campus to help. You can visit the Cougar Pantry in the Stern Center (2nd floor), a student-run food pantry that provides dry-goods and hygiene products at no charge to any student in need.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT

CofC is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of prohibited discrimination, including sexual harassment and violence (i.e. sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and gender or sex-based bullying and stalking). If you have experienced discrimination or harassment, help and support are available. CofC employees, other than designated confidential resources, must report information they receive about prohibited discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence. This means that if you tell me about a situation involving sexual harassment, sexual violence, discrimination, or harassment, I must share the information with the Title IX Coordinator. You may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the Office of Victim Services at 843-953-2273, Counseling Center at 843-953-5640, or Student Health Services at 843-953-5520. You can also report any sexual misconduct or discrimination, or learn more about your options and resources, by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at 843-953-5754.

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS (4.6):
(Faculty/Administration Manual VIII.A.10)

The College of Charleston community is enriched by students of many faiths that have various religious observances, practices, and beliefs. We value student rights and freedoms, including the right of each student to adhere to individual systems of religion. The College prohibits discrimination against any student because of such student’s religious belief or any absence thereof.

The College acknowledges that religious practices differ from tradition to tradition, and that the demands of religious observances in some traditions may cause conflicts with student schedules. In affirming this diversity, like many other colleges and universities, the College supports the concept of “reasonable accommodation for religious observance” regarding class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and other academic work requirements, unless the accommodation would create an undue hardship on the College. Faculty are required, as part of their responsibility to students and the College, to ascribe to this policy and to ensure its fair and full implementation.

The accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on both the individual requesting the accommodation and the College. Faculty members are expected to reasonably accommodate individual religious practices. Examples of reasonable accommodations for student absences might include: rescheduling of an exam or giving a make-up exam for the student in question; altering the time of a student’s presentation; allowing extra-credit assignments to substitute for missed class work or arranging for an increased flexibility in assignment dates. Regardless of any accommodation that may be granted, students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives, requirements and prerequisites as defined by the instructor and by the College.