During the semester you will have a number of short assignments as well as three papers and two presentations. The details of the assignments will be posted below as well as discussed in class. The due dates for the major assignments are listed below.

• Film Presentation
• Review Essay
• Scene Analysis
• Final Paper Film Choices
• Annotated Bibliography
• Abstract
• Final Paper Outline
• Peer Review Guidelines
• Individual Presentation
• Paper Correction Key
• Draft and Final Paper
  

DATES TO REMEMBER (Subject to change)

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING PAPERS

Think long and hard about the assignment and what you are going to say before you start writing. This includes discussing your ideas with others and listening to and responding to their ideas. Be sure to assess exactly what the assignment asks you to do. Doing something other than what the assignment asks you to do will not help your grade and it may well hurt it. Not doing what the assignment requires will earn you an F. The guidelines below should be used for all your papers unless the assignment specifically indicates differently, (for example the Draft and Final Paper assignment).

1. Papers must be typed.
2. Double space your work.
3. Use a font that is no smaller 12 point Times New Roman and easy to read.
4. Proofread your work. Excess grammar and spelling errors will count against your grade.
5. Please place only one staple in the upper left-hand comer of your work. Do not use plastic covers or similar things. You need not have a cover page. But you must have a title. Simply place the title at the top of the first page of your paper.
6. Make an extra final copy of your paper for safe keeping.
7. Use 1" margins top, bottom, left, and right. Justify only the Left margin.
8. Number your pages, even if you must do it by hand. Place a word count on the last page of your paper.
9. If you quote something, you must also explain it in your own words and cite the reference. MLA style should be used.
10. Closely paraphrased material will count as plagiarism even if a reference is given.
11. Cite your sources! Use the MLA style.
12. Attach to your paper the handwritten and signed pledge below:
    On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on the assignment.

GRADING SCALE:

Papers will be graded according to the following guidelines:

A grade of F will be assigned to papers that have excessive grammatical or spelling errors, papers that do not address the central questions of the assignment, papers that are not turned in at or before the beginning of class on the due date, and those which are generally unintelligible. [Work ahead--computer breakdown and other similar excuses will receive sympathy, but NO exception will be made for them.] Start work early. Save often!

A grade of D will be assigned to papers which only vaguely address the central question of the assignment but do not demonstrate a reasonable understanding of the reading material, are unorganized, or do not express the student's opinion or answer to the question(s) in the assignment.

A grade of C will be assigned to papers which address the central question of the assignment, evaluate the views of the author(s) in question, express the viewpoint of the student on the question( s), and demonstrate a fair understanding of the appropriate materials.

A grade of B will be assigned to papers which fulfill the requirements for a grade of C, but also demonstrate a good command of the material, are well organized, clear, and show that the student has thought deeply about the questions at hand.

A grade of A is reserved for those papers which fulfill the requirements for a grade of B, demonstrate an excellent command of the material, are especially original and insightful, and show a developed talent for written expression.