THE MOVIES: MEANINGS AND METHODS

MSP 230 IC, 3 Credits, 3-2-2

Course # 36700, No Prerequisites or Co-Requisites
Spring 2019
INSTRUCTOR: Lauren Keatley, M.A.

SYLLABUS
MEETING TIMES AND ROOM
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:35-11:30 a.m. in ATC 222

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

 Richard Barsam and Dave Monahan. (2015) Looking At Movies (5 th ed.). W.W.
Norton & Company.
 Karen Gocsik and Richard Barsam. (2015) Writing About Movies. (4th ed.). W.W.
Norton & Company.

WELCOME

Welcome to COM 230, A Survey of Mass Media Industries in the United States! Some
course content will be presented as lectures, but this class primarily is a “learn by
discussion” portfolio class. You will produce media communications in various formats
using basic building blocks of storytelling and journalism. You will spend much of the
time discussing readings, engaging in small group presentations, and working on
assignments during class time. I encourage you to think, question, apply, and integrate
the course materials. Your active involvement will ensure the semester is productive
and enjoyable. Therefore, I expect you to complete all reading assignments before
class, be prepared to engage in class discussions and activities, complete all
assignments on time, and put your best effort into all coursework. Please contact me
when you have questions. Chat with me in my office, by phone or email.

CONTACT INFORMATION

 Office Hours: M/W 9-9:35 AM, 2-3 p.m.; T 3-4 PM, F by appointment, ATC 307
 Email – Use your MCCC student email account to email me: lkeatley@mc3.edu
Phone -- Call me during office hours or leave a voicemail at (215) 641-6313.

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Keep this syllabus and your portfolio at least five years or until you transfer your
course credits.

COURSE OVERVIEW

Course Description

The popular arts of “the movies” and television are carefully prepared constructions of
sights and sounds. Watching them is the chief way our society comes to recognize
itself. COM 230 is about learning to get more enjoyment and meaning from these
products of the image industries. The course examines how meaning is created and
communicated in non-print media. Basic concepts and techniques in constructing and
interrelating visual and aural images will be discussed in light of the historical
development of film and video technology and techniques. This course meets General
Education Core Goal 1a: Communication Skills: Written; Core Goal 5: Information
Literacy; and Core Goal 7: Aesthetic Sensibility and the Arts.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

 Verbalize, orally and in writing, an appreciation of the art of visual storytelling in
cinema and television.
 Describe the ways that the moving visual media create stories that portray the
world.
 Compare and contrast how meaning and value are constructed visually for film
and TV storytelling.
 Utilize vocabulary of technical and aesthetic terminology to assist you in
conversing about film and TV.
 Discuss how "movies" made by different cultures deal with diverse issues using
visual storytelling techniques.
 Demonstrate artistic expression through analysis and/or creation.
 Make aesthetic judgments about the construction of visual stories in films and TV
storytelling based on established production criteria.
 Discuss observations and thoughts concerning the techniques of visual
storytelling used in moving visual media to others.

EXPECTATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER

1. Come prepared for class: You will be graded daily on your thoughtful participation
during class discussions of materials you must read before class. The quality of your
thoughts matter. There are no make-up quizzes for late arrival or added time for
completing quizzes.

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 2. Treat others with respect: We will discuss issues that you and your classmates may
disagree on. Let’s have a healthy, open, fact-filled, civil discussion and see what we can
learn by truly considering what others say. Show Respect for the subject matter, fellow
students, visitors, and the professor. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated and
may result in expulsion from class, the program, school, and/or result in the grade of “F”
for the class. No private conversations, texting, social networking, phone conversations
or rustling book bags are not allowed during class time.
3. Stay ahead of your homework: Submit assignments on time. Figure out how to
schedule 4-6 hours for homework per week, and submit it ahead of schedule in case you
have a technical problem (laptop crash, lose a file, etc.) Late work is not accepted.
 Let’s talk if you have a problem: If something is keeping you from completing your
work, talk to me privately. Do not wait. Let’s discuss possible options.
 Ask, if you have a question: I want to help you succeed. If you email, I usually respond
within 24 hours but don’t answer email from 9 p.m.-9 a.m. If I don’t reply, your answer
is in your syllabus, a class email or on Blackboard.
 Handle Blackboard problems with IT: If a technical problem occurs with Blackboard,
contact the IT Help Desk immediately (see “How to Get Technical Help” below). Forward
your response from IT to me; I will then accept late work if there is a Blackboard
problem.

HOW TO GET TECHNICAL HELP

If you have a problem with the website or Blackboard, help is available 24/7/365:
Email: helpdesk@mc3.edu
Live support: https://support.mc3.edu
Phone: 215-641-6495

STUDENT SERVICES
The Student Success Center offers free substantial mentoring, tutoring, co-curricular and
other support services for all students.

Tutorial Services is a FREE service that helps students develop learning strategies based on
their unique learning styles with the goal of creating successful students and independent
learners. Tutorial Services helps students achieve academic success by providing tutoring in
course content and study skills, math and writing workshops, study skills workshops, and
computing skills. View tutoring hours and locations. At Main Campus, Tutorial Services is in
College Hall 180, across from the Cafeteria. The AV Librarian and the Information Literacy
Librarian also offer support. Also, 24/7 FREE online tutoring is available at Tutor.com that you

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can access via “Tutoring” on Blackboard. This service includes 12-hour turnarounds for reviews
of your writing.

Basic Needs: If you or a student you know has difficulty accessing resources to meet basic
needs, i.e., safety, food, and/or stable housing and believe this may affect academic
performance, please get support. Contact the Director of Student Retention and Success in
College Hall’s Student Success Center, send an email to csmith3@mc3.edu, or call 215 641 2803
for help.

Available services for those who qualify include:


Services for Students with Disabilities: Montgomery County Community College welcomes
qualified students with disabilities and endorses principles of nondiscrimination and reasonable
accommodation found in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Check if you are eligible for services and reasonable
accommodations by reviewing the policy on the Disabilities website or visit the Disabilities
Services Center College Hall, Room 225, or call 215 641-6575 for information.


Services for Veterans: Student veterans may be eligible for benefits. Contact the Veterans
Resource Center or 215-619-7307 to learn about education and healthcare benefits.

IMPORTANT ALL-SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Text and Email: Sign up for alerts for school closings, road conditions, etc. at mc3.edu/txt/.


School Closings: The day class cancellation number 320 will be reported by 6:00 a.m. for day
classes (all classes that start before 3 p.m.), and by 2:00 p.m. for evening classes.

Course & Faculty Evaluation: Please complete an anonymous, online faculty evaluation form
before the course ends. Faculty cannot access evaluation results until after grades have posted.

COLLEGE POLICIES

Students are expected to review, understand, and follow academic-related College

Policies. The current policies are located at www.mc3.edu/syllabuspolicies. All College
policies must be followed and are a binding part of this syllabus. Students must read the
Student Code of Conduct, Student Academic Code of Ethics and Acceptable Use of
Technology Policy.

Sourcing: All assignments must contain at least two properly cited sources that support
your work. Papers require additional sources.

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Cheating: By enrolling in this course, you agree to follow the student Academic Code of
Ethics. You must do your own work. You may not or help others cheat. Plagiarism is
cheating, too. You must cite sources for any written, aural, or visual work that is not your
original idea or creation. Plagiarism is academic dishonesty. It is theft. And it is a
serious offense. Ask me, a help desk librarian or check MLA if you have questions
about citing sources. Consequences for cheating and plagiarism, at a minimum, you will
earn the grade of “F” for cheating and or plagiarism, with no opportunity to resubmit.
Withdrawal from the class after the submission of plagiarized work is not allowed.
Based on the Student Code of Conduct, the student who submits plagiarized work or
assists students who plagiarize can be suspended or expelled from class, the program
or school.

COLLEGE GRADING SCALE FOR FINAL GRADES

A 4.00 (Exceptional) = 93-100%

A- 3.67 = 90-92%

B+ 3.33 = 87-89.99%

B 3.00 (Obtained substantially all of the standards) = 83-86.99%

C+ 2.67 = 77-79.99%

C 2.00 (Meeting minimally acceptable standard) = 70-76.99%

D 1.00 (Lowest Passing Grade; below minimally acceptable standards) = 60-69.99%

F 0.00 (Failure to meet acceptable standards) = 59.99% and Below

All grades are final and will not be changed unless there was a mechanical error in
recording.

The "Incomplete" Grade ("I"): The "I" grade is not granted, and the final grade is
posted when required by the College. If the outstanding work is turned in by a date
agreed on by the student and professor, it will be graded, and the final grade
recalculated and sent to the registrar to post.


Withdrawal from Class: Withdrawal from Class: There are three periods of time for
withdrawals listed on the college’s website:

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  Period 1: Withdrawal from the course with a grade of "W" by completing a formal
withdrawal application form.
 Period 2: The professor must sign the form—at my discretion, according to dates
and policies. When these withdrawal windows close,
 Period 3: Documentation for withdrawal request due to catastrophic or medical
emergencies (WEX) will be reviewed by the Division Dean, Program Director or
Instructor and a recommendation will be sent to the Provost who will decide the
matter.

Note: If you or your spouse face Military Deployment or Reassignment and need to
withdraw, see College policies for assistance in the process.

The “Audit” Grade”: Auditing a course means that a student attends classes but is not
required to submit assignments or take examinations unless agreed upon with the
instructor beforehand. An auditor, therefore, receives neither a grade nor course credit.
The auditing fee, however, is the same as when a student is regularly enrolled for credit.
Students are permitted to audit one or more courses.

Special Considerations/Changes: Discussed by appointment with the professor as

the need arises.

Writing Standards: These are the minimum standards expected of all students for
written assignments:

1. Proofread your work carefully. I will deduct points for spelling, capitalization
and grammatical errors.
2. Type all assignments. Use Arial 12-point font, one-inch margins and double
spacing.
3. Place page numbers in the right-hand footer.
4. Type a header in the top left-hand corner for the first page of every
assignment:
a. Your Name
b. Course Name and Section
c. Assignment Title
d. Instructor’s Name
e. Date
5. Check Blackboard for writing resources.
6. Save a copy of all written assignments for your records and course portfolio.

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 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

Assignments

Your grade will be based on your performance on assignments and activities listed on
the chart below. Assignments may change during the semester at the discretion of the
instructor. Submit all written assignments to Blackboard SafeAssign™, a plagiarism
detection service. Instructions about assignments will be discussed in class and posted
on Blackboard.

Assignment/Activity Percent

Participation 10%

Movie Response
25%
Papers

Movie Introduction
5%
Presentation

Exams 15%

Research Paper,
Thesis Statement,
10%
Outline and Annotated
Bibliography

Research Paper 20%

Digital Media Portfolio 10%

Citizen Kane Final

Analysis and 5%
Presentation

Total 100%

Participation (10%). Your participation grade will be based on the following:

 Contribute meaningfully to class discussions, which should include an application of
relevant media and communication concepts and an awareness of current news or
media events.
 Complete in-class movie analysis assignments, which are short research, writing, or
practicum individual or group assignments.

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Movie Response Papers (25%). You will write a 1-2-page paper for each of the films
screened in class. Movie Response Paper topics vary and will be assigned in class.

Movie Introduction Presentation (5%). You will be assigned a movie to introduce to the
class before its screening. Your presentation must be 3-5 minutes and include a
presentation aid (e.g., slide show). Your presentation must contain information about the
movie’s: release date, run time, director, producer, main actors, any critical reviews, any
accolades and awards, and any other pertinent trivia.

Research Paper, Thesis Statement, Outline and Annotated Bibliography (5%). This is
a research assignment you will complete to prepare you to write your term paper.

Research Paper (20%). You will write a five to six-page term paper on an approved topic
about the film industry and explore the chosen topic in depth. Failure to submit a term
paper means you will receive an “F” grade in the course. Further details and instructions
will be posted on Blackboard.

Digital Media Portfolio (10%). You will submit a digital portfolio of your coursework by the
last meeting day of the semester.

CITIZEN KANE Final Analysis and Presentation (5%). You will be assigned one aspect
of the classic film, CITIZEN KANE, to analyze and present to the class during finals week.
Detailed instructions will be presented in class.

SEQUENCE OF TOPICS

A list of the general topics that will be covered in this course is listed below. A detailed list of
topics, assignments, and deadlines is posted in Blackboard in the “Course Schedule” section.

 How Movies Work and the Importance of Movie Making in Culture

 Telling Stories with Light
 Movie Genres and Classification
 Film Theory, Film Studies, Ideology and Point of View,
 Mise-en-scene including Movement (Blocking) and Non-Verbal Communication
 Lighting and Cinematography
 Editing, Writing
 Story and Plot Review, Social Context
 Acting, Directing and Other Key Elements of Film Construction
 From Idea to Screen: The Producer and Putting It All Together

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PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES

Assignment Due Dates

Assignments must be submitted no later than 10 minutes before the start of class on the
due date. I do not accept late work. You will receive a zero grade for missing assignments
or late work you submit, unless you provide written proof that you experienced an
unforeseen and verifiable emergency.

Attendance and Lateness

Your attendance is mandatory and will be recorded in Blackboard. I expect you to attend
class regularly, arrive on time, and remain in the class session until you are formally
dismissed. You may miss three classes without consequence. After a third absence, your
final grade will drop one full letter grade. So, if you had a final grade of A but missed four
classes, your final grade will be a B. Missing 5 classes with the final grade of A drop your
final grade to a C, and so on.

 If you have an emergency or personal crisis, I require written proof without exception to
grant you an excused absence.
 Lateness will negatively affect your grade. For every 2 late arrivals, you earn 1 absence.
 I record attendance at the beginning of class. If you arrive late, I will have marked you
absent. It is your responsibility to ensure I changed your absence to a late arrival.
 If you miss class, do not send me an email or use class time to ask what you missed.
Ask a classmate first. Exchange contact information with a classmate early in the
semester for this purpose. If you still have questions, talk with me after class or during
my office hours to discuss what you missed.

Blackboard (Bb)

Your syllabus, assignments, grades, attendance records, resources, supplemental

materials, and announcements are posted on Blackboard (Bb). You must learn to
navigate Blackboard. I will not accept unfamiliarity with Blackboard as an excuse for late
or missed assignments.

The course learning materials are organized in weekly folders on Blackboard under the
weekly content folder heading “Weekly Content Folder.” Please submit ALL your
assignments on Blackboard. Do not email assignments to me. Upload all assignments
to Blackboard with the following title format: Last Name_ First Name_Assignment

Research Standards

For research assignments, use Google Scholar, the Library’s Communication Collection
(books), the AV Library, and the other peer-reviewed databases on the library website.
Encyclopedias and blogs should not be used as sources.

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 Writing Standards

Below are the minimum writing standards of performance expected of all students. They
apply to ALL assignments.

Proofread your documents carefully. Use Grammarly.com. I will deduct points from any
written assignment that contains spelling, capitalization, or grammatical errors.

Follow ALL MLA guidelines:

 Type all written assignments. Use 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced,
one-inch margins.
 Place your name and page numbers in parentheses in the right-hand corner of the
header. Example: (Name 1)
 Type the following header information in the top left-hand corner of the first page of
every written assignment:
o Your Name
o Instructor’s Name
o Course Name
o Date
 Create a title for each assignment and center it below the heading.
 Cite ALL sources using in-text citations and include a Works Cited page at the end
of all assignments.
 Upload all assignments to Blackboard with the following title format:

Your Last Name and First Initial_Assignment Title

Example: KeatleyL_ResearchPaper

 Use writing resources in Writing Guidelines and Resources folder in Bb, Course
Materials.
 Keep a copy of all written assignments for your records.

Warning: Materials used in conjunction with this course may be subject to copyright protection. You
may not reproduce, re-use, or re-purpose course material in any way without written permission from
the instructor and Montgomery County Community College. See Blackboard for more information.

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