FAQ's for visitors
Usually right around this time every summer, I receive a large number of emails from visitors to my blog, who have found me via a web search. Perhaps you're one of them? Maybe you are one of many visitors who "were just informed" that you'll be teaching a Film class in September, and you have no idea where to start. Or, maybe, you are proposing a Film course and are researching courses that currently exist. Perhaps you even have taught a Film class already, and are looking for fresh ideas--or are just plain curious. Regardless of how you got here, let me address some of the most Frequently Asked Questions in this here blog post, because it's summer and I have better things to do than sit in front of a computer in the heat (you can understand that, can't you?)
1. Film Appreciation, in my school, is a semester-length English elective open only to seniors. In spite of its "elective" status, it can be used to satisfy one-half of the senior English requirement.
2. The text that I use is Understanding the Film by Jan Bone and Ron Johnson. Look it up on Amazon.com.
3. If you want descriptions of my assignments, look to your right under "Assignments". Everything I could possibly tell you is there.
4. Yes, I have the students make one short subject film, in groups. See above.
5. Yes, the students have to do some writing. See #3.
6. If you want a general overview of what terms/concepts/topics I cover, as well as a list of films I show, see the Review Sheet. I have my own (educationally justifiable) reasons for why I chose those films, and it's best if you come up with your own reasons in conjunction with your own list.
7. I use this blog mainly for content delivery, but students are allowed to comment if they choose. I hope to make it more interactive in the future.
8. I use turnitin dot com for the journal assignments. Go to their site for a good explanation of what it is and how it works.
9. I'm sorry, but I only give out my syllabus to my students and to administrators.
That about covers it. I hope this helped, and I wish you all the best next year with your film courses. Now, I'm going to go enjoy the last few weeks of summer--so should you! :-)
1. Film Appreciation, in my school, is a semester-length English elective open only to seniors. In spite of its "elective" status, it can be used to satisfy one-half of the senior English requirement.
2. The text that I use is Understanding the Film by Jan Bone and Ron Johnson. Look it up on Amazon.com.
3. If you want descriptions of my assignments, look to your right under "Assignments". Everything I could possibly tell you is there.
4. Yes, I have the students make one short subject film, in groups. See above.
5. Yes, the students have to do some writing. See #3.
6. If you want a general overview of what terms/concepts/topics I cover, as well as a list of films I show, see the Review Sheet. I have my own (educationally justifiable) reasons for why I chose those films, and it's best if you come up with your own reasons in conjunction with your own list.
7. I use this blog mainly for content delivery, but students are allowed to comment if they choose. I hope to make it more interactive in the future.
8. I use turnitin dot com for the journal assignments. Go to their site for a good explanation of what it is and how it works.
9. I'm sorry, but I only give out my syllabus to my students and to administrators.
That about covers it. I hope this helped, and I wish you all the best next year with your film courses. Now, I'm going to go enjoy the last few weeks of summer--so should you! :-)
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