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While many of the classes I teach are not high on the list of popularity, one is. I teach a class in film, which means that every week, we watch movies.
This is a class that is often recommended to students who are, shall we say, educationally challenged. If you're in danger of being booted from school, the film class should help your GPA.
That said, there's work involved here. There are weekly papers on the movies we watch, two tests, and a major 6-8 page paper on a film director. For that assignment, I hand out a sheet that details precisely what I want and expect. Each student looks at the films of a specific director (of their choice, but off a pre-approved list of about 100). They are required to include in their paper a discussion of no less than three of that director's films. So, f'rinstance, if you were doing Alfred Hitchcock, you could look at Vertigo, Rope, North by Northwest, Rear Window, Psycho... and on and on. Provided you used at least three movies, you're good.
In addition to the handout, I go over the assignment in class for about 15 minutes, reinforcing everything that's on the handout. I tell students where they can go to find movies (places they might overlook--like the public library), and tell them multiple times that before they select a director, they must be sure to have access to at least three films.
Two days ago, and two weeks after the assignment was given, one of my students approached me. She has access to only one of her director's films, because (bet this'll be a shock) she didn't do a single damned thing I told her to do.
I give instructions for several reasons. One is to standardize the assignment, which makes it easier for me. Another is to give the students guidelines so that they can reasonably complete the assignment in the four freakin' weeks between when I give it and they complete it.
If you don't follow the directions I give you, read to you, expound on in class, and repeat for the next week, I have no sympathy for you. Reading, comprehending, and listening are basic skills that you should have acquired before reaching college. That you haven't is not my concern. Next time, pay attention instead of playing footsie with your boyfriend under the desk.
This is a class that is often recommended to students who are, shall we say, educationally challenged. If you're in danger of being booted from school, the film class should help your GPA.
That said, there's work involved here. There are weekly papers on the movies we watch, two tests, and a major 6-8 page paper on a film director. For that assignment, I hand out a sheet that details precisely what I want and expect. Each student looks at the films of a specific director (of their choice, but off a pre-approved list of about 100). They are required to include in their paper a discussion of no less than three of that director's films. So, f'rinstance, if you were doing Alfred Hitchcock, you could look at Vertigo, Rope, North by Northwest, Rear Window, Psycho... and on and on. Provided you used at least three movies, you're good.
In addition to the handout, I go over the assignment in class for about 15 minutes, reinforcing everything that's on the handout. I tell students where they can go to find movies (places they might overlook--like the public library), and tell them multiple times that before they select a director, they must be sure to have access to at least three films.
Two days ago, and two weeks after the assignment was given, one of my students approached me. She has access to only one of her director's films, because (bet this'll be a shock) she didn't do a single damned thing I told her to do.
I give instructions for several reasons. One is to standardize the assignment, which makes it easier for me. Another is to give the students guidelines so that they can reasonably complete the assignment in the four freakin' weeks between when I give it and they complete it.
If you don't follow the directions I give you, read to you, expound on in class, and repeat for the next week, I have no sympathy for you. Reading, comprehending, and listening are basic skills that you should have acquired before reaching college. That you haven't is not my concern. Next time, pay attention instead of playing footsie with your boyfriend under the desk.
I AM the evil bastard!
me!" count as English. 
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