ClassInfo

DC 221 Film Structure for Majors

Ronald Eltanal

Office: CDM 501
Fall 2017-2018
Class number: 13021
Section number: 411
-
Online Campus

Download syllabus

Summary

A critical analysis of three-act film structure as well as an introduction to alternative narrative structures including, but not limited to, dual protagonist, ensemble, and non-linear structures. Films of various genres and eras will be examined. Students will develop a cinematic language with which to discuss films as well as a toolbox of techniques to use when making films.



Texts

Required Texts:
All required texts will be provided online as PDFs. See ?Content? on D2L to download.
? Daniel Handout
? Field Handout
? Snyder Handout
? Vogler Handout
? The Hustler Screenplay
? Punch Drunk Love Screenplay

Recommended:
Screenplay by Syd Field
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
The Writer?s Journey by Christopher Vogler
The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
The Tools of Screenwriting by David Howard and Edward Mabley


Grading

Grading
Grading Scale
A: 93-100, A-: 90-92, B+: 87-89, B: 83-86, B-: 80-82, C+: 77-79, C: 73-76, C-: 70-72, D+: 67-69, D: 63-66, D-: 60-62

Discussion Response Papers: 40 %
Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Paper: 35%


Prerequisites

None


Course Assignments

Course Assignments
LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Discussion Question Response Papers:
After each film, a set of discussion questions will be posted under "Dropbox" on D2L. Write a minimum one-page (250 words total for ALL questions, and I will check word count) response paper, and upload the .doc or .pdf to D2L. There will be a total of eight of these assignments in the course.

For online students, a ?secret phrase? will be given at some point of the lecture or discussion on the class prior to the response paper?s due date. Failure to include the secret phrase will result in a grade deduction for the paper. The point of the secret phrase is to ensure that online students watch and listen to the entire lecture and discussion, as if they were in class. If you cannot find the secret phrase, you may be multitasking and should try focusing on only the class recording. Hence, I will not provide the phrase (as I would not give the answer to a midterm question).

Discussion question responses are due on the class after they are assigned.

Midterm Exam:
There will be a midterm exam. Online students will have the option of attending the midterm in the regularly scheduled class, or will need to schedule a proctored midterm (an e-mail with details on the midterm for online students will be forthcoming). Please let me know if you need any exam accommodations (for example, if you are working with DePaul?s Center for Students with Disabilities), as soon as possible. Makeups will only be allowed for excused absences.

Research Paper:
In lieu of a final, you will write a research paper, 5-7 pages long. The prompt for the final paper will be posted on D2L?s Dropbox, and the papers will be discussed thoroughly in class.


School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296