COURSE OVERVIEW

ABOUT THIS COURSE:

American Cinema is an introductory film studies course designed to bring Hollywood film making into clear focus as an art form, as an economic force, and as a system of representation and communication. Through film you will gain a better understanding of American culture. This course explores how Hollywood films work technically, artistically, and culturally. American Cinema probes the deeper meaning of American movies—the hidden messages of genres, the social and psychological effects of Hollywood film style, and the mutual influence of society and popular culture—through encounters with outstanding films representing the major genres. All of the course components – the text, assignments, movie viewing, reviews, quizzes and tests - have been carefully designed to help you achieve the course objectives.

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GETTING STARTED:

1.  Purchase your book from the Coastline Community College Bookstore. http://www.coastlinebookstore.com.

2.  Read the Course Overview, Syllabus, and Assignments sections in this web site and begin required assignments that are found in the first week of the Assignment Sheet.

3.  Complete and return the Letter of Agreement. Please note that you will be required to view eight films as part of your course requirement. Page 2 of your Letter of Agreement is your Film Contract. It lists the films that you may select. Indicate the letter for the film from each group that you have chosen. These films are classic and may be available at your local library. You will find the films listed with Course Materials. Return the Letter of Agreement and the Film Contract by the end of Week I, and you will earn 10 extra points.

4.  If your zip code does NOT start with one of the following numbers listed: 900XX, 901XX, 902XX, 903XX, 904XX, 905XX, 906XX, 907XX, 908XX, 910XX, 911XX, 912XX, 917XX, 918XX, 926XX, 927XX, 928XX; then you will need to complete and return the Proctor Agreement Form. You may have your exam proctored by an appropriate proctor at another College or University near you. It is each student's responsibility to return the completed proctor form to the Distance Learning Department by the end of the first week of the course. Failure to mail the proctor form to the department by the due date will result in students not being allowed to have the exam proctored away from Coastline Community College. This form is available on line at:

http://dl.coastline.edu/dlstudents/studentproctor.htm. 

If you qualify to take the exams with a proctor, send in your Proctor Form this week.

Coastline Community College
Distance Learning Department
11460 Warner Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708-2597

5.  Then log on to the Discussion Forum (link in navigation bar on left) and say “hello.” The Discussion Forum is our communication device for the class. Check it often because any important announcements will be posted there.

6.  Finally, click on the FAQ link (in navigation bar on left) to review frequently asked questions and to get information about contacting technical support and your instructor.

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COURSE MATERIALS:

Textbook (Required): American Cinema/American Culture, John Belton, New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 2005

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QUIZZES:

This course requires three quizzes. The quiz questions are included in this QUIZZES section of this course website. The quizzes cover:

Quizzes - Students must complete the quizzes online and submit their answers over the Internet.

Online instructions- On the Quiz Page available through the left navigation menu, click on View Quiz, print quiz and choose the correct answers before attempting to take the online quiz. After you have decided on your answers, click on Take Quiz and submit your answers. You will be allowed to take the quiz only one time. The online quiz will not be available after the due date. Quiz results will be e-mailed to you immediately after you have submitted your quiz. If you have problems taking the quiz online, follow the instructions given in FAQ. Your instructor cannot solve technical difficulties.

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EXAMS:

Reviews for Midterm and Final Examinations
Midterm and final reviews are available online from the Exam Reviews page.

Examinations:

You are required to take both a midterm and a final exam to complete the course successfully. The multiple-choice exam questions will be similar to the at-home quiz questions. In order to receive credit for the objective portion of the exam, you will be required to answer the essay questions on the midterm exam. All exam questions will be based on the course learning objectives.

On Site: The midterm exam will be taken on-site or with a proctor.
Time and Location: Consult Exam Schedule

The final exam is objective and will be taken online.

If you are a student having your exams proctored, your midterm will be mailed to your Proctor the first week of summer school. Please contact your Proctor immediately and have them open the exam envelope to ensure that the correct tests have been sent. Handling of the examination is the sole responsibility of the Proctor and should not be personally mailed by the student. To do so may result in an "F" in the course and the student will not be allowed to re-enroll.

Alternate Testing Dates:

It is the students’ responsibility to attend regularly scheduled exams for the Distance Learning course they are enrolled in. Exam schedules are listed within the assignment section of each Student Handbook and it is the students’ responsibility to verify that these dates will not conflict with their schedule.

In the event the scheduled exam date does present a conflict, the student must contact the Distance Learning Department to schedule an alternate exam: (714) 241-6216. Alternate exam dates are limited and should be used for “special situations” only. Alternate exam dates should be BEFORE your regularly scheduled exam, however, no more than 7 days AFTER the regularly scheduled exam date to avoid the 10% penalty for late exams.

You MUST call (714) 241-6216 to schedule an appointment for an alternate test date before your regularly scheduled exam date has passed.

When taking exam:

1. Have your Coastline student ID card and driver's license or photographic identification ready to show the proctor at the exam site. You will be unable to take your exam without proper identification. If you have them ready when you come to the table to get your exam, you will save time for all of us.

2. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil. Pencils are not provided. An exam SCANTRON will be given to you at the exam.

3. Note: if you come with a friend or a family member, you will be asked to sit at separate tables.

4. Make arrangements for the care of your children. DO NOT BRING CHILDREN OR SPOUSES TO THE EXAM.

5. Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed in the testing room.

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GRADE SCALE:

The final grade of American Cinema will be based upon the number of points you earn on the midterm and final exams, quizzes, required movie reviews and 6 paragraph homework on scenes from contracted movies.

The grade scale for the course is as follows:

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GRADE POINT BREAKDOWN:

The only extra credit in this class is 10 points for returning your Letter of Agreement and Film Contract by the end of Week I.

Total points possible in this course are as follows:

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WITHDRAWALS FROM THE COURSE:

Please call your instructor if you encounter problems - academic or personal - that make you consider withdrawing from this course. Your instructor is here to help you succeed. If you must withdraw, however, be aware that it is your responsibility to officially withdraw. To withdraw, you must call (714) 438-8250.

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The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 restricts release of certain student information, such as grades. Therefore, please do not call the Testing Office for your final scores/grades. Grades can be obtained by phoning (714) 438-8249 approximately three weeks after the conclusion of the semester.

Please e-mail if you have any comments or suggestions to Adrian Windsor
Email: awindsor@mail.ccc.cccd.edu

COURSE OVERVIEW

GETTING STARTED