AU 2017

ENGLISH 2263: INTRO TO FILM

RECITATION
Jacinta Yanders | yanders.1@osu.edu | F 12:40-1:35pm (Denney 214) | F 1:50-2:45pm
(Bolz 313) | Office Hours: T/Th 12:30-2pm & also by appointment (Denney 569)

Accessibility
As a system, education tends
to imagine that students are
interchangeable, but that’s
never been the case. We all
carry an assortment of needs
and life experiences. Your
success in this class is
important to me. As an
instructor, I try to be as
proactive as possible in
insuring that everyone has the
necessary access and support. An Introduction
If there’s ever a time in which
English 2263 is an introduction to film rather than a comprehensive
you feel like your access could
be better supported, please theory, history, or production course. Nevertheless, we will touch on
do let me know. these elements throughout the semester. In recitation, we will explore
your thoughts about the films you’re viewing as well as cultural
Community implications of the content, and we’ll also apply some of the concepts
covered in lecture to those films and other media. Additionally, part of
Given the variety of life our class time will be spent exploring how to write about film. In case
experiences mentioned above, it’s not yet readily apparent, I love talking about this stuff. I could do it
in this class, we agree to for days. Almost like it’s my job 🤔
cultivate an atmosphere that
respects and appreciates that Hopefully, by the end of the semester, you’ll have a love for it too.
variety. Share your own
understandings, and be open
to those of others. Appreciate
the fact that this class affords
us all with an opportunity to
learn from one another.

P.S. The devil does not need an

advocate.

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Tech as Tool
Technology is a tool that has made a significant impact on film as we
know it. Tech has also impacted our daily lives and nearly every facet of
education.

Inclusive Language
Language is important, and how
we address one another conveys
respect (or lack thereof).
Everyone should be referred to
by their preferred name, with the
correct pronunciation, and by
their preferred pronouns.
Content Advisory
There will be times throughout the semester when I ask you to utilize
tech for activities we’re doing in class. There may also be times when
we’re puzzling through a question and you wish to seek out an answer
via your favorite search engine (#NoCountryForBing).
It may also be the case that you want to use tech for note taking. While
we may not have time to dig into this in class, I’m happy to discuss
digital note taking skills & tools with anybody interested (I personally
recommend incorporating OneNote, Scrivener, and Zotero into your
academic lives, but there are numerous options).
What I do ask is that you’re all thoughtful and responsible about using
tech in this room. I do not expect 100% undivided attention at all
times, but I do ask that you try to be as present as possible. Let the tech
support your learning, rather than hinder it.

The films we’ll be viewing for this

class sometimes contain content
that may be upsetting (such as
violence, drug use,
discrimination, etc). This content
will likely be part of our class
discussions. As we engage with
this material, abide by this
maxim: think before you speak.
If you have specific concerns
about the content, please feel
free to speak with me.

About Office Hours

Students tend to think they can/
should only go to office hours if
they have a problem/question.
While those are perfectly valid
reasons to stop by, office hours
are also an opportunity to get to
know your professors and for
them to get to know you.

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Reading Well
One of the most complicated skills to cultivate as a college student is the ability to determine how to read well for
the college situation. This differs from the expectations and experiences you may have had in K-12, and it can also
differ from class to class. Here are my recommendations for reading well in Intro to Film:

• Write your reading time into your schedule (trust me)

• Before you start reading, think about the topic. Why was it assigned? What might we be expecting you to take
away?

• Review the definitions of unfamiliar words (especially film terms)

• If something in the reading doesn’t make sense, write down questions you have. See if you can answer them
yourself, and if not, bring them to class.

• When you finish reading, review what you read. Could you relatively easily explain the reading to someone else
if necessary? If not, it might be worthwhile to give it a second glance.

Attendance
Per Dr. Friedman’s guidelines, missing more than four classes (lectures and/or recitations) will result in the loss of a
fraction of a letter grade for each subsequent class missed. I take attendance at the beginning of each recitation
meeting. If you arrive after your name is called, you should check in with me at the end of class to get the absence
removed. If there are significant extenuating circumstances that are impeding your ability to make it to class
regularly, please do discuss the matter with me.

Participation
Most of you are likely familiar with having your participation assessed as part of your final grade. What might not
always be clear is how your instructor is determining that grade. To me, participation can mean a number of things,
including but not limited to asking questions in class, participating in class discussions and activities, and generally
demonstrating and ongoing interest in the course material. However, bearing in mind that each student is different
and that I might not always bear witness to how each student is participating, toward the end of the semester, I will
ask each of you to submit a short response that indicates how you participated in the class. I will use your self-
assessment alongside my observations to inform your participation grade.

Drafts
I am happy to provide feedback on essay drafts if a copy is brought to me during office hours ahead of the
assignment’s due date. Because feedback at the draft stage typically functions better in person, I don’t respond to
drafts via email. Students should also consider visiting the Writing Center for additional assistance. The Writing
Center offers free help with writing at any stage of the writing process for any member of the university community.
Appointments are available in-person at 4120 Smith Lab, as well as for online sessions. You may schedule an in-
person or online appointment by visiting osu.mywconline.com/ or by calling 614-688-4291. Please note that the
Writing Center also offers daily walk-in hours—no appointment necessary—in Thompson Library.

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Student Work
Essays should be posted to Carmen by the assigned due date/time and in accordance with the guidelines described
on the prompt. Typically, essays turned in late will drop one full letter grade for each day late. However, I am
amenable to extensions, on a case-by-case basis and at my discretion, if there are significant extenuating
circumstances. In such cases, it’s typically best to contact me in advance of the deadline rather than on or after the
date in which the assignment is due. I take feedback seriously, and if there’s ever a point at which the feedback I’ve
provided is unclear, please do discuss it with me. Your writing in this class, and in general, is an ongoing process, and
engaging with the feedback you receive should be part of that process.

Pro-tip: save early, save often, and keep at least two separate copies of your work.

Class Hacks
• Be present.

• Challenge yourself.

• Have fun.

***Please see Dr. Friedman’s syllabus for course schedule as well as guidelines regarding required materials,
assignments, and additional policies.