Choose a filmmaker, historical period, documentary film movement, or theoretical issue relevant to this course (eg. Robert Flaherty, cinema verite, indirect address) and prepare an annotated bibliography of the 15-20 most important/relevant books/articles on your subject. The idea is that you should research the field to discover the most important sources.
You should, first of all, select the books/articles you will annotate. Base your selection on some identifiable criterion (e.g. the most often cited articles/books in the field; articles/books which illustrate a particular approach; articles written within certain dates; etc.).
Write annotations of approximately a paragraph on each of the books/articles. The annotations should briefly suggest the contents or main theses of the book/article. The annotation should also indicate its position in the field -- e.g. seminal or watershed article, most often cited text, critique which opened field of debate, or whatever. In other words, why is this item important?
Complete bibliographical information in the proper format, call number and location in the library system, and your annotation should comprise each entry.
In organizing the annotated items, try to make some sense of the research. Most bibliographies are organized in alphabetical order by author's name. For this assignment, such a random ordering is rarely useful. Try chronological ordering by date of first publication, or clustering annotations under certain thematic headings, or some other principle which suits the shape and scope of the research.
Write a short introduction that indicates your research methods and the basis for selection. Also indicate in the introduction the basis for organizing the annotations.
III. Term Paper (worth 30%). Due date: March 20, 2007.
Analysis of film texts should be based on your own viewing experience. The primary film texts for your paper should, therefore, be available for viewing, and optimally for multiple viewings. Do not depend on secondary sources for critical opinion or analysis.
As well as proper footnotes and bibliography, each paper must include a detailed filmography of films referred to, including significant credits, format, date and place of production, and any other relevant or specialized information.
No extensions will be allowed.
A list of suggested topics is included below. Choose your topic early and be sure to check it with me.
This will be a more traditional test with choices of essay questions on the material covered in the spring term. You will be expected to write the test in the class period. No Aids.
Each week, half the students in the class will be expected to write a one-page response to the assigned readings. This could take the form of a series of questions, notes re. arguments that you didn't understand, points that you feel are important to discuss, your own comments about the material, etc. Each student will be expected to raise his or her points or questions in class. At the end of the class, hand your response in to me.
In alternate weeks, the other half the class will be responsible for writing notes and generating discussion.
In a 24-week term, you will complete approximately 12 such one-page notes, taking approximately 12 turns at participating in the generation of discussion. Responses will only be accepted on the relevant day. Hand in equal numbers of responses for each term (i.e., you can't do them all in one term).