Cinema Studies Research Guide http://www.utoronto.ca/innis/library/cinema.html
Choose a filmmaker, film movement, historical moment or theoretical/critical issue relevant to this course (eg. Nell Shipman, Challenge for Change, national identity, cultural policy) 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. articles written within certain dates; the most often cited articles/books in the field; articles/books which illustrate a particular approach; 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.
3. Term Paper (worth 30%). Due date: March 14, 2007.
This will be a major term paper at an advanced level (15-20 pp.). Choose a topic that will involve include scholarly research, analysis of film texts, and original thought. All topics must be cleared with me. No extensions will be allowed.
4. Class Participation (worth 15%).
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).
5. Term Test (worth 15%). 11 Apr. 2007.
This will be an in-class text on the last day of term. It will cover the term's work.