Film Crit Syllabus
Film Criticism
J. L. Mann High School
Academy of Math, Science and Technology
CONTACT INFORMATION
David Spearman Room 344 dspearman@greenville.k12.sc.us (864)355-4987
Tutoring: before/after school by appointment
Please feel free to contact me. E-mail is the most efficient way to keep in touch.
Please check my website often for class updates, schedules, and the syllabus. It is locate
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This elective course will expose students to film and cinematography. Students will become active, critical viewers of
various film genres by discussing and critiquing acting, directing and production techniques. Students will be required to
write various compositions related to the films and complete outside viewing assignments. This course does not take the
place of any required English course; however, all activities are correlated with the South Carolina Language Arts Standards
due to the media literacy elements of this course. No Restricted (rated-R) or higher rated films will be shown in this class,
and a list of films being shown with ratings of PG/PG-13 will be sent home or posted on my website in advance. If you have
concerns about a film shown in this class, please contact me as this arises.
COURSE STANDARDS
There are no standards for this course.
MATERIALS NEEDED
Notebook, Folder for handouts, pens, pencils, and your attention!
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Grades will be calculated based on the following scale:
Major Assessments (Essays, Projects, Tests, Out of Class Viewing Reports) - 60%
Minor Assessments (Quizzes, Class Work, Starters, Homework) –40%
Students with excused absences have 5 school days to make up missed work; after that time a zero (0) is given. It is the
student’s responsibility to get assignments and arrange a time to view missed films.
ATTENDANCE/TARDY POLICY:
To receive credit, students may not miss more than 10 days in this class. Refer to the Parent-Student Handbook for more
details. The following is the tardy policy for JL Mann High School:
1st Verbal Warning
2nd Verbal Warning / Parent Contact
3rd Teacher Detention
4th Teacher Detention
5th 1 Hour Detention - referral
6th 1 Hour Detention - referral
7th 2 Hour Detention - referral
8th 2 Hour Detention – referral
9th and subsequent OSS
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
1. Observe all school rules, classroom rules, and follow all procedures.
2. Be professional and respectful at all times to Mrs. Griffith and to each other.
3. Take care of school property.
4. Be on time, stay on task and in your assigned seats from bell to bell, at all times.
5. During a movie: Be awake, aware, curious, and focused.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES:
Entering the Classroom:
Enter and exit the door nearest my desk.
Enter class with no gum, food or drinks. Bottled water ONLY is ok.
Find your folder and begin the bell ringer on the board.
All electronic devices are to be turned off and put away. No ear buds visible, even if there is no music.
Seating arrangements will change often, depending upon the activity. Please cooperate!
During Class:
You are perfect the way you are. The mirrors in my room are used for class exercises. Don’t primp.
My white board is for classroom instruction only. Please do not write on it unless instructed to do so.
Bathroom: You will receive 4 bathroom passes per 9 weeks, and they are to be kept in your folder. Unused passes
will count as bonus participation points at the end of the 9 weeks. Bathroom visits are 10 minutes after the bell,
and you may not go the last 10 minutes of class.
REMAIN IN YOUR SEAT UNTIL THE BELL RINGS. Lining up at the door or being out of your seat without permission
will result in a 15 minute detention.
PUT YOUR MOUTH FILTER ON!!!!! Inappropriate comments, language, or behavior will result in a referral.
Bookbags and purses should be kept behind your chairs, or against the wall.
You may not work on anything from another class.
CONSEQUENCES
1st Offense: Verbal Warning 3rd Offense: Tuesday 30 minute detention and call home
2nd Offense: Tuesday 15 minute detention and call home 4th Offense: Administrative Referral
*Severe disruptions are immediately referred to the appropriate administrator.
If you cannot attend my Tuesday detentions for ANY reason, I will write a referral and you will be assigned detention by
your administrator.
Major Film Topics (All films/order of units are subject to change and may or may
not make it into our viewing schedule):
2016 - 2017Tentative Film Schedule
Unit One: Introduction to Film
Favorite Film Paper
Film History, Terminology, and Crew
How to View Film and Genres
Movie Trailers
Music in Film-Clips from Jaws, 007, The Truman Show, Pirates of the
Caribbean
Unit Two: The Western
High Noon, The Searchers, Unforgiven, Pale Rider, True Grit (2010)
Unit Three: Hitchcock
North by Northwest, The Birds, Rear Window, 29 Steps
Unit Four: Horror
The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village, The Others
Unit Five: Comedy
Some Like it Hot, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, My Big Fat Greek Wedding,
Raising Arizona, Tootsie
Unit Six: Academy Award-Best Picture
Gone with the Wind, Forrest Gump, A Beautiful Mind, Lincoln
Unit Seven: Musicals
Moulin Rouge, West Side Story, Mama Mia, Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Unit Eight: Auteur-Spielberg
Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET: The Extra Terrestrial
Unit Nine: Holiday Films
Polar Express, A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol
Unit Ten: Animated
Cars, Cars 2, Finding Nemo, Shark Tale
Unit Eleven: Disney: Evolution of the Princess
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tangled, Brave
Unit Twelve: Sci Fi
Star Wars, Back to the Future
Unit Thirteen: Documentary
Supersize Me, An Inconvenient Truth
Unit Fourteen: Sports
Miracle, Invictus, We Are Marshall, Remember the Titans, The Blind Side