Writing in Bullet Time

• Grading
• Assignments
• Extra Credit

For details about projects one through four, see the projects page.

Quizzes:
I give quizzes on stories and films, and may hold "pop" quizzes at any time. Quizzes may not be made up except by excused absence (see "Regulations" for more details); quizzes missed due to tardiness may not be made up. Each quiz is worth 5 points, and is given at the beginning of class.

Responses, Hand-ins:
There are two types of hand-ins I might require. The first are responses to readings. Responses should always be in the following format:

• Part 1 should have two or three sentences summarizing the piece/readings. What is the thesis of the piece? What are the main points?
• Part 2 should have at least two questions about the reading. These can be helpful discussion questions or queries about things you didn't understand.
• Part 3 should be 200-300 words thinking about the text. What did you learn from the text? Do you agree with the author? Why? How does the text relate to other texts we've read for the class or you've read on your own.
• Emailed to me at briley@nwe.ufl.edu

Any other hand-ins will be described in pages linked from our course schedule. These responses and hand-ins prepare you for the upcoming class discussion; they get you thinking about the issues at stake in that day's particular reading. Each response or hand-in is worth 5 points.

Discussions:
Our class discussions will be led by members of the class itself. Each discussion is assigned to one of the bands, which will be responsible for leading the discussion of that text. When a band leads a discussion, the band should say a few introductory remarks (no longer than five minutes) to orient the discussion, and should distribute a handout to the class. Each band is responsible for leading two discussions. Each discussion is worth 50 points.
Example: Ong discussion sheet (PDF)
Example: The Matrix discussion sheet (PDF)

Presentations:
As the class nears the completion of each project, two bands will present on their findings for the class. These presentations help guide the class as a whole in completing the experiment. Each band will present twice. Each presentation is worth 50 points.

Throughout the course, I will offer extra credit for students who want it. One extra credit assignment may be used to "cancel out" an unexcused absence. Otherwise, extra credit assignments are worth 25 points.

Extra Credit assignments (unless specified otherwise) should be written reports of 500-750 words (2-3 pages) answering the questions asked in the given assignment. Students who have ideas for extra credit assignments are encouraged to share them.

• Attend a screening of The Matrix Reloaded. Bring in your ticket stub for 5 EC points or write a response report (as above). Consider how the new film changes the notion of bullet time. If you were to integrate the new film into your projects, would you have new insights?
• Watch Run Lola Run (by Tom Tykver) and write a response paper on it. Note how the film uses non-linearity to disrupt normal narrative conventions. What strategies does it use? Describe the techniques as well as the narrative points. How would you characterize the role of music in the film?
• Read another story or novel by Philip K Dick. Write a report discussing how his text relates to questions of modern media. In particular, consider the question of reality.
• Go to the Hippodrome theater's production of Shear Madness. In your report, explore how theater fits into the orality/literacy/electracy schema. Use examples from the play to support your argument.
• After we view La Jetée, view 12 Monkeys and write a response report. Consider how Gilliam's film adapts Marker's film. What changes? What stays the same? How does this adaptation differ from the adaptation we considered with project one?