INTD-101-02: First Year Seminar
The New Media Documentary
Syllabus, Fall 2015
Ramapo College of New Jersey, School of Contemporary Arts
http://www.ramapo.edu
4 Credits. Mon, Weds, Thurs, 8:30-9:40, Room H-123
Professor Jonathan Lipkin, jlipkin@ramapo.edu, http://www.jlipkin.com, 201.684.7056
Course website: phobos.ramapo.edu/~jlipkin, Urgent matters: jlipkin@jlipkin.com, (718) 772 3068 cell
Office Hours (H-102): TBA
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Course Description
Designed for first-time, full-time, first-year students. First Year Seminar (FYS) provides a comprehensive introduction
to college-level learning. Seminar courses are developed around an academic theme or topic that is based on one
of Ramapo College's academic pillars. First-Year students will have the opportunity to select a seminar that best
suits their interests while learning about Ramapo's academic foundation. The First-Year Seminar course helps
students in their transition from high school to college life both in and out of the classroom. The common learning
outcomes of FYS are: critical and creative thinking, college-level writing, oral communication, information literacy,
and technological competency. FYS classes are small to emphasize open discussion and experiential learning within
the theme of the seminar course. Peer facilitators play an essential role in each FYS class ensuring that first-year
students have guidance from a more experienced student. FYS is also the home of the Ramapo Summer Reading
Program; all first-year students read the same book and discuss and write about it in their seminars. FYS
encourages new students to participate in a community of learners, to strengthen their critical thinking skills, and to
communicate effectively both orally and in writing. !
How do we tell stories about ourselves in the digital age? As new media technologies from Facebook to cellphone
cameras to iPods change the way we tell the stories of our everyday lives, how does the role of the documentary
photographer/filmmaker/storyteller change? This course examines the changing relationship between audience and
subject, and between subject and storyteller. We will consider interactivity and Web 2.0, non-linearity, the impact of
video games, issues of audience and distribution. We will start the course with a short history (including criticisms)
of documentary practice, and examine the modern tools and circumstances that shape the ways documentaries will
be made in the future. Students will develop and execute a documentary project over the course of the semester. A
series of short workshops will provide technical skills.
Course Goals
By the end of this course, students will demonstrate an understanding of the forms of new and emerging media
documentaries. Students will prepare and submit a proposal, then produce a documentary project using appropriate
new media tools. Students will also learn to read and take notes on a college-level text, and to write college level
essays.
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Measurable Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
-Read, take notes on and understand college-level texts (measured by class participation, reading notes and
reading responses)
-Demonstrate familiarity with basics of documentary practice (measured by class participation, reading notesm
reading responses and final project)
-Demonstrate basic proficiency in digital media production (measured by final project)
INTD-101-02 Syllabus Fall 2015 !
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Course Requirements/Grade Breakdown
Class participation
Reading Notes
Reading Responses (due weekly)
Final Project
Proposal
Draft
Final version
15%
15%
20%
(50%, consisting of:)
5%
10%
25%
First-Year Academic Advising
Each First-Year Seminar course is assigned a professional Academic Advisor from the Center for Student Success
who serves as your Academic Advisor during your first year. This advisor will attend your First-Year Seminar class
for a group advisement session to review general academic advising policies and procedures. They will also be
available to answer any general questions regarding college policies/practices. Students are encouraged to
schedule individual appointments with their Student Success Advisor for assistance with course selection and the
development of a personal academic plan. If you have any questions regarding Academic Advisement please call
CAAFYE at (201) 684-7441 or via email at: success@ramapo.edu!
Texts, Readings, Materials!
Hacker, D., & Sommers, N. (2012). Rules&for&Writers (7th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN:
9780312647957.
Klay, P. (2015). Redeployment. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN: 978-0143126829.
Assignments and workload
This is a rigorous course. There is a considerable amount of reading and work outside of class. You should expect to
devote seven hours per week to homework. I am _very_ particular about how and when assignments are handed in.
Assignments that are handed in late, or not submitted correctly (files named correctly, papers unstapled, etc) will be
given a grade of zero without exception.
!!
General Education Program Course
This course fulfills the First-Year Seminar category of the general education curriculum at Ramapo College.
Common to all First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses, you will develop critical thinking skills that are basic to college
level study, regardless of your area of interest. You will be reading, writing, and participating in thoughtful group
discussions with the aim of developing the skills of a scholar. You will learn to support your arguments using a
foundation of knowledge and facts rather than simply using personal opinions and experiences.
FYS faculty must include a statement here that identifies the FYS category that this course fulfills, (i.e., experiential
learning, interdisciplinary studies, international education, intercultural understanding, and/or sustainability) along
with a statement that explains why this course is listed in this category. Writing Intensive (WI) Course
Writing will be integrated into the life of this course. You will receive comments, direction, and support as you work
on strengthening your writing skills. Your writing will be evaluated and returned in a timely fashion, allowing you to
incorporate my comments into your future work. For help outside the classroom, please see me during my office
hours and/or work with a writing tutor in the Center for Reading and Writing (CRW), Room: L-211, x7557,
crw@ramapo.edu.
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Electronic Forms of Communication
In accordance with College policy, I will use your Ramapo College email address (@ramapo.edu) to communicate
with you about all course-related matters.
INTD-101-02 Syllabus Fall 2015 !
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Attendance Policy
You are expected to attend each class meeting - there are no ‘excused absences’ for this course except for religious
observance. If you must miss a class because of religious observance, you must notify me within the first three
weeks of the semester to make arrangements.
Except in a situation where you miss the first class due to adding the class, missing one class will result in lowering
your grade by one points. If you miss three classes, you will fail the course. It is your responsibility to keep track of
absences - I will not notify you if you are going to fail the course for attendance. If you miss a class, you are still
responsible for handing in the assignment on its original due date.
There are fifteen participation points in the final grade. You get one point for each class for showing up on time,
participating in a meaningful way, returning from break on time, and not leaving early. During each class, I expect
you to contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way. Please turn off your pagers, cell phones, and any other
electronic devices that vibrate, make noise and so forth. Please be prompt, and return from breaks on time. You are
expected to read and engage the reading each week. You don’t need to understand each and every word, but you
should come to class having done the reading, and prepared to discuss it intelligently. Incomplete grades are given only in the case of family emergency or documented illness. They must be requested in
writing, along with a schedule of when missing assignments will be handed in. Grading Policy
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
F
>95
95-91
90-87
86-84
83-81
80-78
77-75
74-70
69-66
65-61
<61
Policy on Academic Integrity
Students are expected to read and understand Ramapo College’s Academic Integrity Policy which can be found in
the Ramapo College Catalog. Members of the Ramapo Colleg community are expected to be honest and forthright
in their academic endeavors. Students who are suspected of violating this policy will be referred to the Office of the
Provost.
Students with Disabilities
If you need course adaptation or accommodations because of a documented disability, please make an
appointment during my office hours.
Weekly Schedule
NOTE: Assignments will be posted on the course website. It is your responsibility to read, understand and complete
all assignments for this course. If you have any questions about an assignment, it is your responsibility to contact
me for clarification.
NOTE: Reading responses are due weekly - check website for topics
!
Topic
Assignment due this week
1 Introduction
2 Traditional Documentary
Summer reading essay
3 The New Documentarians/
Library
4 Multimedia and Rich Media
Project proposal due
INTD-101-02 Syllabus Fall 2015 !
Topic
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Assignment due this week
5 Web 2.0 and Interactivity
Reading notes collected: first paper assigned
6 Are we the Web?/Academic
Advisement
First paper due as draft
7 Failures of traditional Journalism/ First draft returned
Academic Advisement
8 Revolutions in Media Economy 1 Final draft of first paper due
9 Revolutions in Media Economy 2
10 Unconcerned but not indifferent
Reading notes collected
11 Susan Meiselas and the
engaged documentarian
12 Good intentions: critiques of
traditional documentary
13 In, around and afterthoughts:
Rosler
14 Review and lab time
Reading notes collected
15 Presentation of final projects
Academic Integrity Policy
All#members#of#the#community#are#expected#to#be#honest#and#forthright#in#their#academic#endeavors.##Since#
viola:ons#of#academic#integrity#erode#community#confidence#and#undermine#the#pursuit#of#truth#and#knowledge#
at#the#College,#academic#dishonesty#must#be#avoided.#
Procedure(
Responsibilities+
The#Office#of#the#Provost#has#responsibility#for#the#oversight#and#enforcement#of#the#Academic#Integrity#Policy#and#
for#making#the#policy#an#ins:tu:onal#priority.##The#Office#of#the#Provost#is#also#responsible#for#publishing#the#policy#
and#for#educa:ng#both#faculty#and#students#about#the#policy.#
Faculty#members#play#a#crucial#role#in#the#Academic#Integrity#Policy.#They#are#responsible#for#educa:ng#their#
students#about#the#importance#of#academic#integrity#and#for#communica:ng#to#students#their#expecta:ons#with#
INTD-101-02 Syllabus Fall 2015 !
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respect#to#academic#integrity#in#course#work.#They#are#also#urged#to#report#alleged#viola:ons#of#the#policy#to#the#
Vice#Provost.##
Students#have#the#responsibility#to#understand#the#Academic#Integrity#Policy#and#to#comply#with#the#policy#in#their#
academic#work.#
Criteria+
There#are#four#(4)#broad#forms#of#academic#dishonesty:#
1.
Chea&ng##
Chea:ng#is#an#act#of#decep:on#by#which#a#student#misrepresents#his#or#her#mastery#of#material#on#a#test#
or#other#academic#exercise.##Examples#of#chea:ng#include,#but#are#not#limited#to:##
2.
o
copying#from#another#student’s#work;#
o
allowing#another#student#to#copy#his/her#work;##
o
using#unauthorized#materials#such#as#a#textbook,#notebook,#or#electronic#devices#during#an#
examina:on;##
o
using#specifically#prepared#materials,#such#as#notes#wriQen#on#clothing#or#other#unauthorized#
notes,#formula#lists,#etc.,#during#an#examina:on;##
o
collabora:ng#with#another#person#during#an#examina:on#by#giving#or#receiving#informa:on#
without#authoriza:on#from#the#instructor;#
o
taking#a#test#for#another#person#or#asking#or#allowing#another#to#take#the#student’s#own#test.#
Plagiarism##
Plagiarism#occurs#when#a#person#represents#someone#else’s#words,#ideas,#phrases,#sentences,#or#data#as#
one’s#own#work.##When#a#student#submits#work#that#includes#such#material,#the#source#of#that#
informa:on#must#be#acknowledged#through#complete,#accurate,#and#specific#footnote#or#endnote#
references;#addi:onally,#verba:m#statements#must#be#acknowledged#through#quota:on#marks.##To#avoid#a#
charge#of#plagiarism,#a#student#should#be#sure#to#include#an#acknowledgment#of#indebtedness:##
o
whenever#he#or#she#quotes#another#person’s#words#directly;#
o
whenever#he#or#she#uses#another#person’s#ideas,#opinions,#or#theories,#even#if#they#have#been#
completely#paraphrased#in#one’s#own#words;#
o
whenever#he#or#she#allows#another#individual#to#contribute#to#the#work#in#some#significant#
fashion#(for#instance,#through#edi:ng#or#sharing#of#ideas);#
o
whenever#he#or#she#uses#facts,#sta:s:cs,#or#other#illustra:ve#material#taken#from#a#source,#unless#
the#informa:on#is#common#knowledge.##
Examples#of#standard#cita:on#formats#can#be#found#on#the#George#T.#PoQer#Library#Website:#Library#
Website:#Cita:on#Manuals#and#Style#Guides#
3.
Academic!Misconduct!#
INTD-101-02 Syllabus Fall 2015 !
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Academic#misconduct#includes#the#altera:on#of#grades,#involvement#in#the#acquisi:on#or#distribu:on#of#
unadministered#tests,#and#the#unauthorized#submission#of#student#work#in#more#than#one#class.##
Examples#of#academic#misconduct#include,#but#are#not#limited#to:#
4.
o
changing,#altering,#falsifying,#or#being#the#accessory#to#the#changing,#altering,#or#falsifying#of#a#
grade#report#or#form,#transcript,#or#other#academic#record,#or#entering#any#computer#system#or#
College#office#or#building#for#that#purpose;#
o
stealing,#buying,#selling,#giving#way,#or#otherwise#obtaining#all#or#part#of#any#unadministered#test#
or#paper#or#entering#any#computer#system#or#College#office#or#building#for#the#purpose#of#
obtaining#an#unadministered#test;#
o
submiYng#wriQen#work#(in#whole#or#in#significant#part)#to#fulfill#the#requirements#of#more#than#
one#course#without#the#explicit#permission#of#both#instructors;#
o
disregarding#policies#governing#the#use#of#human#subjects#or#animals#in#research;#
o
sabotaging#another#student’s#work#through#ac:ons#designed#to#prevent#the#student#from#
successfully#comple:ng#an#assignment;#
o
knowingly#facilita:ng#a#viola:on#of#the#academic#integrity#policy#by#another#person.#
Fabrica&on#
Fabrica:on#refers#to#the#deliberate#use#of#invented#informa:on#or#the#falsifica:on#of#research#or#other#
findings#with#the#intent#to#deceive.##Examples#of#fabrica:on#include,#but#are#not#limited#to:##
o
ci:ng#informa:on#not#taken#from#the#source#indicated;#
o
ci:ng#of#sources#in#a#“works#cited”#that#were#not#used#in#that#project;#
o
altering,#stealing,#and/or#falsifying#research#data#used#in#research#reports,#theses,#or#
disserta:ons;#
o
submiYng#as#one’s#own#any#academic#work#prepared#in#whole#or#in#part#by#others,#including#the#
use#of#another’s#iden:ty;#
o
falsifying#informa:on#or#signatures#on#registra:on,#withdrawal,#or#other#academic#forms#and#
records.#
Repor:ng#Viola:ons#
In#order#to#ensure#due#process,#any#member#of#the#community#who#is#aware#of#a#viola:on#of#the#Academic#
Integrity#Policy#is#expected#to#report#the#incident#to#the#Vice#Provost.#A#faculty#member#may#choose#to#resolve#the#
incident#him/herself#or#send#the#case#to#the#Vice#Provost#for#review#(see#below).#In#either#case,#the#faculty#member#
reports#the#incident#to#the#Vice#Provost#on#the#repor:ng#form,#which#serves#not#only#to#report#the#incident#but#also#
to#record#the#finding#and#the#sanc:on#in#situa:ons#in#which#the#faculty#member#chooses#to#resolve#the#case.#A#
faculty#member#is#encouraged#to#report#an#alleged#viola:on#of#academic#integrity#within#30#days#of#the#discovery#
of#the#alleged#viola:on#but#must#do#so#no#later#than#the#last#day#to#submit#grades#for#the#term#in#which#the#alleged#
viola:on#occurred.#A#faculty#member#may#report#an#incident#a_er#that#date,#but#only#if#he/she#has#new#evidence.#
More#details#on#Ramapo#College’s#academic#integrity#policy#can#be#found#here:##
hQp://www.ramapo.edu/catalog`2015`2016/academic`policies/