Upper-division Writing Requirement Review Form (2/11)
I. General Education Review – Upper-division Writing Requirement
Dept/Program
Course # (i.e. ANTH MART450
Media Arts
Subject
455) or sequence
Course(s) Title
Topics in Film and Media
Description of the requirement if it is not a single course.
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office.
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Rick Hughes
Phone / Email
Program Chair
Mark Shogren
Dean
Stephen Kalm
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Reason for new course, change or deletion
Change
Date
Remove
IV Overview of the Course Purpose/ Description
MAR 450 Topics in Film and Media Studies is an upper division writing course
for the School of Media Arts. There will be four writing assignments throughout
the semester and each one will be five pages in length. It is based on the idea that
effective writing both strengthens and is strengthened by an understanding of
critical thinking and information literacy. Although centered on the relationship
between aesthetics and the emerging capabilities of digital technology in both
integrated digital media and filmmaking, the course will explore a variety of
specific subject areas. Details on the parameters of each assignment will be
posted in the online course shell and reviewed before beginning each one.
V Learning Outcomes: Explain how each of the following learning outcomes will be achieved.
by demonstrating thorough and extensive
Student learning outcomes :
Identify and pursue sophisticated questions for research of the assigned topic
academic inquiry
Find, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize
information effectively and ethically from
diverse sources (see
http://www.lib.umt.edu/informationliteracy/)
through effective research practices, peer
review, class discussion, and instructor
feedback
Manage multiple perspectives as appropriate
Recognize the purposes and needs of
discipline-specific audiences and adopt the
academic voice necessary for the chosen
discipline
Use multiple drafts, revision, and editing in
conducting inquiry and preparing written work
Follow the conventions of citation,
documentation, and formal presentation
appropriate to that discipline
Develop competence in information
technology and digital literacy (link)
through peer review, class discussion, and
instructor feedback on a variety of topics
through in-class examples, effective research
practices, peer review, class discussion, and
instructor feedback
revisions are accepted by uploading work to
the Moodle course shell and interacting with
the instructor
each paper is reviewed for proper
convention by the instructor
by demonstrating best practices in the
search capabilities of the internet/web digital
technology environment
VI. Writing Course Requirements
Enrollment is capped at 25 students.
If not, list maximum course enrollment.
Explain how outcomes will be adequately met
for this number of students. Justify the request
for variance.
enrollment is capped at 25 students and the
class uses a system of peer review, class
discussion, and instructor feedback
Briefly explain how students are provided with
tools and strategies for effective writing and editing
in the major.
Best practice examples are posted to the
Moodle shell for each assignment and guest
speakers specific to the topic are invited to
share their perspective on good writing
practices.
All
Which written assignment(s) includes revision in
response to instructor’s feedback?
VII. Writing Assignments: Please describe course assignments. Students should be required to
individually compose at least 20 pages of writing for assessment. At least 50% of the course grade
should be based on students’ performance on writing assignments. Quality of content and writing
are integral parts of the grade on any writing assignment.
Formal Graded Assignments
1. The Op-Ed piece
- Compose an op-ed piece centered
on a current cultural, social or artistic
reality that articulates your position.
2. The Biographical Sketch
- Research an artistic historical
figure from any artistic discipline who
has impacted your life in some
meaningful way.
3. The Review
- Choose an emerging artist, writer
or filmmaker and compose an in-depth
review of their process and work. It
can be based on a specific piece or a
body of work.
4. The Artist Statement
- Compose a piece that articulates
your artistic perspective and what you
hope to accomplish as you begin your
Informal Ungraded Assignments
As requested
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  For assistance
on syllabus preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
The syllabus must include the following:
1. Writing outcomes
2. Information literacy expectations
3. Detailed requirements for all writing assignments or append writing assignment instructions
Paste syllabus here.
MAR 450: 01 Topics in Film and Media Studies
SYLLABUS
Professor Rick Hughes
MAR 450 Office Hours: by Appointment
Email: richard.hughes@umontana.edu
Course Overview
MAR 450 Topics in Film and Media Studies is an upper division writing
course for the School of Media Arts. There will be four writing assignments
throughout the semester and each one will be five pages in length. It is based
on the idea that effective writing both strengthens and is strengthened by an
understanding of critical thinking and information literacy. Although
centered on the relationship between aesthetics and the emerging capabilities
of digital technology in both integrated digital media and filmmaking, the
course will explore a variety of specific subject areas. Details on the
parameters of each assignment will be posted in the online course shell and
reviewed before beginning each one. They will be divided into the following
writing assignments:
1. The Op-Ed piece
- Compose an op-ed piece centered on a current cultural, social or artistic
reality that articulates your position.
2. The Biographical Sketch
- Compose a biographical sketch of a historical artistic figure that
presents the reader with a solid overview of their work and the impact that
they have had on the development of our contemporary aesthetic
environment.
3. The Review
- Choose an emerging artist, writer or filmmaker and compose an indepth review of their process and work. It can be based on a specific piece
or a body of work.
4. The Artist Statement
- Compose a piece that articulates your artistic perspective and what you
hope to accomplish as you begin your professional career.
Outcomes
The cultural, social, and technological landscape continues to change
dramatically so it is critical that the student artist develop the skills
necessary to adapt to the realities of the 21st century and the world that they
actually live in. At the conclusion of this course students should be able to
use writing as a means of finding, synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating
information, retaining course material, and using that information and
material in order to form and express coherent thoughts and arguments. In
addition they should have an expanded understanding of the historical
relationship between digital technology and art and be able to articulate the
constantly evolving environment of artistic expression.
Research / Assignments
In this course there will be a total of 4 writing assignments (a detailed
description of each can be found in the Assignments area in the online
course shell). You will be responsible for researching the assigned topic and
composing a five-page double space writing assignment. Do not cut and
paste information from websites. Your responsibility is to articulate a clear
and concise perspective based on the information. Each assignment must be
a Word file. See Course Calendar for due dates and specific topic
information. You will be responsible for listing all of your sources for each
assignment.
Grading Procedure
Grades will be based primarily on the student’s ability to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the specific characteristics and
integrative capabilities of the assigned topic.
2. Articulate a clear and concise perspective. Cutting and pasting or copying
word for word off the Internet will also result in loss of points.
3. Present an organized paper including proper and punctual delivery of the
assignment files. (See the Course Information area for specifics)
4. Being present in class.
There will be a total of 100 points and each assignment will be worth 25
points. Re-writes are accepted.
Points will translate into the following letter grade:
A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 86-89
B 83-85
B- 80-82
C+ 76-79
C 73-75
C- 70-72
D 60-69
F 0-59
Academic Misconduct and the Student Conduct Code
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an
academic penalty by the course instructor and/or disciplinary sanction by the
University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The
Code is available online at http://life.umt.ed/vpsa/student_conduct.php