Thursday, October 30, 2008

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Film Schedule + Presentations (optional)

Here is the film schedule (revised dates):

John Cassavetes, Faces, Thursday, October 23

David Lynch, Inland Empire, Thursday, November 13

Jean-Luc Godard, Band of Outsiders, Tuesday, November 25th.

If you want to give a presentation in place of the final and 3rd paper, you may. But you must let me know, either in person or in email.

A presentation should be @ 10 minutes long; you should show at least one scene to the class and give your reading of the film. In other words, tell us why this film is interesting, what your spin on it is. You will have to write the presentation up and hand it in; the write up need not be as formal as a paper.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Week 6

Paper Assignment; Due 10/14 in class

RHETORIC 140 PAPER ASSIGNMENT #1
Prof. Daniel Coffeen

DUE DATE: Tuesday, October 14, in class.

Please note: Late papers will receive a merciless and automatic “F.” This is not a joke.

Assignment
Do a reading of an image or film we've seen this semester. You may refer to texts we've read but your main focus should be your reading of the visual object. You may choose an image from the blog.

Specifications
The paper will be no more than TWO pages—and not one word more. It may be less.

All papers will have:
  • 1-inch margins on the top and bottom; 1.25 on the sides;
  • page numbers;
  • 11-point font;
  • double-space;
  • NO title page; include the title on the first page along with your name, the date, the class, my name.

Never, ever, under any circumstances, use the following words or phrases: “also,” “in addition,” “further,” “furthermore,” “in sum.” You will lose a full grade (from A to B).

Things to keep in mind
  • Be textual. Remain textual. Talk about the object.
  • Don't talk about yourself: talk about the viewer and the object.
  • Cut to the chase. Have a hook. Begin with an argument.
  • Do not talk about what "we" do or what humans do or what people normally do. Talk about the object and what it does.
  • Don’t try to be too fancy.
  • Don’t curse.
  • Don’t forget a title.