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Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: COMM-2366 (Section: 70D, CRN: 93306) Film Appreciation |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||
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| Instructor | Danielle Nicholson | ||||||||
| nicholsondm@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
| Phone | (409) 681-4312 | ||||||||
| Office | Press Building - Room: 105C | ||||||||
| Office Hours | Mondays: 11 am - 3 pm Tuesdays: 2:30 - 3 pm Wednesdays: 11 am - 3 pm Thursdays: 2:30 - 3 pm Fridays: 11 am - 3 pm |
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| Additional Contact Information | The best way to contact me is via email at nicholsondm@lamarpa.edu. Additional contact information is in Blackboard. | ||||||||
| Course Information | |||||||||
| Description | Survey and analyze cinema including history, film techniques, production procedures, selected motion pictures, and cinema�s impact on and reflection of society. (Cross- listed as DRAM 2366). | ||||||||
| Required Textbooks |
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
No required textbooks. Videos, readings will be assigned throughout the semester and will be available in Blackboard. |
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| Additional Materials/Resources | None. | ||||||||
| Corequisites/Prerequisites | None | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
1. Analyze film through written response. 2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of film history, form, and genre. 3. Describe the collaborative nature of cinema and the many jobs required to develop a motion picture. 4. Discuss/Describe the relationship of cinema to society as it relates to his/her perspective. |
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| Core Objectives |
Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication. Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view. Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
Introduction to Film Film Narrative & Storytelling Film Form & Techniques Classical Hollywood Cinema & Genre Foundations Film Genres The Collaborative Nature of Filmmaking Film in the 21st Century & Social Media Group Film Analysis Project Contemporary Film & Cultural Impact |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Week 1 — August 25 Unit 1: Introduction to Film — Welcome, syllabus, early cinema & history overview Week 2 — September 1 Unit 2: Film Narrative & Storytelling — Narrative structures, plot, character, theme Week 3 — September 8 Unit 3: Film Form & Techniques — Mise-en-scène, cinematography, art direction, editing basics Week 4 — September 15 Unit 4: Classical Hollywood Cinema & Genre Foundations — Studio system, classical style, birth of genres Week 5 — September 22 Unit 5: Film Genres I — Silent, Musical, Comedy, Western Week 6 — September 29 Unit 6: Film Genres II — War & Cinema Week 7 — October 6 Unit 7: Film Genres III — Noir, Drama, Arthouse Week 8 — October 13 Unit 8: Film Genres IV — Post-War & Post-Cold War Cinema Week 9 — October 20 Unit 9: Film Genres V — Horror & Science Fiction Week 10 — October 27 Unit 10: The Collaborative Nature of Filmmaking — Film as teamwork: directors, producers, editors, designers Week 11 — November 3 Unit 11: Film in the 21st Century & Social Media — Streaming, digital production, global audiences Week 12 — November 10 Unit 12: Group Film Analysis Project — Collaborative film study and presentation Week 13 — November 17 Unit 13: Contemporary Film & Cultural Impact — Current trends, representation, diversity in film Week 14 — November 24 Thanksgiving Break (No Class) — Thanksgiving Break (No Assignments) Week 15 — December 1 Unit 14: Course Wrap-Up — Film as art, industry, and cultural mirror Week 16 — December 8 Graduation Week — Graduation Week |
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| Final Exam Date | December 1, 2025 - 12:00 AM Through December 5, 2025 - 11:59 PM | ||||||||
| Grading Scale |
100-90 points = A 80-89 points = B 70-79 points = C 60-69 points = D Below 59 points = F Extra credit option = 10 points |
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| Determination of Final Grade |
The course is made up of weekly assignments. Your final grade is the average of your weekly assignment grade. Weekly Assignments: 100% |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
Assignments will be given each week. You will have one or two weeks, depending on the assignment, to complete it. Attendance and participation are critical to your success in this course. No late work is accepted. Students are responsible for reading all content, watching all videos, etc. in Blackboard to be successful in the course. Academic dishonesty will result in a zero on any assignment (first offense); a second incidence of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the class. DO NOT wait until the last minute to complete class work or exams. I recommend you set up email notifications from Blackboard so you do not miss any information. If you are confused or need help, do not hesitate to contact me. I will share my cell phone in Blackboard. Some assignments in this course will require the use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT. AI may only be used when specifically permitted and must follow the instructions provided for that assignment, including proper citation and documentation of your process. Unauthorized or improperly cited use of AI will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment. |
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| Attendance Policy | To be successful in this course, students must check Blackboard 2-3 times per week and do all the assigned work by the due date to receive credit. | ||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||
| Institutional Policies | |||||||||
| MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA. | ||||||||
| Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||
| ADA Considerations | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||
| COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||
| Facility Policies | No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited. | ||||||||
| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||
| Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect | As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual. | ||||||||
| Title IX and Sexual Misconduct | LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website. | ||||||||
| Clery Act Crime Reporting |
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website. |
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| Grievance / Complaint / Concern | If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair. | ||||||||
| Department Information |
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