Milan 2011

** Assignments and Grading **

Each class will have a total of 450 possible points.

Attendance
Participation (100 pts)
Acceptable Sources
Paper/Presentation (100 pts)
Journals (100 pts)
Exams (150 pts)
Paper Topics

Attendance:  Tardies/Absences:

Students are required to participate in all lectures, tours, film studies, and activities as noted in syllabus and/or as provided by your GMU Faculty Director or the University of Milan Faculty Director. 

Do not come late to any event as it is disruptive and discourteous.  If you are absent or tardy for any reason, you are responsible for the material covered and any announcements made while you were gone.  You will also lose 20 points of the participation grade for each time you are unreasonably tardy.  Tardiness on a regular basis or for times over 5, please refer to the next paragraph.  After 5 tardies, each subsequent tardy will be treated as an absence.  All tardies or absences will be determined by the GMU Faculty Director or the University of Milan Academic Director. 

Missing class is not an option.  If you miss one (1) class, you will drop down part of a grade in the class with a higher grade (e.g. A- to B+, C+ to C).  If you miss two (2) classes, you will drop down one letter grade in both classes (A- to B-, B+ to C+).  If you miss three (3) or more classes, you will fail one or both classes, depending on the severity &/or cause of the absences.  Unlike classes you attend on campus, CGE classes can and do count participation and attendance toward final grades and this will be enforced.

Participation (100 points):

The Italians who come to lecture you are doing so during their vacation time.  It is not a requirement that they do this, they are doing us a courtesy by teaching and they truly want to be here with us!  Their English generally tends to be very good, although sometimes heavily accented.

You will each be expected to participate during lectures by asking questions.  As you ask questions, I will be marking your participation....or non-participation.  If you do not normally speak up during class,  now is the time to start doing so.  It is a part of your grade.  Please be on better behavior than you would at GMU.  Sleeping during class is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.  You will be woken up and will receive an “absence” for the day. Additionally, I will absolutely NOT tolerate you using your laptops during class. If I see you online, I will close your lid without warning.

Acceptable Sources

This is one aspect of research about which I am constant. I do not accept ANY internet sources as valid sources. You must research through the GMU library databases or use a book. There are many reasons for this, the main one being that databases contain information that is almost always valid, reliable, and solid. Thus, for both papers, you will need to utilize an academically-based set of research tools, such as those found in the GMU library database.

Go to: http://library.gmu.edu

click on the database link

find a database in your area of interest and search your topic

If you have difficulties finding information, please let me know and I will help you. You will always be able to find information on your topic. Lack of acceptable sources means that you will lose points off of your grade.

For each paper, you will need a minimum of five (5) academically-based sources. You may use your lecture notes, brochures, and information I post as additional sources. More academically-based research is welcomed.

 

Paper & Presentation Assignments:

Presentation Assignment (100 points)

I have taught Public Speaking for 17 years and I know a good speech when I hear one. That being said, I also know a bad one :o) These classes are not a public speaking oriented class, so your grade will only partially depend on your delivery. I will be far more interested in the academic quality and integrity of your actual presentation content. About this, I will be most critical.

Some things to consider as you prepare your presentation:

  • There must be an introduction that includes your ethos (how and why YOU know about this topic, NOT the research you've done) and a preview statement (the short list of things that you'll discuss. This also acts as a transitional statement to the body.
  • A speech body. This must be clearly organized and easy to follow. It must contain the necessary information that demonstrates you know what you're talking about. Remember, for this presentation, you are the expert in your topic!
  • Consistent and obvious citation of sources DURING your presentation. You must have a minimum of 4 sources for an average presentation. A better presentation will have one academic source per slide, for example.
  • A conclusion. This conclusion will state in a sentence what you discussed during your speech and will then summarize each of your main points in separate points. It will end on a positive note and you will not say something silly like "That's it." Because if you stop speaking, it's obviously "it" :o)
  • No vocal pauses (uhm, uh, er, and-uhm, you know, etc)
  • Strong eye contact with audience that included span
  • An excellent PowerPoint or Prezi that clearly shows what you're discsusing. The main reason this is a presentation and not a paper is that there is something visual that you need to show us. KISS....make your PowerPoints uncluttered.

These will be due before you leave Milan.

Paper Assignment (100 points)

All of the papers written will be due by the end of the trip. You will email them to me, complete with the bibilography, prior to leaving the program. Each paper should have a cover page with your name, the course number/name (e.g. COMM 307: Italian Culture), and the title of your paper topic. You will also have a separate bibilography that lists, in alphabetcal order, your academic sources. NO WEBSITES are acceptable, only scholarly sources. Ask me before you turn it in if you are unsure what I mean.

Each paper content must be no fewer than 11 sheets of paper long. The first thing I do is count to ensure that your paper has met the minimum length/margin requirements. If it has not, you will automatically lose at least 5%. If it is much shorter, you will lose more points. Any and all of the topics you're writing about is worthy of a solid study and I am confident that you will easily be able to write more than the minimum. Ten pages (11 sheets) is the minimum, average, general, nothing to write home about, length paper. A better paper almost always is longer because the person has taken the time to delve into the subject matter and realizes there is a significant amount of information available that can be written about.

Have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Have solid/strong/academic/scholarly sources and properly cite them within the paper.

Generally speaking, you will be graded on the following:  50% for mechanics, etc. and 50% for content.  The classes you are taking are either 300 or 400 level courses and I expect that you will be able to write accordingly. Late work is not acceptable. For each day your paper is late, a minimum of 5% will be taken off your final paper grade. A minimum of five sources is required.

Some tips for writing a paper for my classes:

  • Write a paper that fills no fewer than 11 sheets of paper with 1” margins, 12 pt font, Times New Roman.  Longer is okay, shorter never is.   No weird margins, no weird headers, no quadruple-spacing, no name on each page so the top margin is 3”, no weird anything.  Been there, done with it :o)  (All those tricks bore me).  Please do the required length and there will be no complaints by you regarding your grade. If you do these things, you need to arrange a meeting with yourself to discuss how you could have done this assigment correctly.

  • Your title page is NOT included in your page total (is it ever??)  I expect a minimum of 11 pieces of paper with a lot of excellent writing in ADDITION to your title page

  • Your page numbers go in the header, not as a line in the text.  If you’re unsure how to do that, please see me.

  • Please e-mail me a copy of the paper.

  • In each paper you write, you must use proper grammar, good writing skills, intelligent thought, and insight. The information you write must be supported with your intelligent thought and insight; as well as with academically-based sources used in a way that supports your opinions. 

  • This is what you'll be graded upon: intelligent thought, coherence of thought (do you make sense?), have you supported your point(s) of view with academically-based sources, do you sound like a college student, and grammar, punctuation, introduction, body, and conclusion.  Is it a half-hearted effort or one worthy of being graded?

  • You will turn in a copy to me on the DUE DATE at the TIME STATED. Late work bores me and earns you a 5% deduction for each day it is late after 6pm on the day it’s due.  Don’t ask me if you can turn it in at 6:30pm.Type it, bring it, turn it in and you're a happy camper (me too).

top

Daily Journal

(25 points per week x 4 wks = 100 pts)

This journal is designed to open your eyes to the differences and similarities between Italian and American cultures.  Each day you will compare and/or contrast something you personally experienced in this intercultural setting.  It should be a reflection of your experiences here in Milan as compared to what you may or may not experience in the US.

You have two choices (other reasonable ones may be presented to me).  First, you can create a blog whereby your experiences become a journal for friends and family, as well as me, to read.  Be creative with these, include pictures and video if able.  Second, you may type or write your journal.  The entries should be about a page per day and should reflect critical thought.  Most entries will be longer than this however; and I encourage you to include as much information as you feel necessary. You and I are the only ones who see it and all information will be kept confidential!

Make it a personal diary of your trip.  This journal assignment will enrich your experiences in Milan and may aid in the completion of your final project.  You will be graded on your critical thought, as well as your ability to compare and contrast cultural and societal experiences.  Pithy and/or insubstantial musings will earn you partial (or no) points for your efforts. If it's late, you'll lose 5 points per day on top of any other points. Please see “Some tips for writing a paper for my classes” for additional information.

Blogger is a free blog, you just need to sign up for a free gmail account if you don't have one. Very easy to use! Let me know if you need/want help setting one up!

Exams (300 pts)

Two exams, each worth 150 points will be given.

The exams will be over lecture notes (I take them too), readings from the course pack you've been given, as well as information from Culture Smart, our textbook, and any worksheets you've done.

Topics

ARTH 398; COMM 306, 307, & 452; FAVS 399; HIST 398; NCLC 498.

ARTH 303

  • Art History Study Abroad

    • This presentation will focus on a specific piece of Italian Renaissance Art. Special attention to historical time period with detailed discussion of history and artist in relation to the art discussed. 

    • You may choose one of the following paintings to discuss. Each of these can be found at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. If you have another suggestion, please check with me first.
      • The Betrothal of the Virgin, by Raphael
      • Supper at Emmaus, by Caravaggio
      • Dead Christ, by Mantegna

COMM 306

  • Issues in Intercultural Communication

    • This paper will focus on a language, religious, fashion, or commerce situation whereby students analyze the cultural differences found between Italy and the US.  This course differs from COMM 307 in that a specific intercultural topic discussed in class will be more deeply researched and will enable the student to investigate the differences in how Americans and Italians react to cultural topics.

COMM 307

  • COMM 307 is repeatable within the same term. It is a 3 credit course which is fixed. It may be repeated up to 6 credits or two times within the same term. Because the course is repeatable the title may be modified to suit the departments needs.

  • Italian Culture
    • Will investigate a specific phenomenon of culture in Italy.
  • Italian Society
    • Will investigate a specific phenomenon of Italian society.
  • Media in Italy
    • Will focus on television, radio, or newspapers in Italy
  • An Intercultural Look at Italy through Photographs
    • Is considered the presentation assignment
    • Each student will receive an I (Incomplete) until the materials are completed sometime in early September.
    • Students are required to frame or mat and frame 10-15 pictures to be included in a Photography Show, usually done in October.
    • Each photograph must have an accompanying caption that demonstrates its intercultural worth.

COMM 452

  • Media Production
    • This multimedia production will focus on capturing through still pictures and video the beauty and excitement of Milan.  The purpose of this class will be to produce a marketing video for the Milan trip. You must provide your own equipment for this particular class.
    • Minimum video length is 6 minutes.
    • Each student will receive an I (Incomplete) until the video is completed sometime in early September.

FAVS 399

  • History, Analysis and Theory
    • In in-depth study of 20th/21st century Italian film making from the early 1900s through to present day. Focus will encompass fascism through modern day.

HIST 398

  • Historical Study Abroad
    • This course will focus on an in-depth study of one of the following topics:
      • one of the two leading Milanese families (Sforzando and Viscount) from the Renaissance focusing on their patronage of the arts, culture, religion, architecture, etc.
      • Other topics may include the current Italian political system, Unification, Mussolini, or World War II.
      • An in-depth study of 20th/21st century Italian film making from the early 1900s through to present day (unless taking FAVS 399: HAT)
      • Alternative topic can be decided on by student and the Academic Director.

top

 

Design downloaded from free website templates.