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COM382

   COM382 : The Class : Art of Communication
Film: The Art of Communication 






 

COM 382 SEMESTER PROJECT: AFI BEST 100 MOVIES WEB SITE

Objectives

  1. To do an in-depth study of one of the American Film Institute's 100 best movies.
  2. To work in a team environment.
  3. To become knowledgeable of the worldwide web and virtual communication.

Semester Project

Your semester project is to create a web site in a group by working through a series of assignments. You web site will be built around a movie from the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Best Movies. If you have never browsed in the World Wide Web, you will need to do so immediately. If you do not have an E-mail account, you will need to get one immediately.

Due Dates and Penalties

Each assignment is part of the semester project. You will receive both group and individual grades.

All assignments will be "handed in" electronically. Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. the Tuesday before class. Grades for assignments turned in between midnight and 11:59 p.m. Wednesday will be reduced by 5%. Grades for assignments turned in between Thursday midnight and 11:59 p.m. Friday will be reduced by 50%. No credit will be given for assignments turned in after 11:59 on Friday.

Working in a Group

If possible you will be assigned to a group based on your movie selections. If you want to work with someone, you may inform the instructor when you turn in the first assignment, and he will try to honor your request.

Most groups will have four members. Depending on the number of students in the class, several groups may have three or five members.

All group members are expected to contribute. You will have a chance to grade other members of your group. If one or more persons do not carry their weight, others will have to make up for it. On the other hand, it can be just as detrimental to the group and to the project if one person thinks s/he can do everything.

Computer Labs, E-mail and Instructional Technology Assistance at NAU

You can access computer in Flagstaff in the computer labs in Building 16 on north campus and Building 61 on south campus. Some statewide sites have computer labs as do some campus dormitories.

To set up an E-mail account, go the NAU homepage at http://www.nau.edu. Scroll to and click on:

  • Student Information
  • Online Information for Students
    • Build Your Own Student E-mail Account

For computer labs and other technology information, go again to

  • Student Information
  • ResNet: Residential Networking at NAU

Assignments

The grid on page 6 tells you what the assignments are, when they are due, what the point value of each is and whether you will receive an Individual grade (I) or a Group grade (G).

You will need to E-mail your first assignment by 11:59 p.m. on September 1. For that assignment, study the list of the 100 AFI films and choose three that you would like to study for your web site. The instructor will try to assign one of those titles to you. Note that in your list of three, you may only choose one of the titles that are in bold. Consider choosing at least two movies that you have never seen. In addition to your three titles, identify from the list below strengths and skills you can contribute to your group. Finally, you may, if you wish, identify people you would like to work with (or people you do not want to work with).

Strengths and Skills

Knowledge of html coding

Knowledge of movies

Web user

Research on the web

Research in print

Artistic

Computer skills

Computer software (identify PowerPoint, Director, Page Maker, etc.)

Writing ability

Public speaking and presentation skills

Other (be specific)

 

 

 

Due Date

Assignment Schedule

Description

 

Value

# 1

Sept. 1

E-mail to pqh@jan.ucc.nau.edu top 3 movie choices and your skills and strengths. You may also include names of people you wish to work with.

I 10 points

Sept. 8

E-mail last minute group or movie change requests

  

# 2

Sept. 15

Find your name in the Virtual Conference Center; it should be within one of the movies from your list. Introduce yourself to your group. There will be specific items for you to discuss.

 

I 10 points

#3

 

 

 

Sept. 22

You should have watched your movie by now and begun research. Publish a home page for your web site. Note the film title and names of your group members. In the VCC, give your web page URL and request a presentation date (Nov. 11, 18, or Dec. 2). If you do not request a date, one will be assigned. The URL will be your group account, using your group's web master's E-mail account.

 

 

 

 

G 10 points

# 4

Sept. 29

Film review, first draft. Continue research.

I 15 points

* #5

 

 

 

 

Oct. 13

In VCC identify at least 8 links for your movie. Rank the links from best to worst and discuss your criteria for the ranking. Add at least four links to your web page. Add other information to your web page. Discuss themes and ideas that your will be exploring in your web site. You may wish to do one large group effort or several smaller ones. If you have not come up with ideas, you will have met with the instructor at least two weeks ago. (See notes below.)

 

 

 

 

 

G 25 points

#6

Oct. 20

Film review, second draft; publish on web and link to your movie home page

I 25 points

#7

Nov. 10

Web site (completed)

Final draft of movie review

Grade each person in your group

G 50 points

I 50 points

I 30 points

 

Nov. 11, 18, Dec. 3

In-class Web Presentations are to be no more than 10 minutes long. 15 to 20 presentations will be scheduled during each of the last three weeks of the semester. If there is not enough time for you to do the presentation on the scheduled day, your presentation will be rescheduled.

 

 

G 25 points

* # 5 If you were doing LA Confidential, for example, you might study contemporary film noir, or cinematic techniques, or perhaps compare the movie to James Ellroy's novel. If you were doing Star Wars, you would have discovered and discussed the connection to Akira Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress. For examples see the Lone Star sites http://dana.ucc.nau.edu/~rmh5/lonestarhp.html (built using html coding) or http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~maf2/WebWizard/ (built using WebWizard)

 

 

Web sites may use up to three freeze frames from a movie if properly credited. (See credit captions in Movies and Meaning.) Pictures from the text may be used. Film clips may only be used if the film is in the public domain.

Easy Extra Credit Opportunities

Earn 10 points by requesting and being scheduled on November 11.

Earn 5 points by requesting and being scheduled on November 18.

Or

Earn 5 points by choosing and being assigned one of these films: Rebel Without a Cause, Amadeus, The Searchers, It's a Wonderful Life.

 
 

E-mail Paul Helford at Paul.Helford@nau.edu
Call Paul Helford at (520) 523-9312

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