Course Information

ENG 279 : Film and Literature (3 Credits)

Instructor: Bridget Pool

Overview

Welcome to English 279, offered by the Extended Learning Institute of Northern Virginia Community College.

Many of us have heard (or said), "The book is always better than the movie." This class aims to challenge that idea and encourages you to analyze films and written works as separate art forms while appreciating the relationship between them. We will consider adaptations and their source texts in terms of both theme and style. To do this, we must develop a basic understanding of both written narratives (point of view, characterization, structure, setting, symbol, language, and sentence patterns) and distinctive elements of film style (composition, editing, camera angle and distance, camera movement, sound, music, lighting, acting). Besides discussing the internal complications of translating a written work to the big screen, we will consider cultural influences, such as history, economics, and politics. Mostly, I hope you will come away from the class with a better understanding of both written and visual texts and an ability to articulate your opinion of the relationship between them.

The class is divided into three main parts:

Introduction to Film and Literature Terms--You will study a bit about the basics of film and literature and develop a vocabulary to analyze film adaptations.
Case Studies of Film Adaptations--Using that vocabulary, you will analyze a few representative adaptations
Independent Research and Analysis of a Film Adaptation--Finally, you will research and analyze a film/book combination of your choosing.

Prerequisites

For entry into this course, a student must read and write at a level of competency consistent with having completed English 112, College Composition II.

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Objectives

If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:

State the theme of a work of literature or a film
Identify elements of style in a work of a literature or a film
Analyze relationships between theme and style in works of literature and in films
Examine the effects of adaptation of literature works to film.
Examine the relationship between the cultural context of a work of literature or film and the work itself.
Form and express evaluative opinions about works of literature and film.

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Materials

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Grading

Your course grade will be determined according to the following:

Assignment	Points	% of Final Grade
4 Module Essays	300	30
Discussion Postings	200	20
Exam 1:	50	5
Exam 2:	100	10
Final Project Film Segmentation	50	5
Final Project Annotated Bibliography	50	5
Final Project Essay	250	25

Your final grade will be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least two of the exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

Grade	Points	Percent
A	225 - 250	90-100
B	200 - 224	80-89
C	175 - 199	70-79
D	150 - 174	60-69
F	Below - 149	0-59

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Exams

There are two (2) online proctored exams in this course that are password protected and must be taken at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

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ELI Policies and Procedures

This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. If you have questions, call ELI at (703) 323-3347 or (888) 435-6822.

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Contacting the Instructor

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contacI am here to help you succeed in this course. Although we will interact regularly on your assignments and exams, occasional questions or problems may arise. Here's how to contact me when they do.

BY EMAIL: bpool@nvcc.edu
BY CAMPUS TELEPHONE (also voice mail): 703.450.2513

You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Loudoun.

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Beginning the Course

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.

Contacting the Instructor | Beginning the Course