The mission statement of
Norwell High School is to provide an engaging, supportive
environment where students strive for excellence, practice
respect and contribute to society.
Media Studies: Fall 2007
Mr. Schelvan
schelvan@norwellschools.org
781-659-8810 x1122
Course Overview:
The focus of this course is to expose students to
a variety of media formats while helping to develop an
informed and critical understanding of the nature of new and
traditional media, and how the media, in turn, construct our
everyday reality in ways that are social, cultural,
psychological and political. Strategies of how to access,
recognize, interpret, analyze, evaluate, utilize, and create
all forms of media will also be explored. Students will
research, discuss, speak and write while becoming critical
thinkers and viewers of various forms of media. Requirements
will include weekly readings and viewings along with
production of a number of media-based projects.
Attendance and Participation
These are essential elements of this course! Your
participation is evaluated on relevant oral contributions in
class, non-verbal interest and attention, and preparedness.
Too much participation or domination of discussion, or too
little participation can also negatively effect your grade.
Each day we have discussion, you may earn up to 10 points.
If you contribute actively to the group and your comments
are meaningful to the discussion, you’ll earn 10 points. If
you contribute but your comments do not further discussion,
you’ll earn 5 points. If you don’t contribute you’ll earn 0
points.
Classroom Policies and Etiquette
1.
Have Fun!
2.
Come to class prepared. Complete all required
assignments.
3.
If you miss class, or do not get an assignment it is
your responsibility to find out what you missed and to catch
up on the assignment. Late assignments do not receive the
same grade value as assigned turned in on time.
4.
Any student who commits an act of plagiarism or other
act of cheating shall receive a zero for that assignment.
5.
Cell phones should not be in the classroom.
6.
Do not walk in front of someone who is talking or
lecturing if you arrive late or must leave early. If you
must leave or enter the room during class time, do so
quietly so as to not disrupt the class.
7.
You may disagree with one another’s ideas, but you
must disagree respectfully.
8.
Respect an “Equal Time” rule; if you can share
comments easily, hold back so that others who have
difficulty sharing in class can do so.
9.
If you have a concern about the class or an
individual, please talk with me.
10.
Do not put your course materials away, until I have
announced the end of class.
Late Work Policy:
Homework should be completed on time. Assignments
will lose ten (10) points per day until it is six (6) days
late or the points possible reaches 60%.** I adhere to the
school’s policy for making up work. If you are absent, your
work is due one day after you return. After that, you will
receive a grade of zero or appropriate point deduction for
any work that is not made up.
**It is your responsibility to see me for work
that you miss. I will not come to you for this.
**I reserve the right to not accept late work on
any project at my discretion. If you are experiencing
serious difficulty meeting your due date(s) DUE TO AN
EMERGENCY, please come and talk with me about it.
Otherwise, there will be no exceptions.
**I will NOT accept “the printer broke/ran out of
ink” as a legitimate reason for late or missing work as all
students have access to computers/printers here at school,
and major assignments are assigned well in advance of their
due dates.
Grading:
Each assessment will be given a point value; all points will
be added at the end of the term and divided by the total
number of points possible. This percentage is the student’s
average. Participation points will also be factored into
this equation.
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