FLIT 3054 – Italian Cinema

3 Semester Hours
Instructor: TBA

Prerequisites: Basic computer skills, such as word processing, along with basic experience using email and the internet is necessary.

Delivery Systems:

This course requires a computer with Internet access. You will need to be able to adjust settings, install software and plug-ins, and be able to create files on the computer you will be using. Please be advised that public\lab computers often prevent these types of activities. You should check to ensure that you have these capabilities before participating in this course.

This course is for students who have already passed FLIT1020 or equivalent and wish to increase their proficiency in writing. The student will consolidate and improve his/her knowledge of the Italian language through different readings and written practice in class and at home. The student’s written skills will develop through a detailed analysis of the structure of the Italian language. The course will be taught in Italian; the films to screen are in Italian with English subtitles; all writing assignments will be in Italian.

FLIT3044 is a 3-credit hour composed of 15 sessions of instruction and one final exam. In this course, the students will review grammar and practice in writing on topics ranging from descriptions and personal opinions to current affairs and social problems. Each student is required to complete a series of weekly compositions, blog entries, a mid-term exam, and a final comprehensive examination.

At the end of this course the students will be introduced to Italian culture; they will be provided with opportunities to improve their reading and thinking skills as well as their writing skills by requiring them to discuss social issues (after having read about them and listen to them via the proposed films) as well as to submit weekly written assignments
(after having reviewed grammatical concepts and having reworked their drafts).

The topics in this course will be the following:

1. How to write a journal entry (present tense)
2. How to narrate an event (personal occurrence) (past tense)
3. How to write a short story/rewrite a tale
4. How to write personal/professional letters
5. How to write a persuasive paper
6. How to interpret and express opinions
7. How to write a research paper
8. How to write a speech
9. How to write a book and film review

Textbooks of Beginning and Intermediate Italian courses can be used as references. In addition a good bilingual dictionary is highly recommended and should be brought to class. The following text, together with hand-outs provided by the instructor and in-class film screenings, are required for this course:
Annamaria Di Francesco and Ciro M. Naddeo , Bar Italia. Firenze : Alma Edizioni , 2002.

The on-campus course, FLIT3050, and its distance education counterpart, FLIT3054, are for the larger part identical in form, content, assignments, and materials. There will be a high level of interaction in this course. As the on-campus students will have real time interaction with peers and instructors, the distance learners will be able to contribute to discussions with peers and instructors, via the many types of communication tools offered by Blackboard/Wimba, i.e. discussion boards, online submissions of assignments, emails among class members and instructors, and chats. The on-campus and its distance education counterpart activities are selected and assessed in an identical way. Both sets of students will attend lectures, complete textbook assignments, submit online weekly quizzes, and participate to discussions on selected themes/films and to specific film screenings. There will be two essays (instructor will need to be consulted for the choice of topic for each of these assignments) – detailed guidelines will be posted on the Blackboard. There will also be a proctored final examination which will be comprehensive.

Course Requirements:

1. Weekly Compositions:

There will a series of weekly compositions to turn in via the Blackboard assignment tool. The draft will be reviewed by the instructor but not corrected (the instructor will mark errors only in order that it is the responsibility of the students to assess the error and correct it accordingly). Compositions will be based on themes from the various sources used, i.e. textbook, films, and supplementary material provided by the instructor in pdf format, as needed. NO LATE COMPOSITION WILL BE ACCEPTED. Students not completing their compositions on time may lose the privilege to the second writing. The second writing MUST be done within one week. These rules are strictly enforced for pedagogical reasons. There is no learning value in writing more than one composition at the same time to catch up. No more than one new composition may be handed in at one time. All compositions have to be typed and double-spaced. Number of words, themes and due dates will be announced throughout the course, as necessary. The grade will only be given to the corrected version of the composition.

2. Midterm Exam:

There will be a proctored exam on week 8. The mid-term exam will consist of two to three essay questions, based on material studied up to that point, to develop. Students will have 50 minutes to complete this exam.

3. Final Exam:

There will be a proctored exam at the end of the course. The examination will test all that the students have learned from the beginning to the end of the course. Students will have 2.5 hours to complete this exam. The exam will be cumulative and will consist of some essay questions and some grammatical exercises as deemed necessary.

The class will be fully web-based. Students should be disciplined and self-motivated since this course is semi-independent. Online students should be aware that the film screenings are to be done on their own, following the schedule. This means that they should check out the required DVDs from a local library or video store. The instructor will also provide an optional film per each director, in case the first choice is not available.

Final Examination Process:

You must select a proctor to supervise your examination. Distance Learning and Outreach Technology (DLOT) approved proctors are academic administrators in the student’s locale: school superintendent or principal, academic dean or department head at a college, another independent learning office test supervisor at a college, or an education officer at a military installation. All proposed proctors are verified for appropriateness by DLOT student service staff. Examinations are given under the same circumstances as they would be on campus, e.g. closed book, no notes, for 80 minutes. You are expected to get the Examination Proctor Information form properly filled in and signed by the proctor, just before sending it to the DLOT office. Then the DLOT office will verify the proctor and lets the student know about it. After the proctored exam is done, the proctor will sign a document and sends it to DLOT. The exam will be graded by the instructor. Copies of the completed grade report form are distributed to the instructor, the DLOT office, the registrar, and the student.

Evaluation:

Evaluation Procedures:

Weekly Compositions - 40%
Blog entries/discussions - 20%
Mid-Term Exam - 20%
Final Exam - 20%

Mid-term and Final-examination Proctor Process:

Students must select a proctor to supervise their examinations. Arrangements to take the mid-term and final examination are made by contacting the Auburn University Distance Learning Office at (334)-844-3106, or via electronic mail at qualljo@auburn.edu. Students must obtain the consent of an approved proctor and have the proctor complete the Examination Proctor Form. The form must be signed by the proctor and returned to the Auburn University Distance Learning Office at least ten days prior to the examination date. Distance Learning Office Test (DLOT) approved proctors are academic administrators in the student’s locale. Examples are city and county school superintendents, college or university academic deans or department heads, principals of accredited senior high schools, an education officer at a military installation, or another independent learning office test supervisor at a college or university. Without exception, only persons in these positions are approved to supervise examinations. All proposed proctors are verified for appropriateness by DLOT student service staff. Examinations are administered under the same circumstances as they would be on campus, e.g., closed book, no notes, and completed within one hour, except in special cases where legitimate disabilities are present. Examinations are sent directly to the proctor only after the Distance Learning Office has received and approved the completed Examination Proctor Form. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the proctor and arrange to take the examination within the deadline time frame. Once the proctored examination is over, the proctor collects the examination, seals it in an envelope and immediately forwards the examination in the mail. When the examination is received by DLOT, it is handled in the same method as an assignment. An examination and course grade report is provided by the instructor.

The final course grade will be determined by the final class average using the scale below

90% or above A
80%-89% B
70%-79% C
60%-69% D
Less than 60% F

Late Submissions:

No late submissions and/or make-ups are allowed unless a serious situation arises and the student contacts the instructor as soon as possible for special consideration, with a due DOCUMENTED excuse (official, with signature and seal). It is the responsibility of the student to prepare for the course and to keep up with the material.

Auburn University is committed to providing accommodations and services to students with documented disabilities. Any learner with a qualified disability which requires accommodations should contact The Program for Students with Disabilities, 1244 Haley Center, Auburn University, AL 36849, 334-844-2096 PH, 334-844-2099 FAX. More information is available on their website at www.auburn.edu/disability. The office will fax or mail the required forms to learners to apply for services. Learners who have questions to participate in this course should contact the above office in advance to ensure proper accommodations.  

Plagiarism is the act of presenting directly or indirectly someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is a major type of academic dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Similarly cheating on tests in any way, falsifying bibliographies, fraudulent quotes, and similar practices are intolerable forms of academic dishonesty. The University’s policy for academic misconduct in the Student Code of Conduct will be followed for this course (Tiger Club, pp. 83 and 92). If any questions regarding its contents, please contact the instructor.