Because this class covers a range of media types and various viewpoints (i.e. the archaeologist, the director, the reviewer, and the public) we will have a number of class activities and assignments due as part of this course. Most of your grade will be calculated from your engaging in the content of the readings, lectures, and class discussions. These activities and assignments are designed to challenge your creative story telling skills, your ethical viewpoint, and merge the material you are learning into comprehensively presented, engaging, and educational presentations.
Grading
Your grade will be based on the following breakdown.
| Task | Percentage |
| Class participation | 10 |
| Class Activities | 10 |
| Critical Film Review | 10 |
| Critical Television Program / Series Review | 10 |
| Story Circle Personal Choice Story | 15 |
| Story Circle Archaeological Site Story | 20 |
| Group Media Narrative | 25 |
Class Participation: is required. Students will be expected to actively participate in class lecture discussion. Only excused absences will be accepted (with class reading and content completed). Class absence will be directly reflected in final grading.
Class Activities: A number of exercises will be enacted as part of class. These will include activities such as writing assignments, role playing, and debate. Students are expected to activley engage and contribute to these activities.
Critical Film Review: Students will be responsible for submitting a Critical Film Review of a film listed as part of the course assignments. This review will be grounded in approaches derived from assigned course readings, internet resources, and individual student perspectives (these will be discussed and assigned prior to film viewing and review).
Critical Television Program Review: Students will be responsible for submitting a Critical Television Program Review of a film listed as part of the course assignments. This review will be grounded in approaches derived from assigned course readings, internet resources, and individual student perspectives (these will be discussed and assigned prior to film viewing and review).
Story Circle Personal Choice Story: During the first half of the semester you will develop a Personal Choice Story to present to the class as part of our larger "Story Circle". The steps to creating your personal story will be introduced through class readings, lectures, and activities.
Story Circle' 'Archaeological Site Story: As you are learning about story telling and developing your Personal Choice Story, you will work in groups to select an archaeological site (or topic), of which individuals will develop an unique Archaeological Site Story using the skills you are developing as part of class.
Media Narrative: Student groups will merge their Archaeolgical Site Stories and formalize a Media Narrative for an original Film or Television Program presenting an archaeological site, project, or related topic. This is the cumulative project of the semester and will incorporate skills, theory, and practical experience gained as part of the course:
1. Fundamental background research into the archaeological record, site (or topic) history, and past representation of the site (or topic) to the public.
2. Identification and selection of a specific topic fundamental to the site for individual development
3. Creation of a story board
4. Planning and executing interviews
5. Planning for production
6. Presentation of final product to class
