Dr. Andrew Wood Office: HGH 210; phone: (408) 924-5378 Email: wooda@email.sjsu.edu Web: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/wooda

Assignments

Unannounced Quizzes: 100 points

To inspire you to read and retain the material we cover in this class, I will conduct seven brief multiple-choice quizzes. Each quiz will be designed to test only that you've read and considered the reading for that day. I will only use your four top scores for this component. Quizzes may not be made up.

Semiotic Analysis: 50 points

Within two to three pages, propose the dominant ideology of a magazine advertisement through the semiotic analysis of a three-sign constellation. Provide in-text citations of at least two separate resources to support your analysis. Classroom notes should offer background to your research, but do not count as cited evidence. Attach a photocopy of your chosen artifact.

Download the PDF Semiotic Analysis Checksheet for advice on completing this essay.

Download the PDF gradesheet and attach it to your essay.

Gaze Analysis: 50 points

Within two to three pages, define a significant statement about power within a single scene from a film or television show through one form of gaze theory examined in class. Spend no more than a third of your paper body-length describing your chosen scene. Provide in-text citations of at least two separate resources to support your analysis. Classroom notes should offer background to your research, but do not count as cited evidence.

Download the PDF gradesheet and attach it to your essay.

Midterm Examination: 100 points

This exam invites you to synthesize the knowledge you've gained through the first half of the course. The exam will be composed of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions.

Course Project: 100 points

Write a five to seven page paper about a specific example of San Jose/Santa Clara region architecture, monumental structure, or other form of built environment. I strongly urge you to select a site that has not been often analyzed. Focus instead upon an overlooked component of our local urban landscape. To support your analysis, provide at least five separate in-text citations. Classroom notes should offer background to your research, but do not count as cited evidence. Your paper shall be organized in the following manner.

(1) Introduction, forecast, and justification of topic
(2) Site origin and purpose
(3) Site analysis (using a key concept from the class)
(4) Proposal for future research
(5) Summary and review

You might consider "sharing" a site with one or two colleagues. While you will write individual papers on separate and unique topics - and earn individual grades - you can help each other collect data and collaborate on drafts.

Download the PDF overview for advice on completing this essay.

Download the PDF gradesheet and attach it to your essay.

Final Examination: 100 points

This exam invites you to synthesize the knowledge you've gained through the second half of the course. The exam will be composed of multiple choice, true/false, and matching questions.

Grading

Your final grade is based on the following point system:

Quiz 1		out of 25 points
Quiz 2		out of 25 points
Quiz 3		out of 25 points
Quiz 4		out of 25 points
Semiotic Analysis		out of 50 points
Gaze Analysis		out of 50 points
Midterm Examination		out of 100 points
Course Project		out of 100 points
Final Examination		out of 100 points
Total		out of 500 points

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Assignments Research Review Sheet Gradebook