Graded Evaluation and Assignments:
To keep grading simple, the class will be graded out of a possible 100 total points.
Attendance and participation (10 points): Students are expected engage with the material across all the classes and to participate actively and thoughtfully in class discussion through forums, podcasts, and videos. Because this course uses workshopping, participation is particularly important. Simply watching lectures and doing the readings does not constitute participation. The minimal requirement for participation is to post a reading response every time it is noted on the schedule (this can be a few sentences or a paragraph).
Here is how I will grade Participation: Rubric
Tips for Completing a Reading Response
Podcast (20 points): Each student will join me on the official DLC podcast, “Not a Novel” to discuss a fanfiction text or fanfiction concept of your choosing. We will work out the time and length of the podcast. Here is the schedule
Feeders (15 points): Students will have three (3) feeder projects to complete throughout the summer 2 term. Each feeder will be worth five (5) points. Feeders will be graded based on completion, prompt submission, and attention to assignment details. These small assignments are meant to help you prepare for making your video project.
Feeder 1: Cover Art: Thursday (7/2) at 11:59pm
Feeder 2: Storyboard: Friday (7/10) at 11:59pm
Feeder 3: Audio Recording: Friday (7/17) at 11:59pm
Video Project (30 points): For your final project, you will take on the role of a video essayist or fan fiction YouTuber who has been tasked with surveying, researching, and analyzing one specific fan fiction story or franchise or creating your own fanfiction story. The end product is a compelling video essay or creative work that will inform and enlighten the greater fan fiction community about the stories they interact with. Much like the outstanding video essays of the nerdwriter, your 6-12 minute video will incorporate images and narration, but will not need to include shot video (unless you would like to). Due Thursday (7/23) at 11:59pm.
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Final Exam (25 points): A comprehensive take home final exam due Tuesday, July 28th at 3:00pm.
You will receive the test on Friday, July 23rd at 9am.
The test will involve two parts.
In the first part, you will select 5 terms from a list of 8 and a) define the term and b) give an example of the term at work in one of the texts we read or watched for the course.
In the second part, you will select 2 essay topics from a list of 4 and write an analytical essay about 800-1,000 words for each topic selected using at least three of the texts we read or watched for the course.
OR
Original Paper (25 points): Students who wish to write an original final paper exploring the themes of the class in lieu of a Final Exam may submit a proposal to do so. This may take the form of a fan fiction narrative, a memoir, or graphic novel, and must be accompanied by a discussion of class concepts and analytical frameworks. You are required to meet with me to discuss your ideas prior to submitting the proposal and must receive permission to pursue the requested topic. If your idea is deemed feasible, the paper proposal will be due to me by Monday, July 20th. Detailed instructions for the final paper will be posted on Website. The final paper will be due on Tuesday, July 28th at 12:00pm . (No late papers will be accepted: students who miss this deadline must take the final exam instead.)
Bonus Points (2 points): If you meet with me for two office hours, you will receive two (2) bonus points.
Final letter grades are determined based on the following scale:
A (95-100) A- (90-94) B+ (87-89) B (83-86) B- (80-82) C+ (77-79)
C (73-76) C- (70-72) D+ (67-69) D (63-66) D- (60-62) F (below 60)
I will use traditional rounding to determine grades that fall between whole values. Any mixed number with a decimal value of five tenths or higher will round up to the next whole number. (For example, 94.5 will round up to an A as a 95, but 94.4 will not.)
Please ask me immediately if you have any questions or concerns about your grade in this course.
You may consult UNC’s Catalog at https://registrar.unc.edu/academic-services/grades/explanation-of-grading-system/ for further information and context.