Communication 12
INTERPRETATION
Spring 2013

Instructor: Anna Martinez, M.A.
Office #: Soc 38 (southeast side of campus)
Office hours: Monday 3:15-4:15, Wednesday 3:15-4:15, Friday 12:15-3:15
Phone #: 638-3641 ext. 3680    Email: anna.martinez@reedleycollege.edu
Note: I plan to respond to your emailed questions within 48 hours.  I am usually online evenings around 9pm to 11pm.
Class web address: http://blackboard.reedleycollege.edu – find the Comm 12 class listing and click it.
Required Textbook 
Jaffe, Clella.  Performing Literary Texts: Concepts and Skills.  Independence: Cengage, 2006. 
Purchase the text as soon as possible, or you will fall behind in class rapidly.  There is a copy on reserve in the Reedley College library. 
Course Advisory
It is highly recommended that you be eligible to take English 1A (already completed English 125) at the time you take this course.  This course involves research and organization skills that may be a challenge for you if you are not eligible for this English level.                                                 
Course Outcomes & Description
This course involves the interpretation of literature through oral performance of selected works of literature including, but not limited to: poetry, fiction, essays, drama and children’s literature.  It includes both individual and group performances, which may include reader’s theatre. 
Through this class you will gain a new appreciation of literature as you learn how to share drama, fiction, nonfiction, poetry and children’s literature with an audience.  This type of performance is called “oral interpretation” because you first gain a deep understanding of the literature and then you use your body and voice to convey that understanding to an audience.  No two persons approaching the same literature will ever interpret the same piece of literature exactly alike.  Thus, each oral interpretive performance is uniquely individual.  It is as individual as each person’s own enjoyment of the literature.  Your enjoyment of literature will deepen over this semester, as well as your confidence in sharing that literature and its message with audiences.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to: 
•	Create and perform interpretive programs of various literary genres that are adapted to the audience.
•	Select and comprehend various forms of literature appropriate for oral performance.
•	Demonstrate emotion and develop characterization through vocal control and non- verbal characterization.
•	Analyze the effectiveness of oral interpretation performances.
Assignments
(For more details on these assignments, see accompanying Assignment Details packet.  For due dates, see attached Proposed Schedule.)	
Oral Performances
Performance #1        Storytelling			0
Performance #2        Children’s Literature		100
Performance #3        Mixed Genre Program		200
Performance #4        Readers’ Theatre		260
Speech total    560
Quizzes
The procedure for quiz-taking will be as follows: 1) Each student will take a brief quiz (10 questions) which will be turned in to me, then 2) in groups of 4-5 students, a second quiz will be taken (15 questions – the same 10 from the individual quiz plus 5 more) and the group decides which are the “correct” answers, then 3) group members then complete and sign a single answer sheet.  A student’s score is the total of the correct answers on her/his individual quiz plus the total number of correct answers on the group sheet.  Due to this system, there can be NO make-ups of the group part of quizzes – please be on time on quiz day in order to have a chance at the total number of points.   

Quiz #1	Chapter 1 lecture/discussion/handout material		50
Quiz #2	Chapters 2-3 plus lecture/discussion/handout material	50
Quiz #3	Chapter 4 plus lecture/discussion/handout material		50
Quiz #4	Chapters 5-6 plus lecture/discussion/handout material	50
Quiz #5	Chapters 7-8 plus lecture/discussion/handout material	50
Quiz #6	Chapters 9-10 plus lecture/discussion/handout material	50	
Quiz total 300 
Papers
Self-analysis
Each student will turn in a 2-3 page typed essay analysis of her/his experience of doing the first formal performance in front of the class.  This analysis will be due soon after we complete the Children’s Literature performances.  In it, you should discuss your experience (feelings, problems, successes, unexpected occurrences) of preparing and presenting the performance to the class.  The paper should be as thorough as possible, highlighting your: feelings about the performance (positive and negative), unexpected problems or joys, your process in preparing the performance, and anything else relevant to the situation.  Rather than simply telling me what you did, explain to me how you felt about it all.  Evaluate yourself using the criteria I use to grade you; tell me what grade you’d give yourself and why.
 								Self-analysis total 40
Outside Performance Analysis (OPA)					
Each student is asked to attend a literature interpretation/reading/performance outside of the classroom situation during the semester and turn in a 2-3 page typed analysis of the experience.  This paper will be due toward the end of the semester.  You will receive some ideas/suggestions/opportunities in class for performances you can attend, but it is your responsibility to find one that fits your schedule.  You CANNOT use a performance given over radio/internet/ television.  In the paper, don’t simply tell me what the plot line of the literature was, you should critique the performer – how did the person do in his/her interpretation/reading/performance of the literature?  What grade would you give him/her, and why?  
							OPA total 50
  Peer Performance Evaluations
Throughout the semester, you will periodically be asked to give written and/or verbal critiques of your classmates’ performances.  This is a mandatory part of the class.  Unlike other classes you may take at the college level, this class has a hard time functioning unless all students are present to give suggestions, offer praise, and get help/advice from other classmates throughout the semester.  You are expected to attend class and be on time in order to reap these benefits yourself as well as provide help to your peers.  Missing classes (regardless of reason), especially when others are performing, WILL hurt this section of your grade.
Peer Evaluations total 50
									GRAND TOTAL 1000
Additional points					
You will be given the opportunity to do ONE additional point assignment for your grade.  At least four assignment options will be given to you, and you may choose any one of them.  The assignments will be due toward the end of the semester.  I would advise that you do one even if you don’t think you’ll need it because I will not be offering any additional last-minute assignments later or extended due dates in this area.  Additional points are privileges given to students by instructors, not rights.      
(Optional – Max. total of 50)
Grade Distribution 
Final grades will be based on the following scale:

900 & above=A, 899-800=B, 799-700=C, 699-600=D, 599 & below=F.

I will post frequent grade updates on Blackboard so you can ALWAYS check your current grade in the class.  To log in, go to http://blackboard.reedleycollege.edu and use your college ID# as your username.  Your password is likely your college ID# as well unless you’ve changed it in another class. 
Late Assignments
MY LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY IS A STRICT ONE!  I am no longer wasting valuable time dealing with reasons or excuses for late work.  Good news: I will accept late work.  Bad news: Regardless of reason, late work will be given a penalty.  In other words: even if you are sick, on a college-sponsored trip, or dealing with hard times at work or home, you WILL receive a penalty if any of your work is late.  If you expect that you might be turning in any late assignments this semester, I advise you to take advantage of the additional point assignment.  Specifically:
o	Written assignments (self-analysis or outside performance analysis) – late ones will be lowered one full letter grade (10%).
o	Quizzes – miss these and you lose your opportunity to participate in the group portion of the quiz.  You can still make up a different format of the quiz, but your score may be significantly lower than if you had taken it with the class (since you will not reap the benefit of group help).
o	Peer evaluations – if you miss days when others are performing, you will miss out on some of these points.  These cannot be made up.
o	Performances – here’s the big one: If you do not do your interpretation performance on the day it is due, you will receive a 20% grade dock on the performance!  This is a huge penalty and could make or break your grade in this class.  Due to the nature of the class, I MUST enforce this or it will put everyone behind.  You must not waste my or any of your classmates’ valuable time with lateness on these.  Period. 
Additionally, be aware that there is a time limit with which to turn in any late work.  There will be a TWO-WEEK GRACE PERIOD to make up any quizzes, do any speech, or turn in any papers.  It is during this grace period that the point docks will occur.  After this grace period is over, it will be too late; and you will receive a zero (0) on that assignment.
I do not search you out for make-ups if you miss an assignment.  It is your responsibility to approach me and schedule an appointment.
Drop Policy
	If you miss more than two consecutive weeks of class within the first nine weeks without notifying me that you still desire to be in the class, I will drop you from the course.
Advice
The college’s policies regarding student conduct in classes, including cheating and plagiarism, are located in the college catalogue and the schedule of courses.  You should be aware of these policies and abide by them.  Be aware that I may run your performance outlines and/or papers through anti-plagiarism software (e.g. Turnitin.com, SafeAssign, Google) if I suspect plagiarism.  If plagiarism is detected, I may also go back to re-evaluate work you have previously submitted for the course.  
Students with disabilities are reminded that it is your responsibility to identify yourself to the Reedley College Disabled Students Services and to your instructor(s) so reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation within the course can be made.
Extra help 
Please feel free to visit our new Communication Lab in Soc 37 for help on any of your assignments.  You can work with any lab assistant/tutor/instructor who happens to be in at the time as he/she will be familiar with my assignments and can give you great advice!  Additionally, you can make use of the Tutorial Center located in the library and/or the Writing Center (located in Hum 59).  Names of specific outstanding tutors you can contact will be given in class.
The Blackboard site will include lots of help for you throughout the semester.  Not only will you be able to check your grades anytime, but you will also find:
•	the course syllabus
•	copies of handouts (in case you lose one or need an extra copy of anything)
•	example assignments (from real students in past classes)
•	performance topic/literature suggestions
•	quiz reviews
•	links to sample performances
•	…and much more!
Please use this web site – it is there for YOU.  If you do not have Internet access, please make use of the computer labs on campus as I will not always have extra copies of handouts, etc. in class.  Using Blackboard for this class will make your Interpretation class experience MUCH easier!  Again, to log in, go to http://blackboard.reedleycollege.edu and use your college ID# as your username.  Your password is likely your college ID# as well unless you’ve changed it in another class.
A Note on My Teaching Style
I cannot and will not re-teach a class you miss. A student who misses a class must assume total responsibility of informing him/herself of class notes, announcements, and assignments.  It is also your responsibility to monitor your progress in this class.  I do not search out students to inform them of their grades—I expect that they are watching Blackboard or keeping track of it themselves.  It is a good idea to keep all graded assignments that I pass back to you as proof of your status, at least until you receive your final grade at the end of the semester (that’s good advice for all of your classes).

Let’s make literature fun!   

PROPOSED SCHEDULE – Comm 12 – Spring 2013

You are expected to have the read/scanned the unit in the text before we analyze it in class.

Date		ACTIVITY				     	     	ASSIGNMENTS DUE
T	1-8	Introduction to the course & icebreakers        
Th	1-10	Chapter 1 & syllabus quiz             			  Must have syllabus read    
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	1-15	Chapter 1                        
Th	1-17	Performance apprehension                        
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	1-22	Storytelling performances
Th	1-24	Storytelling performances & Sign ups for Children’s Lit performance	    
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	1-29	Quiz #1 & Chapter 2
Th	1-31	Chapter 2
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	2-5	Chapter 3							Child Lit title DUE
Th	2-7	Chapter 3
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	2-12	Quiz #2 & Chapter 4 
Th	2-14	Children’s Literature performances				Scripts DUE    
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	2-19	Children’s Literature performances				Scripts DUE 
Th	2-21	Children’s Literature performances				Scripts DUE 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	2-26	Children’s Literature performances				Scripts DUE
Th	2-28	Chapter 4 & Sign ups for Mixed Genre Program		Self-analysis paper DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	3-5	Quiz # 3 & Chapter 5        
Th	3-7	Chapter 5			Last day to drop Fri 3/8    
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	3-12	Chapter 6    						
Th	3-14	Quiz #4 & Chapter 7
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	3-19	Chapter 7						RT Program Stage 1 DUE
Th	3-21	Chapter 8 & Sign ups for Readers’ Theatre performances   	Mixed titles DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	3-26	Spring Break – no classes    
Th	3-28	Spring Break – no classes
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	4-2	Mixed Genre performances					Scripts DUE
Th	4-4	Mixed Genre performances					Scripts DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	4-9	Mixed Genre performances					Scripts DUE	
Th	4-11	Mixed Genre performances					Scripts DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T 	4-16	Quiz #5 & Chapter 9
Th	4-18	Chapter 9						RT Program Stage 2 DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	4-23	Chapter 10							OPA paper DUE
Th	4-25	Chapter 10
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	4-30	Readers’ Theatre performances                			Scripts DUE
Th	5-2	Readers’ Theatre performances                			Scripts DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
T	5-7	Readers’ Theatre performances                			Scripts DUE
Th	5-9	Readers’ Theatre performances                	Additional Points & Scripts DUE
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
* Th	5-16	12:00-1:50	Quiz #6 – Final  		
* We will only meet one day during finals week.