Belmont University

HIS 3015.01
Junior Cornerstone Seminar: Historical Documentary Filmmaking; Undergraduate Research
Fall 2009
[3:30-4:45 T TH, WHB313, 3 credit hours]
Prerequisites for the course: Junior Standing

Instructor: Angela Smith

angela.smith@belmont.edu
Office Location: 2nd floor Gabhart; inside the vision office-office number 203-A
(there is a sign on the door: “Online Vision”)
Office Hours: 1-3 T Th, and by appt.

Course Description:

The Junior Cornerstone Seminar, for students who are midway through university study, is designed to
challenge them to apply multiple disciplines to an overarching problem or question through active and
engaged investigation. Cornerstones also are collaborative; students will work together to pursue
answers to a problem and also draw conclusions from these experiences. A unique feature of the course
is its emphasis on Problem-Based Learning, defined as:

“. . . an instructional method whereby students collaborate with each other in activating prior
knowledge, constructing new knowledge, and in developing a plan for further study.”

By definition, Junior Cornerstone Seminars carry Experiential Learning credit in one of the following
categories: undergraduate research, community-based research, service learning, or study abroad.

Through engaged learning and collaboration, students will:

Apply knowledge by conducting active, “hands-on” investigation.

Recognize the ways in which a variety of disciplines and perspectives may come together to
arrive at solutions to problems.
Gain experience working as part of a team and to develop an appreciation for the importance of
collaboration.
Sharpen research and writing skills.
Develop quantitative and critical reasoning skills and apply these skills to the problem at hand.
Become a more effective communicator through the presentation of results to the broader
public.

Specifically, this section of the Junior Cornerstone Seminar will require that students learn and collaborate
in their research of a historical question related to the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville. You will find
and examine resources in archives and libraries, determine the key figures in the movement, and look at
the movement in the context of its time and place.

Course Expectations

This course emulates the environment of a workplace; thus, there are both individual and group
expectations that you should aspire to meet. These expectations are outlined below.

1. Self-directed learning/knowledge: As a group member you will

articulate mechanisms (key points) at appropriate depth
apply knowledge to the problem
demonstrate knowledge of significant and relevant content areas
distinguish between reliable/unreliable sources and cite sources where appropriate
come consistently prepared to address the problem

2. Reasoning: As your group works through problems, you will develop the ability to
generate hypotheses and consider a broad range of hypotheses relevant to the problem
recognize the possibility of multiple causes and/or solutions to the problem.
 revise hypotheses or proposed solutions when new evidence disconfirms existing
assumptions and knowledge (avoid becoming “anchored”).
effectively synthesize existing and new knowledge
justify conclusions

3. Group/Interpersonal Skills: In order to function effectively as a group member, you will be

expected to
contribute appropriately
exhibit professional behavior
provide quality, constructive feedback
accept and act on feedback provided from instructor and peers
share group tasks
effectively prepare and present the findings of your work to a larger audience (outside of
the classroom).

Attendance: There is no penalty for up to two unexcused absences. There is a discretionary letter grade
penalty for every absence beyond two absences. A student may be dropped with a failing grade if he/she
is absent for more than six classes periods.

Texts: Readings will be provided throughout the semester via PDF documents posted on the class
website. There are no required texts for the class.

Policy for Late Work/Absences from Exams or Assignments: Late assignments will be docked one
letter grade for each day that passes beyond the due date.

Graded Assignments: Class due dates:

Group Research /Film: 40% Sept. 29 Topic paper due
Public Presentation 10% Oct. 13 Mid-term
Group Participation 30% Oct. 20 Documentary script due
Quizzes 10% Nov. 10 First rough cut
Mid-term 10% Dec. 1 Optional second cut
Dec. 8 Final cut
Dec. 14 Final essay due
TBA Public showing and presentation

The group participation grade will be partially assigned by your peers. Each student will evaluate each
member of their group at the end of the semester and assign a grade based on specific criteria.

Reading assignments and quizzes will be given throughout the semester based on the direction of the
research.

University Policies:
Honor Code
The Belmont community values personal integrity and academic honesty as the foundation of university
life and the cornerstone of a premiere educational experience. Our community believes trust among its
members is essential for both scholarship and effective interactions and operations of the university. As
members of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff, and administrators are all responsible for
ensuring that their experiences will be free of behaviors which compromise this value. In order to uphold
academic integrity, the university has adopted an Honor System. Students and faculty will work together
to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work. Following is the Student Honor Pledge
that guides academic behavior:

“I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in
course work, I the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor
as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my
responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

Accommodation of Disabilities

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont
University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities. If you have a disability
and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please
notify the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

Course Evaluations

The university urges and expects all students enrolled in a Junior Cornerstone Seminar (HIS 3015) to
participate in all course evaluations, providing honest feedback to the instructor and institution about the
specific aspects and elements of the course.

Date Class Readings

August 27 Introduction to class, show “They Marched”
Sept. 1 Continued introduction and show first session John Lewis. Walking with the Wind, the
of Ken Burns’s, “The Civil War” Nashville section, pgs 53-112
Sept. 3 No class, but meet on Friday and Sunday
afternoon at the Civil Rights Room
Sept 8 Matt Williams talks to class and shows film
Sept. 10 Group work-assignment due
Sept. 15 Introduction to historical research Marty, Kyvig, Nearby History: chapters 3,
4, 5
Sept. 17 Group work
Sept. 22 Tara White: Race, Class, and Gender in the Civil
Rights Movement
Sept. 24 Group work
Sept. 29 Topic paper due; Brian Dempsey talks to class
about documentary process—show film
Oct. 1 Trip to TSLA, and weekend technology
workshop; 1st peer review
Oct. 6 Oral Histories and how to conduct them Marty, Kyvig, Nearby History: chapters 6,
7, 8,
Oct. 8 Group work—weekend workshops, shooting
interviews; writing a doc script
Oct. 13 mid-term
Oct. 15 Fall break
Oct. 20 Script due; in-class group work; Paul Thompson, The Voice of the Past;
chapter 7
Oct. 22 In class group work; weekend workshops on Marty, Kyvig, Nearby History: chapter 12
editing
Oct. 27 In class group work
Oct. 29 In class group work; weekend technology
workshop; 2nd peer review
Nov. 3 In class group work
Nov. 5 In class group work
Nov. 10 First rough cut due
Nov. 12 In class group work
Nov. 17 In class group work
Nov. 19 In class group work
Nov. 24 In class group work
Dec. 1 Opt second rough cut
Dec. 3 In class group work; final peer review
Dec. 8 Final cut due
Dec. 14 final essay due