Week 4: Shindig and Safe

Class date: March 25, 2013
Shindig
Directed by: Vern Gillum
Written by: Jane Espenson
Vocabulary for 'Shindig'.

Inara attends a formal society dance, only to find Malcolm there as well, attempting to set up a smuggling job. Mall comes to blows with Inara's conceited date and finds himself facing a duel with a renowned swordsman, and only one night to learn how to fence.*

Trivia  (Wikipedia)The ballgown that Inara wears at the ball was actually made out of costume designer Shawna Trpcic's wedding dress.

Here's a photo of Shawna in her wedding gown.

She wrote an extra credit question for you midterm. :) Click here for an interview with Shawna about her work. And here is Shawna's personal website. Follow her on Twitter.

Safe 
Directed by: Michael Grossman
Written by: Drew Greenberg
Vocabulary for 'Safe'

Mal must choose which crew members to save when one is gravely wounded and two others are kidnapped. Simon finds and uneasy haven in a remote village, but River's uncanny perceptions jeopardize the Tam's temporary safety.*

Homework:

1. Watch Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown.

Vocabulary for 'Our Mrs. Reynolds'

Vocabulary for 'Jaynestown'

2. Choose a new assignment and start working on it.  Assignment #2 is due April 11th, by 5pm.

Fan Art Corner!

Shindig:

I bought this as a t-shirt for my niece. :)

Safe:

*episode descriptions from Wikipedia

Jeremy Jahns reviews Firefly

YouTube reviewer, Jeremy Jahns, reviews Firefly. He talks fast, so listen quick! :) (Don't use the subtitles feature because it totally sucks.)

Week 3: Train Job and Bushwacked

Class date: March 18, 2013
'The Train Job' Vocabulary for 'The Train Job'

The crew of Serenity takes on a train heist commissioned by a crime lord. They steal the goods, only to find it is medicine that is desperately needed by the town. *

'Bushwhacked' Vocabulary for 'Bushwhacked'

Serenity is pulled in by an Alliance cruiser while investigating a spaceship that was attacked by Reavers. Simon and River must hide to prevent capture, while something is wrong with the lone survivor of the attacked spaceship.*

Fan Art Corner!
The Train Job

Bushwhacked

*episode descriptions from Wikipedia

Week 2: Assigments

In this class, you will do 4 assignments. You can choose which assignments you do from the following list:

1. 1000-word paper on the topic of your choice related to the tv series (can be done twice)
2. 5-minute presentation on a topic of your choice related to the tv series
3. Perform a skit for the class
1. memorize a scene from one of the episodes we've watched
2. OR write a new scene that fits the show
3. 2 people (10mins), 3 people (12mins), 4 people (14mins), etc.
4. Art project related to the show - draw, paint, write music, dance, etc.
5. 5-minute video project to be shown in class
6. Your idea - you must discuss it with me first if you choose this one.

Due anytime before 5pm on the following days:

#1 Thursday, March 21st
#2 Thursday, April 11th
#3 Thursday, May 2nd
#4 Thursday, May 24th 

If your assignment requires class time to do, you must consult with me on a date to do it. It must still be done before the due date.
         

Week 2: Serenity (pilot)

Class date: March 11, 2013
Today we start with the pilot episode of Firefly, 'Serenity'. Original air date December 20, 2002. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, writer and director of the blockbuster movie "The Avengers". In the pilot episode, we meet the major characters and are introduced to the world of Firefly.


Get the vocabulary list for the pilot episode, 'Serenity', here.
Get vocabulary common to all episodes here.

Homework:

1. Choose an assignment (explained in the next blog post) and start working on it. 

2. Watch episode 2 'The Train Job', and episode 3 'Bushwacked'. 

          Vocabulary for 'The Train Job'

          Vocabulary for 'Bushwhacked'

Fan art corner!
Each week, I will try to post some fan art inspired by that week's episodes. Today we have some general, non-spoilery fan art. Click the image to go to the artist's website.

Class Information

Robin Hudson

Office: KILC Room 312

Phone: 031-750-5628
robin.gachon.Spring2013 at gmail dot com
class website: http://www.robinhudson.net 
(or fireflyrobin.blogspot.com)

A+ or A0        less than 25%

A0s + B0s      less than 40%

C0/C+            No Limit 
D0/D+            No Limit 

As long as you come to every class, do all the assignments, show up for the midterm and do the final presentation, you won't get less than C+.      

What will you do in this class?

You will view the American television series, Firefly, and the subsequent theatrical feature, Serenity. In each class meeting, you will view one or more episodes and discuss them with your classmates. Each week you will be responsible for watching the episodes at home, in preparation for class discussion. 

What’s the workload like?

You will watch episodes and the movie outside of class and do 4 assignments. Class participation and proper preparation will be important. There will be a written midterm and a presentation in lieu of a final exam. Previous students said it was a lot of work, but it was the best, most interesting English class they ever had.

Grading: 

Attendance                   10%
Assignments                 40%
Midterm exam               25%
Final presentation          25%

Attendance Policy: Students arriving 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and will be marked absent. I do not accept absence excuses for any reason. Students missing more than four (4) classes will fail.

Cell phone Policy: Cell phones must be switched off and placed on my table during class time.

Plagiarism Policy: Under no circumstances will plagiarism be tolerated. Students who plagiarize work will be given an F for the assignment. Plagiarizing the final presentation will result in an F for the term.

A note on spoilers: Please don’t tell your classmates ANY details of episodes they haven’t seen yet. Also, don’t go looking for information online for episodes you haven’t seen yet unless you want the story ruined for you. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience Firefly/Serenity from an unspoiled perspective. Feel free to find out everything you can once you have seen an episode or the movie.

Tentative Syllabus:

Week	Content	Homework
1	Course introduction Firefly episode: Out of Gas	get all episodes visit this website
2	Repeat Course Intro Firefly pilot episode: Serenity	Watch Train Job and Bushwacked Work on an assignment
3	Episodes: Train Job, Bushwacked	Watch Shindig and Safe Work on an assignment
4	Episodes: Shindig, Safe	Watch Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown Work on an assignment
5	Episodes: Our Mrs. Reynolds,   Jaynestown	Watch Out of Gas and Ariel Work on an assignment
6	Episode: Out of Gas Episode: Ariel	Review for midterm exam Work on an assignment
7	MIDTERM EXAM Info on final presentation	Watch War Stories and Trash Work on an assignment
8	Episode: War Stories, Trash	Watch The Message Work on an assignment
9	Episode: The Message	Watch Heart of Gold Work on an assignment
10	Episode: Heart of Gold	Watch Objects in Space Work on an assignment
11	Episode: Objects in Space + DVD Special Features	Watch Serenity (optional) Work on an assignment
12	Movie: Serenity	Work on final presentation
13	Presentations	Work on final presentation
14	Presentations	Work on final presentation
15	Presentations/Done the Impossible documentary Last day of class	Watch the series again with someone you love and tell all your friends to take this class next semester!