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COURSEDETAILSInthespringof2020,thiscoursemeetsMondayandWednesdayfrom4:00to5:15inHumanities480.Thecoursecalendarandothercoursematerialscanbefoundontheuniversity’sCanvassystem.
PURPOSEANDMETHODSStudentsinthiscoursewillexplore,define,andcreativelyusenewmediatoinvestigateitspotentialasanenvironmentforliterateandliteraryexpression.Digitalenvironmentsconsideredincludesocialmedia,videogames,websites,mobileapps,andaugmentedreality.Thegoalsofthiscourseareintendedtoenableyoutodothefollowing:1. toconceive,design,and
creativenewmediaprojectsthatconsciouslyusetheaffordancesofnewmediaenvironmentstopursuethegoalsofwritingandliterature
2. todiscussnewmediainhistoricallyandtheoreticallyinformedway.
3. toidentifyanddescribethecharacteristicsofnewmediaenvironmentsandapplythoseideascriticallytoanalysesorparticularnew-mediaphenomena
4. todescribeanddistinguishhowwritingandnewmediadifferculturally,discursively,formally,andideologically
5. towriteeffectivelyaboutnewmediaasculturalartifactsfromanacademicviewpoint
6. tousenewmediaasacreativeplatformforliterateandliterarypurposes
Seethelastpageforhowthesegoalsfulfilltheoutcomesofthewritingprogram.1
Studentswillinvestigatetheliteratepossibilitiesofnewmediaby
• reading,discussing,andwritingaboutcriticalandhistoricalworksonnewmedia(fulfillsgoals1,3-5below)
• conceiving,writing,discussinganddesigningoriginalnew-mediaprojectsthatachievewriterlyeffectsandmeaningfulfillsgoals2,6below)
• preparingforquizzesandotheractivitiesthatprovideincentivetocomplete,absorb,andsynthesizethereadings(goals1,3-5below)Thiscourserequiresnopriorknowledgeofwebdesignorspecializedsoftware.
PROFESSOR’SDETAILSDr.CraigStroupe,[email protected],218-726-6249,Humanities420V,Officehours:MondayandWednesdayfromnoonto1;00orbyappointment.
RESOURCESNEEDED• The State of Play: Creators and Critics on
Video Game Culture. Daniel Goldberg and Linus Larsson, Editors. New York: Seven Stories Press, 2015.
• Funds for, or means of, printing several long PDF files containing readings. You will be required to print and read these texts on paper and to bring these hard copies to class.
• A laptop to use in class during designated days. Otherwise, this will be a device-free zone.
GRADES
• 20% Participation • 80% Four Projects:
Writing in Layers, Audio Fiction Hybrid, Writing in Augmented Space Essay/Criticism. (20% each)
Scores for most assignments will be available confidentially to individual students via the course Canvas site. The totals in Canvas’s grade book, however, do not include evaluations of some aspects of participation or attendance and so don’t reflect a final grade.
Unexcused absences in excess of 3 will deduct 2% each from your overall grade. More than 6 unexcused absences, in excess of the number allowed, is grounds for failure of the course.
Softwarehasbecomeourinterfacetotheworld,toothers,toourmemoryandourimagination-auniversallanguagethroughwhichtheworldspeaks,andauniversalengineonwhichtheworldruns.”
—LevManovich,SoftwareTakesCommand(2)
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READINGThereadingsareanessentialaspectofthiscourse.Unlessstatedotherwiseinthehomeworkassignment,youarerequiredtodoallreadingsusingthephysicalbooksorpaperprintouts.(InthecaseofPDFs,youmayprintmultiplepagesoneachsheettosavepaper.)Youarealsorequiredtobringthebookorprintedhardcopytoclassonthedayassigned.Laptopsorotherdevicesarenotpermittedforin-classuseduringdiscussionsofreadings.Comingtoclasswithoutthatassignedreadingonpaperwillresultyourbeingrecordedasabsentfortheday.Youwillbeexpectedtocompletealltheassignedreadingsbythebeginningofclass.Youshouldmarkthebookorprintouttohelpyoulocatekeywords,ideas,names,passages,andexamplesinthefuture.Pleasebepreparedforbriefquizzesandotheractivitiesintendedtogiveyouincentivetokeepupwith(andengagedwith)thereadings.Iwillfrequentlygiveyoureadingguidesandpromptstohelpfocusyourreadingandpreparationforclass.WRITINGScriptsYouwillconceiveanddevelopthemajornew-mediaprojectsbyfirstwritingscripts.Thesescriptswillbeduebeforethefinishedproducts,andworkshoppedinclass.Seethesection“CreativeDigitalProjects”belowdoemoreonthesemajorassignments.HomeworkForreadingassignments,Iwillfrequentlygiveyoureadingguidesandpromptstorespondtoinwriting,eitheronlineorinprint.Yourresponsesshouldgiveevidencethatyouhavereadtheassignedreading,thatyouunderstanditwellenoughtosummarizekeypointsfromitinyourownwordsandtoreflectontheirimplicationsandconsequences,andthatyouhavethoughtaboutthereadingguidesandprompts.Iwilloftenaskyoutoprintthewritingyou'vedonetoprepareforclass(handwrittenworkisfineiftheassignmentdoesn'tspecifyprint)andbringthehardcopywithyou.EssayThefinalprojectfortheclasswillbeawrittenessay.Iwillgiveyouanassignmentpagemid-semesterwithdetails.
GENERALGRADINGRUBRICA=outstandingcontributionstoclassdiscussionandexcellentwrittenwork;nomorethan2absences.Toachievean“A,”takealeadershiproleinclassdiscussions,includingworkingactivelytogetothersinvolved;preparereadingsthoroughly,findandtalkaboutconnectionsamongthemandamongotheraspectsofculture(thenandnow);makeyourpresentationsandwrittenworkstandoutbybringingtothemsomethingreallyspecialintermsofyourowncontributions,interests,andideas.B=regularcontributionsandsolidwrittenwork—exceedsaverageperformance,butroomforimprovement;informed,activeparticipationinallclassdiscussions;nomorethan2absences.Toachievea“B,”prepareassignedreadingsthoroughly,initiatediscussionsaboutthembyaskinggoodquestionsorsuggestingwaystointerpretreadings;prepareassignmentsandpresentationsthatrevealthatyouhavedonegoodadditionalworkthatyoucanmakebothinterestingandmeaningful.C=workthatmeetsaverage(i.e.,high)standardsforUMDstudents,butsomeproblemswithcontentand/orexpression;informed,activeparticipationinmostclassdiscussions;nomorethan3absences.D=significantproblemswithanyorallcoursecomponents(writing,examinations,participation).F=performancethatdoesnotmeetminimumstandardsforuniversitystudents;morethan4absences.
3 PARTICIPATIONANDCLASSDISCUSSIONClassparticipationwillincludecomingtoclasswithallrequiredmaterials,beingpreparedtotalk,askingquestions,volunteeringrelevantcomments,callingattentiontoparticularquotationsfromthereadingsandbeingabletorelatethemtothecurrentdiscussion,listeningandrespondingtoyourclassmates—generally,helpingtomakeeveryclassmeetinganenvironmentofcuriosityandinquirythatenlargesoursenseofcommunityandcommonpurpose.
CREATIVEDIGITALPROJECTSProcessYouwillbegineachmajorprojectbywritingascriptonwhichyou’llreceivefeedbackinaworkshop.Youwillthenproducetheprojectinitsfinalformusingfreesoftware(Audacityforaudioediting,forexample)oronlineservices(GoogleSitesforpostingwebpages).Anychangesmadeinproductionshouldbereflectedinarevisedscript.Bytheproject’sfinalduedateandtime,thedigitalworkshouldbeuploadedtothewebandaworkingURLpostedtotheappropriateCanvasforum.Someassignmentsmayalsorequireaself-commentarywhichwillbesubmittedonaseparateduedate(usuallytheclassmeetingaftertheduedateforthedigitalproject).SuchcommentarieswillbeannouncedviatheCanvascoursecalendarandinclass.PhilosophyofCreativeAssignmentsTheassignmentsfortheseprojectsaskforyoutobecreative.Ratherthanmereself-expression,however,theword“creative”intheseassignmentsmeansfindingwaysofevokingmeaningandfeelinginanaudiencewhicharedistinctiveandfigurative.Attheheartofeachassignmentisatrope(thatis,acreativemove,turn,orstructure)thathasprovenproductiveinturningnew-mediatoolstoliteratepurposesindiverseways.Wewilllookatmultiplesexamplesofthesetropestohelpyouseeandchooseamongitsaesthetic,cultural,andintellectualpossibilities.WORKSHOPSThestructureandmethodofthiscourseisbasedontheworkshopmodelusedbycreativewritingprograms.Successofthecourseislargelydependentonthesuccessofthesesworkshops,whichisentirelydependentonyou,personally,andyourinformedpreparationandcreativeparticipation.
ScriptsInadditiontowritingandsubmittingyourownscript,youwillreceivescriptsofeachofyourclassmates’majorprojects.Youwillreadandthinkaboutthesescriptsindetailbeforeeachworkshop,prepareobservationsandsuggestions,andcometoclasspreparedtobecalledontocommentoneach.Ratherthansimplycorrectingorpassingjudgmentonyourclassmates’scripts,youwillbeexpectedtohelpeachauthortoenvisionandfullyrealizethecreativepotentialofeachproject,usingtheoriginalassignmentandideasintroducedinreadingsanddiscussionsasscaffolding.Yourroleinworkshopisnotthatofacriticorproofreader,butofacollaborator,coach,andcreativecolleague.
ATTENDANCEYourregularattendanceisabsolutelynecessaryforyoursuccessintheclass.TheUMDpolicystates:Studentsareexpectedtoattendallscheduledclassmeetings.Itistheresponsibilityofstudentstoplantheirschedulestoavoidexcessiveconflictwithcourserequirements.However,therearelegitimateandverifiablecircumstancesthatleadtoexcusedstudentabsencefromtheclassroom.Thesearesubpoenas,juryduty,militaryduty,religiousobservances,illness,bereavementforimmediatefamily,andNCAAvarsityintercollegiateathletics.Forcompleteinformation,pleasesee:http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/ExcusedAbsence.html
Tellallthetruthbuttellitslant”
—EmilyDickinson
4 1.AllowedAbsencesYouareallowedasmallnumberofabsencesthatyoucanspendhoweveryouwish:4(inathree-day-a-weekclass)or3(inatwo-day-aweekclass).Allowedabsencesdonotexcuseyoufromtheworkdueorcompletedonthedaysyouareabsent,andsomein-classactivitiesandtimelyrequirementscannotbereplicatedormadeup.Saveyouroptional,"free"absencesforarainy(orsnowy)day.
2.UnexcusedAbsencesandPenalties:Eachabsenceinexcessofthenumberofallowedinstancesdeduct2percentfromyouroverallgrade.Morethan6unexcusedabsences,inexcessofthenumberallowed,isgroundsforfailureofthecourse.
3.ExcusedAbsencesInthecaseofserious,legitimate,andverifiableconflictsthatresultinabsencesinexcessoftheallowednumber,theUMDattendancepolicystatesthatabsencescanbeexcusedif1.youcontactmepriorto,orassoonaspossibleafter,thecircumstanceresultinginyourabsence(s)2.youprovidewrittendocumentationfromanauthoritativesource(e.g.,adoctor,theAthleticDepartment)whichspeaksspecificallytothereasonyouwereunavoidablyunabletoattendclassthatparticularday.
Liketheothertypesofabsences,documented,excusedabsencesdonotexcuseyoufromtheworkdueorcompletedwhenyoudidnotattend,andsomein-classactivitiesandtimelyrequirementscannotbereplicatedormadeup.
4.TardinessandLeavingEarlyInadditiontoyourbudgetofallowedabsences,youalsohave3or4instances(dependingonthe3-or2-dayschedule)ofarrivinglateorleavingearlytouseifnecessary.Instancesinexcessofthisallowancewilldecreaseyouroverallgradeby2percentagepointseach.Ifyouneedtoleaveclassearly,evenifit'soneofyourallowedinstances,pleasearrangeitwithmeinadvance.
BYDEFAULT,THISCLASSISADEVICE-FREEZONEInourclassroom,wewillbeverydeliberateaboutwhenandhowweusetechnology.Bydefault,theclassroomwillbeadevice-freezoneforstudents.However,Iwillregularlyaskyoutobringalaptoptoworkoninclass.
Otherwise,whileclassisinsession,Iwillrequireyoutokeepallpersonaldigitaldevices--laptops,cellphones,tablets,e-readers,etc.--completelyputawayinabagorpurseinsilentmode.Usingorcheckingadeviceinclasswillresultinanabsencefortheday,andazeroforparticipation.Thus,youwillneedtobringallreadingsinhard-copyform,andtotakenotesbyhand.
Ifyouhaveanemergencyyouneedtorespondtoinclass,Iwillaskyoutouseoneofyourinstancesofleavingearly(seeabove)toreturnacallortext.Donotre-entertheclassroom,however.Itisdisruptivetootherstudentstogoandcomeback.
WRITERS'WORKSHOPTheWriters'Workshopoffersfreeone-to-onewritingsupporttoallmembersofUMD'scampuscommunity.Graduatestudentorfacultyconsultantswillworkwithyouonanywritingprojectatanystageinthewritingprocess.Tomakeanappointment,visitd.umn.edu/writworkorstopbytheWorkshop’sfrontdesk;walk-insarealsowelcomeifaconsultantisavailable.TheWorkshopislocatedintheLearningCommonsonthesecondflooroftheKathrynA.MartinLibrary.
STUDENTSWITHDISABILITIESPOLICYItisthepolicyandpracticeoftheUniversityofMinnesotaDuluthtocreateinclusivelearningenvironmentsforallstudents,includingstudentswithdisabilities.Ifthereareaspectsofthiscoursethatresultinbarrierstoyourinclusionoryourabilitytomeetcourserequirements–suchastimelimitedexams,inaccessiblewebcontent,ortheuseofnon-captionedvideos–pleasenotifytheinstructorassoonaspossible.YouarealsoencouragedtocontacttheOfficeofDisabilityResourcestodiscussandarrangereasonableaccommodations.Pleasecall218-726-6130orvisittheDRwebsiteatwww.d.umn.edu/accessformoreinformation.
INCOMPLETESIncompletesforthesemesterwillbegivenonlyinthefollowingverylimitedcircumstances:• youmustcontactmeinadvanceofthesemester'sendtomakearequestforanincomplete;• nomorethanoneortwoweeksofclass,oroneortwoassignments,canhavebeenmissed;• youmustbeingoodstandingintheclass(notalreadybehind,inotherwords);• youmusthaveadocumentedfamilyormedicalemergency,asrequiredbyuniversitypolicy;• youmustarrangeatimetablewithmeforcompletingthemissedworkthatisacceptableforbothofus.
ACADEMICINTEGRITYANDSTUDENTCONDUCTPleaseseeUMD'spagesconcerningthesetwoissues:<http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity/><http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/code/>________________________________________________________1.CoursegoalsalignwithWritingProgramgoalsasfollows:CourseGoal1=WritingProgramGoal1|CourseGoal2=WritingProgramGoals2,4|CourseGoal3=WritingProgramGoal1|CourseGoal4=WritingProgramGoal1|CourseGoal5=WritingProgramGoals2,4|CourseGoal6=WritingProgramGoals2,4.WritingProgramgoalscanbefoundat<https://cla.d.umn.edu/departments/english-linguistics-and-writing-studies/writing-program/program-outcomes>
