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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,cstroupe@d.umn.edu,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)

2

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>