course information narrativ… · the best american infographics by gareth cook beautiful evidence...

NARRATIVES AND NUMBERS

COURSEDESCRIPTION REQUIRED

COURSEINFORMATION

Issuessuchasracism,poverty,andincarcerationare,ofcourse,deeply complex. To understand these issues, we should studythe statistical data related to national trends, butwe alsowillwant to examine the stories of singular people whose livesevade any full representation from numbers alone. This classwillzoomin,therefore,onboththenumbersandthenarrativesto achieve a quantitative and qualitative understanding ofvarioussocialissuesimportantintheworldtoday.

Spring 2019

RECOMMENDED

BetweentheWorldandMebyTa-NehisiCoates

EvictedbyMatthewDesmond

TheNewJimCrowbyMichelleAlexander

TheBestAmericanInfographicsByGarethCook

BeautifulEvidenceByEdwardTufte

Honors3900,CRN31264StewartLibrary,room325TuesdaysandThursdays,9:00to10:15

Dr.ChristyCall & Dr.HeatherChapmanOffice,EHall462 Office,Annex5,LowerLevelOfficeHours:Tuesdays1:30-2:30 OfficeHours:[email protected] [email protected]

COURSEREQUIREMENTS1) AttendanceandParticipation:Duetothiscourse’semphasisonclassdiscussions,attendanceiscritical.Rollwillbetakeneachday.Dailyparticipationwillbeworth5points,foratotalof70points.Sixty-fiveofthesepointswillconstitutetheattendanceportionofyourfinalgrade,whichleaves5pointsofextracreditforthosewithperfectattendance.

2) LeadingDiscussions:OnTuesdays,wewillfocusondiscussingtheassignedreadings.OnThursdays,wewilldiscussstatisticaldata.ReadingDiscussionLeaders:Eachweekteamsof2or3studentswilltaketheleadonconductingclassdiscussions.Leadingtheconversationmeansyouwillhighlightkeypassages,askcriticalquestions,andmakeimportantconnectionsacrosscoursematerials.DataTopicsLeaders:Asinthediscussiononreadings,youwillalsoleaddiscussionsondata.Thiswillmeanlocatingandtalkingthroughdatarelatedtothetopicsbeingcovered.Eachweek,teamsof2or3studentswillbringindata,graphs,infographics,orsupportingarticlessothatwecandiscusstheseitemscollectivelyandanalyzethemforvalidityandpointofview.3) DiscussionPosts:Atfourdifferentpointsduringthesemester,youwillpostashortresponsetophotographsthatvisuallyrepresentsomesignificantsocialissueandtotheSerialpodcast.Inadditiontopostingyourownresponse,youwillreplytoapeeraswell.4) AnalyticalPapers:Youwillsubmitawrittenanalysisoneachthe3requiredtexts.Thesewillbeonepage,singlespacedpapersinastandard11or12-sizedfont.Insteadofmerelyrehashinginsightsfromourclassconversations,yourpapersshouldinsteadexpandanddevelopcriticalclaimsforafullanalysisandexplicationofthetexts.5) WayofSeeingProject:Neartheendofthesemester,eachofyouwillpresentonaphotographyouhavetakenfromsomelocalscene.Thisphotowillvisuallyconnecttoatextualthemeorapointofstatisticaldata.Youwillpresentyourphotographtotheclassandarticulatetheconnection.

6) FinalProject:InfographicandPaper(205pts):Thefinalprojectwillbesubmittedin5stages,sodon’tfeeloverwhelmed.

StageI:TopicSelection(15pts):Due:Feb.14th–Youwillprovideabriefdescriptionofatopicthatengagesyourinterest.Theinstructorswillrevieweachtopicandprovidefeedbackoradvice.StageII:DraftDataSelection(25pts):Due:March14th-Youwillsubmitashortlistof5-10piecesofdataand/orsourcesyouplantouseinyourinfographic.

LEARNINGOUTCOMES• topracticeclearandcompellingwrittenand/orcreativeexpression• toengageincriticalthinkingthatisopen-minded,objective,andasfreeaspossiblefrom

prejudiceandpresupposition• tocomprehendabstractargumentsandmovebetweenthegeneralandtheparticular• toencounteravarietyofhumanexperience,exploringbothitsuniversalityandits

diversity.

UNIVERSITYRESOUCRES&POLICIES:AcademicDishonesty:AsspecifiedinPPM6-22IVD,cheatingandplagiarismviolatetheStudentCode.Plagiarismis“theunacknowledged(uncited)useofanyotherperson’sorgroup’sideasorwork.”Studentsfoundguiltyofcheatingorplagiarismaresubjecttofailureofaspecificassignment,or,inmoreseriouscases,failureoftheentirecourse.CoreBeliefs:AccordingtoPPM6-22IV,studentsareto“[d]etermine,beforethelastdaytodropcourseswithoutpenalty,whencourserequirementsconflictwithastudent'scorebeliefs.Ifthereissuchaconflict,thestudentshouldconsiderdroppingtheclass.Astudentwhofindsthissolutionimpracticablemayrequestaresolutionfromtheinstructor.Thispolicydoesnotobligetheinstructortogranttherequest,exceptinthosecaseswhenadenialwouldbearbitraryandcapriciousorillegal.Thisrequestmustbemadetotheinstructorinwritingandthestudentmustdeliveracopyoftherequesttotheofficeofthedepartmenthead.Thestudent'srequestmustarticulatetheburdentherequirementwouldplaceonthestudent'sbeliefs.”DisabilityAccommodation:PPM3-34notes:“Whenstudentsseekaccommodationinaregularlyscheduledcourse,theyhavetheresponsibilitytomakesuchrequestsattheCenterforStudentswithDisabilitiesbeforethebeginningofthequarter[semester]inwhichtheaccommodationisbeingrequested.Whenastudentfailstomakesucharrangements,interimaccommodationscanbemadebytheinstructor,pendingthedeterminationoftherequestforapermanentaccommodation.”

Iwillaccommodatetheneedsofhearingimpairedstudentsbyprovingclosedcaptionaccesstoanyaudioorvisualmaterialsaswellasthedeliveryofinstructionandensuingclassdiscussions.EmergencyClosure:Ifforanyreasontheuniversityisforcedtocloseforanextendedperiodoftime,wewillconductourclassviathecourseCanvaspage.

WorkloadExpectations:AsspecifiedinPPM4.1,youshouldexpecttodo2hoursofworkoutsideofclassforeachregularlyscheduledhourofclass.

COURSEGRADING:

LATEWORKPOLICY:Lateassignmentsareacceptedwithapenalty.Assignmentsturnedinpriortothenextclassperiodwillreceivea10%penalty.Thoseturnedinwithin2classperiodsoftheduedatewillreceivea20%penalty.Lateworkwillnotbeacceptedbeyondthisrange.Finalpresentationsmustbereadytogoontheassignedday.

6) FinalProject:InfographicandPaper(continued)StageIV.In-ClassPresentationofInfographic(75pts)Due:April18thandApril23rd–Forapproximately10minutesyouwillpresentyourinfographictotheclass.StageV.Paper(75pts)Due:April23rd-Whiletheinfographicwillpresentideasinaconciseandcompellingway,thefinalpaperwillallowyoutoexploreyourideasinafullerarticulation.Thefinalpapershouldsupportthedatashownintheinfographicandshouldhavetheappropriatetoneofaresearchpaper.

UNIVERSITYRESOUCRES&POLICIES:Starfish:WeberStateUniversityusesStarfishtohelpidentifystudentswhomayneedadditionalsupportinordertoachieveacademicsuccess.Throughouttheterm,youmayreceiveemailsfromStarfishregardingyourcoursegradesoracademicperformance.Ifyoureceiveoneofthesealerts,pleasekeepinmindtheyaremeanttohelpyouachievesuccess—theydonotaffectyourgrade,orcarryanypunitiveaction.StudentsmayalsoraiseflagsinStarfishthatsignaltotheinstructorandacademicadvisorthattheyneedadditionalhelp.Advisorsareavailabletoconnectstudentswithavarietyofcampusresourcesandanswerquestions.YoumayfindtheStarfishprogramatyoureWeberportal.InclusivityStatement:PivotaltoWeberStateUniversity'smissionistheneedtoembraceandvaluethediversityofitsmembers.Acknowledgingtheuniquenessofeachindividual,weseektocultivateanenvironmentthatencouragesfreedomofexpression.BecausetheUniversityisacommunitywhereinquiryisnurturedandtheoriesaretested,everyindividualhastherighttofeelsafetoexpressideasthatdifferfromthoseheldbyothermembersofthecommunity.However,allpersonswhoaspiretobepartofourcampuscommunitymustaccepttheresponsibilitytodemonstratecivilityandrespectforthedignityofothers.Recognizingthattheproperbalancebetweenfreedomofexpressionandrespectforothersisnotalwaysapparentoreasytoachieve,wemustcontinuallychallengeourselvesandeachotherinanatmosphereofmutualconcern,goodwillandrespect.Therefore,expressionsoractionsthatdisparageanindividual'sorgroup'sethnicity,gender,religion,sexualorientation,maritalstatus,ageordisabilityarecontrarytothemissionofWeberStateUniversityandwillarenotacceptableinclassroomdiscussion.

January8Introductiontothecourse;previewofCanvas.Pretestonyourinitialideasconcerningvarioussocialissues.AssignedViewingforThursday,Jan10th:“ICan’tBreathe;”VideosonBlackLivesandPolice;GettyImagesofProtest;WhenWhitePeopleCalltheCopsonBlackPeopleStartlisteningtotheSerialpodcastnow.(Takenotesofideasthatstrikeyouassignificant.You’llwritearesponseonthepodcastneartheendofthesemester.)AssignedreadingforTuesday,15th:BetweentheWorldandMe,page1to39;

January10DiscussionofvideosandphotographsascontextforBetweentheWorldandMe.Introductiontodatatopicsandinfographics.

January15Discussionoftheassignedreading:BetweentheWorldandMe,page1to39;DiscussionofPhotographsonRace,CivilRights,andJimCrow.AssignedreadingforTuesday,22nd,page39to71.

January17DataTopics:SlaveryandJimCrowDataideas:

• WhatisthehistoryofslaveryintheUS?• Whatwastheeconomicimpactof

slavery?• Whatwastheimpactofcolonizationon

theAmericanIndianpopulation?

January22Discussionoftheassignedreading:BetweentheWorldandMe,page39to71;CanvasDiscussionPost#1ViewthephotographsintheJimCrowandCivilRightsMovementgalleries.SelectanimageortwoofparticularinterestandpostaresponseintheDiscussiontabofCanvas.Replytoatleastoneotherstudent’sresponseaswell.(Thisis

January24DataTopics:Education,segregation,andschool-to-prisonpipelineDataideas:

• Howdidslaveryaffectthemake-upoftheUS?(e.g.literacyrates,distributionofwealth,etc)

• Howisracismexpressedinschools?

dueonFebruary7thbeforemidnight.)AssignedreadingforTuesday,Jan29th,page75to132.

• Howdoeswealth/povertyimpacteducation?

January29Discussionoftheassignedreading:BetweentheWorldandMe,page75to132;AssignedreadingforTuesday,Feb5th,page133to152.

January31DataTopics:Wealth,redlining,thecaseforreparationsDataideas:

• Whatimpactdidslaveryhaveonachievement,education,earningpotential?

• WhatdoesgentrificationlooklikeintheUS?Whatdoesitlooklikeinyourarea?

• Howdoesredliningaffecteducation,achievement,policing,etc?

• ArethereareasinUtahwhereredliningisanissue?Whatistheimpact?

February5Discussionoftheassignedreading:BetweentheWorldandMe,page133to152;WrittenResponse-BetweentheWorldandMe(Thewrittenresponsesdueattheendofeachbookshouldshowcaseyourbestanalyticalwriting.Don’tmerelyrehashpointsfromclassdiscussionsbutinsteadarticulateandsubstantiatenewideas,ideasthatshowarefinedconsideration.Youmustsupportyourclaimswithreferencesfromthetext.Yourpapershouldbesingle-spaced,inaregular12sizefont.)AssignedreadingforTuesday,February12th:TheNewJimCrow,Introductionandchapter2

February7DataTopics:Furtheranalysisofdatatopicsalreadyintroduced.Examplesofeffectiveinfographics.Whatmakesthemeffective?

February12DiscussionofTheNewJimCrow,Introductionandchapter2

February14StageIInfographicCheck-In:Whattopicwillyouexploreforyourinfographic?Submitthisandclearitwith

AssignedreadingforTuesday,February19th:TheNewJimCrow,Chapter3andChapter5,frompages178to187.

instructors.DataTopics:Thewarondrugs;crimeratesDataideas:

• Aretheredifferencesindruguseratesbyethnicity?Gender?Incomelevel?

• Aretheredifferencesinarrestratesbyethnicity?Gender?Incomelevel?

• DothesedifferencesalsoexistinUtah?• Whatistheeconomicimpactof

imprisonment?

February19DiscussionofTheNewJimCrow,Chapter3andChapter5,frompages178to187.CanvasDiscussionPost#2ViewthegalleryonprisonsinAmerica.Selectanimageortwoofspecialinterestandpostadiscussionresponse.Replytoatlestoneotherstudent’sresponseaswell.(ThisisdueonMarch7thbeforemidnight.)AssignedreadingforTuesday,Feb26th:TheNewJimCrow,page223to261

February21DataTopics:Poverty:IntersectionsofRaceandClassDataideas:

• Aretheredifferencesindruguseratesbyethnicity?Gender?Incomelevel?


• DothesedifferencesalsoexistinUtah?• Whogetsincarcerated?Whogetsoff?• Whatistheeconomicimpactof

imprisonment?

February26DiscussionofTheNewJimCrow,page223to261.Viewanddiscussthefilm13th.AssignedreadingforTuesday,March12th:Evicted,page1to79.WrittenResponse–TheNewJimCrow

February28DataTopics:Prisons(location,numbersandmannerofconstruction),thewarondrugsDataideas:

• Whatistheeconomicimpactofprisons?• HowdoestheUScomparetoother

countriesonprisonspending?• HowdoesUtahcomparetothenation

andothercountriesonprisonspending?

March5SpringBreak

March7SpringBreak

March12DiscussionofEvicted,frompage1to79.CanvasDiscussionPost#3ViewthephotographsfromthegalleriesonpovertyinAmerica.Selectanimageortwoofparticularinterestandpostaresponse.Replytoatleastoneotherstudent’sresponseaswell.(ThisisdueonApril9thbeforemidnight.)AssignedreadingforTuesday,March19th:Evicted,page79to157

March14StageIIInfographicCheck-In:Introductiontoinfographictoolsforusewithfinalproject;whatdatahaveyoufoundtouseforyourinfographic?DataTopics:Raceandclass:thedemographicswithinprisonsDataideas(onepersononly):


• DothesedifferencesalsoexistinUtah?• Whogetsincarcerated?Whogetsoff?

March19DiscussionofEvicted,page79to157.AssignedreadingforTuesday,March26th:Evicted,page158to241.

March21DataTopics:Housing,costs,andlivablewagesDataideas:

• Whatisalivingwage?WhatpercentageofAmericansmakelessthanalivingwage?WhatpercentageofUtahns?

• WhataretheaveragecostsofrentalsacrosstheUS?InUtah?Howdoesthiscomparewithaveragewages?

March26DiscussionofEvicted,page158to241.AssignedreadingforTuesday,April2nd:Evicted,page241to341.

March28DataTopics:U.S.incomes,costsrelatedtoeducationDataideas:

• Whatisthe“benefitscliff”?Whatistheimplicationofthispolicy?

• Whatisintergenerationalpovertyandwhatimpactsit?

• WhatpercentoftheUSlivesbelowthepovertyline?WhatpercentofUtah?

April2DiscussionofEvicted,page241to341.AssignedviewingPoorKids;CanvasDiscussionPost#4:ResponsetoSerial.(ThisisdueonApril11thbeforemidnight.)WrittenresponsetoEvicted.

April4DataTopics-FaceofPoverty:WomenandMinorities.Dataideas:

• Whatisthepovertybreakdownbyethnicity?Bygender?

• WhatisthepovertybreakdowninUtah?StageIIIInfographicCheck-In:Adraftofyourfinalinfo-graphicisdue.Whilethisisstilladraftversionofyourfinalproject,andwhilewewillgiveyoufeedback,thisversionshouldstillrepresentseveralweeksofeffort.Inotherwords,submityourbestwork,whichshouldincludecompellingvisualsandreputabledataintheformofaneffectivepresentation.

April9DiscussionofPoorKids

April11‘WayofSeeing’Projects-PresentyourphotographofalocalspaceandconnecttheimagetoatextualorDatafinding.

April16Presentationofinfographics(stageIV)

April18Presentationofinfographics(stageIV)

course information narrativ… · the best american infographics by gareth cook beautiful evidence...

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