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?
• Aretheredifferencesinarrestratesbyethnicity?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):
• Aretheredifferencesinarrestratesbyethnicity?Gender?Incomelevel?
• 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)
