Schedule of Readings and Assignments

Weekly Schedule of Readings and Assignments:

Schedule
Readings and assignment details are subject to change. Updates will be shared in class, on Twitter, and at the course blog; the online schedule will always be the most up to date. Note that readings and online tasks must be completed before the class date listed. Assignments must be turned in via email (in .rtf, .doc, or .docx format) before class AND brought in hard copy to class for workshops, unless I tell you otherwise.

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Unit 1: Digital Natives?

Week 1
Tues 8/27 – Introducing the class and one another

Thurs 8/29 – Introducing the syllabus, the course themes, and the way we will approach writing

Week 2
Tues 9/3 – Twitter, WordPress and the Internet

  • Read: Clay Shirky, Here Comes Everybody Chapter One: It Takes a Village to Find a Phone (Readings)
  • Write: Answer to discussion question (blog)

Thurs 9/5 – Writing and the digital generation

  • Read: Mark Bauerlein, Introduction to The Digital Divide (Readings)
  • Write: Answer to discussion question (blog)
  • Write: An introduction to yourself (first blog post, bring 3 printed copies to class).

Week 3

Tues 9/10 – Immigrant or Native?

  • Read: Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants by Marc Prensky (web or Digital Divide)
  • Read: “Generation Myth” by Siva Vaidhyanathan (on Readings page)
  • Write: Respond to the readings on Twitter and in the comments section of this blog.  Which author do you agree with?  Do you see a point of view neither of them see?  Where do you see yourself in their paradigms?
  • Write: Based on peer comments, revise your blog introduction.  Add an image.

Thurs 9/12

  • Read: Assignment 1 Handout
  • Write: Fix your intro if you haven’t already
  • DUE: Media diary – 1 hard copy to class, 1 emailed (.doc, docx, or pages)

Week 4

Tues 9/17 – Does Social Media Separate Us From One Another

Thurs 9/19

  • DUE: 2 – 3 page draft of Assignment 1 (bring 4 hard copies)

Week 5

Tues 9/24

Thurs 9/26

  • Read : Clay Shirky, “The Political Power of Social Media”(Readings)
  • Write: Answer to discussion questions

Thinking with Technology. Genre: analytical response

Week 6

Tuesday 10/1

  • Read: Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” (note: it’s long!)
  • Write: Answers to discussion questions
  • Bring to class: one-page summary and sample analytical claims drawing from Carr, Pariser, Shirky, Turkle, or Boyd.

Thursday 10/3

  • Watch: TED Talk – The Filter Bubble (Eli Pariser)
  • Write: Answers to discussion questions

Week 7

  • No class this week – individual conferences – bring rough draft of Assignment 2 to conference

Week 8 

Tuesday 10/15

  • Read:  Siva Vaidhyanathan pp 82 – 114 “The Googlization of Us” from The Googlization of Everything
  • Write: answers to discussion questions.
  • Bring to class: 4 hard copies of Assignment 2 draft

Thursday 10/17

  • Read: handout on annotated bibliography
  • Write: MLA style citations of ALL sources read or viewed so far

Week 9

Tuesday 10/22

  • DUE: Final Draft of Assignment 2

Thursday 10/24

  • Handout – Assignment 3 & Annotated Bibliography

Week 10 – Defining digital problems: technological or social?

Tuesday 10/29

Thursday 10/31

  • Due: Annotated Bibliography (paper only)

Week 11

Tuesday 11/5

  • Due: thesis and rough plan for essay 3
  • Bring to class to discuss in writing group

Thursday 11/7

  • TBD

Week 12

Tuesday 11/12

  • Bring: Current draft (at least 4 pages, no more than 6) with copies for writing group

Thursday 11/14

  • MLA Style Citations

Week 13

Tuesday 11/19

  • No Class – 1-on-1 Conferences
  • Discussion of portfolio / let me know which essay (1 or 2) you’re revising

Thursday 11/21

  • Writing a good introduction
  • (Optional for Extra Credit) Post a 300 – 500 word blog post on your research paper topic.  Include relevant links, check over carefully.

Week 14

Tuesday 11/26

  • Essay 3 Due

Thursday 11/28

  • Thanksgiving! No class!

Week 15

Tuesday 12/3

  • Bring: Draft you’re revising with plan for revision with copies to workshop with writing group

Thursday 12/5

  • Discussions of cyberbullying
  • Blog: reflections on the class / what you thought was good / what could be improved for next time

FINALS WEEK

Tuesday 12/10

  • Portfolio Due by 5:30 PM in GC 280Q