This page will be updated throughout the semester and will contain the blog assignments/prompts for each of the fourteen blog posts you will write. Our course blog, which includes links to all student blogs, can be found at http://www.academicsandbox.com/DTC475blog/.
First, a word on the grading of your blog posts. In grading these posts, I am assessing the critical value of the entry on a 0-4 point scale. A fifth point is reserved for your meaningful participation in the comments sections of other students' blog posts (as described in each assignment, when applicable). As I will be commenting on your blogs, you will see me say something to the effect of "more, please" if your posts are not up to par. Additionally, I will send an email to any of you who are consistently performing below 3 points per post.
You should strive to be thoughtful and nuanced; avoid description and summary unless it forms a (small, introductory) part of your thoughtful writing. Above all, follow the prompt. That is, do what it asks you to do. Below you will find a general rubric for the blog posts:
- 4 points: Exceptional. The blog entry is focused and coherently integrates examples with explanations or analysis. The entry reflects in-depth engagement with the topic.
- 3 points: Satisfactory. The blog entry is reasonably focused, and explanations or analysis are mostly based on examples or other evidence. Fewer connections are made between ideas, and though new insights are offered, they are not fully developed. The entry reflects moderate engagement with the topic.
- 2 points: Underdeveloped. The blog entry is mostly description or summary, and contains few connections between ideas. The entry reflects passing engagement with the topic.
- 1 point: Limited. The blog entry is unfocused, or simply rehashes previous comments, and displays no evidence of engagement with the topic.
- 0 points: No Credit. The blog entry is missing or consists of disconnected sentences.
Grading rubric adapted from: Sample, Mark. "Pedagogy and the Class Blog." 14 Aug. 2009. SAMPLE REALITY. Accessed 9 Jan. 2010. <http://www.samplereality.com/2009/08/14/pedagogy-and-the-class-blog/>
Blog Assignment #1 (due by Friday, 01/15, 5:00pm)
In "Cyberspace: First Steps," Michael Benedikt opens his essay with ten different descriptions of cyberspace. Which one of these descriptions resonated the most with your preconceived notion of "cyberspace"? That is to say, when reading them, which one made you say "yeah! that's what I think it is (or is most like)"? Explain why.
Blog Assignment #2 (due by Friday, 01/22, 5:00pm)
In the Willson essay, she concludes by clearly stating that "virtual communites are celebrated as providing a space and form for a new experience of community" (223). True. But she also refers to the "tendency towards a withdrawl from the active political sphere of real space, or the withdrawl from attempts to realize an embodied form of community" (223). True for some. In this blog post, first describe one (or more) virtual communities in which you reside [hint: I can think of at least three or four for each of you, and I don't even know you personally, so no "I'm not part of any" cop-out!]. Then describe your interactions within these communities and outside of them, in terms of the space for new experiences/withdraw from embodied experience that Willson mentions. Finally, discuss the barriers to entry in these communities, in terms of the digital divide that we discussed on Tuesday; in other words, what literacies must people have to join the communities you've discussed? Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts within your blogging group. You can leave comments on post #1, or circle back around before Tuesday and leave comments on post #2.
Blog Assignment #3 (due by Friday, 01/29, 5:00pm)
For this assignment, select one lengthy (and, one would assume, important) passage from any one of the following readings for this week (Robins, Bell, Lenoir & Alt, de Souza e Silva). Tell us the location of the passage (do not put the passage in your post), provide a summary of the passage (don't know what makes a good summary or how to do one? review this information), and then provide an extended example of your own that either supports the point being made or wholly rejects it. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts within your blogging group. You can leave comments on post #2, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #3.
Blog Assignment #4 (due by Friday, 02/05, 5:00pm)
Each of you are in a blogging group named for an important author and/or theorist related to cyberspace and/or New Media, none of whom we are reading (directly) in this class. There's William Gibson, Donna Haraway, Rob Kitchin, Lawrence Lessig, Lev Manovich, Harold Rheingold, and Sherry Turkle. Each of you will pick an article, text, or excerpt of same to read, summarize it, and discuss whatever interesting and/or important point you have gathered from the article/text/excerpt of same that you read. The kicker is that you can't duplicate target texts between members of your group, so you'll have to coordinate with your group members to ensure separate texts. This means, for example, that for those of you in the Haraway group, only one of you can talk about something in Simians, Cyborgs and Women. Between Google Books and the library databases (and I suppose the actual library itself), you will have no problem finding something to read.and discuss. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts OUTSIDE your blogging group: everyone respond within the group listed ABOVE yours (Gibson group go to Turkle group). You can leave comments on post #3, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #4.
Blog Assignment #5 (due by Friday, 02/12, 5:00pm)
In chapter 3 of Digitizing Race ("The Social Optics of Race and Networked Interfaces in The Matrix Trilogy and Minority Report," Nakamura uses numerous examples to make several important arguments. Oh boy, that's a vague statement! There's a reason I was vague, however. In this assignment, you are to find one of Nakamura's arguments that you found especially compelling, and summarize it (provide page numbers for the content you are summarizing). Then, use an example from a film other than the one Nakamura is using to support her point and support her point. For instance, Nakamura might use an example from The Matrix to argue for X, and you would then summarize the argument for X and use an example from, say, one of the Star Wars films to support argument X. You don't necessarily have to use sci-fi films, but it will certainly be easier. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts from any of the blogs in the class. You can leave comments on post #4, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #5.
Blog Assignment #6 (due by Friday, 02/19, 5:00pm)
This assignment revisits assignment #4, but with a twist. Working with our list of prominent theorists or authors whose works we are not directly reading in this class (William Gibson, Donna Haraway, Rob Kitchin, Lawrence Lessig, Lev Manovich, Harold Rheingold, and Sherry Turkle), select an article, text, or excerpt of same to read, summarize, and discuss whatever interesting and/or important point you have gathered from the article/text/excerpt of same that you read. You are not limited to the group you are in (e.g. Turkle people don't have to read Turkle texts), although you certainly can read something else by the same person you did for assignment #4. You may read something that has been covered by another person in the class in assignment #4, but if you do, you can't duplicate their post. You can extend their discussion, or refute their discussion, but try not to come to the same conclusion about exactly the same passage (it'll look too much like cheating, even if it isn't, and the idea here is to add more to the body of knowledge. What I will do after assignment #6 has been completed is compile everything into a post of my own and essentially summarize your posts while providing what will be akin to a group annotated bibliography. This bibliography would then be available for you while doing research for your final projects, which should use some of the works by some of these important theorists. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts from any of the blogs in the class. You can leave comments on post #5, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #6.
Blog Assignment #7 (due by Friday, 02/26, 5:00pm)
In this assignment, you get to pick to which of the four readings for this week you wish to respond (Rehak, Schleiner, Kendall, Dibbell). "Respond to" in this case means to summarize an argument and its example as used by the author, and provide an example from your own life that either supports or refutes the argument being made. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts from any of the blogs in the class. You can leave comments on post #6, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #7.
Blog Assignment #8 (due by Friday, 03/12, 5:00pm)
Post a short proposal for your final paper. Additional details will be provided on the Final Paper Assignment Sheet. You are also encouraged to comment on your classmates' proposals.
Blog Assignment #9 (due by Friday, 03/26, 5:00pm)
Based on comments I will give you on the short proposal in Blog Assignment #8, post a longer proposal as well as a tentative works cited list (with annotations) for your final paper. Additional details will be provided on the Final Paper Assignment Sheet. You are also encouraged to comment on your classmates' proposals.
Blog Assignment #10 (due by Friday, 04/02, 5:00pm)
In "Technopolitics and Oppositional Media," Kahn and Kellner provide numerous examples of Internet activism and Internet-enabled political actions. In the final paragraph of the essay the authors note that "many of these subcultures and groups may become appropriated into the mainstream, but no doubt novel oppositional cultures and different alternative voices and practices will continue to appear as we navigate the increasingly complex present toward the ever receding future" (634). In your post, describe a recent instance of Internet-enabled activism or political actions, and discuss how that event has been reported on (if at all) in what we would consider the "mainstream" news. Additionally, leave at least two thoughtful comments on posts from any of the blogs in the class. You can leave comments on post #9, or circle back around after Friday at 5 (but before, say, Monday afternoon) and leave comments on post #10.
Optional: extra credit blog opportunity #2 (summarize article)
Blog Assignment #11 (due by Friday, 04/09, 5:00pm)
For each presentation made by your classmates on both Tuesday and Thursday, write some comments about the content of their presentation. In other words, you aren't to comment if their presentation was "good" or "bad" but instead note some interesting or intriguing element of the argument they plan to make in their paper.
Optional: extra credit blog opportunity #3 (question not answered on mid-term)
Blog Assignment #12 (due by Friday, 04/16, 5:00pm)
For each presentation made by your classmates on both Tuesday and Thursday, write some comments about the content of their presentation. In other words, you aren't to comment if their presentation was "good" or "bad" but instead note some interesting or intriguing element of the argument they plan to make in their paper.
Optional: extra credit blog opportunity #4 (rhetorical analysis)
Blog Assignment #13 (due by Friday, 04/23, 5:00pm)
For each presentation made by your classmates on both Tuesday and Thursday, write some comments about the content of their presentation. In other words, you aren't to comment if their presentation was "good" or "bad" but instead note some interesting or intriguing element of the argument they plan to make in their paper.
Blog Assignment #14 (due by Friday, 04/30, 5:00pm)
For each presentation made by your classmates on both Tuesday and Thursday, write some comments about the content of their presentation. In other words, you aren't to comment if their presentation was "good" or "bad" but instead note some interesting or intriguing element of the argument they plan to make in their paper.
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