Syllabus - ENGL 350 - Spring 2021
Writing for the Digital Humantiies
Course Information
Assignments
Schedule
Policies
Instructor - Dr. Deanna Stover
email: deanna.stover@cnu.edu
course website: https://deanna-stover.github.io/coursesCNU/2021/engl350spring2021
office hours: MWF 10:15 - 11:30 am, F 3:00 - 3:45 pm, and by appointment
All office hours will be held online.
Office hours are your time to come talk to me about anything related (or unrelated) to class. This time is yours, I am not (supposed to be) doing anything else; you will not be interrupting me. If you have questions about class or have other questions I might be able to answer, please (virtually) drop by.
Since social distancing in the classroom makes personal one-on-one conversations before and after class impossible, email and office hours will be even more critical this semester. Please make use of both.
Course Description
Catalog Description: This course examines online texts in the humanities, also called digital humanities, which is the study of information in electronic form. Throughout the semester students will study how media impact the humanities and the people who use the Internet and social software to disseminate information widely and immediately. Students will investigate and produce a range of digital rhetoric wikis, blogs, tweets, flicks, as well as nonfiction and fiction narratives produced exclusively for an online environment to understand how media affects writing and communication and how digital writing and communication affects media.
Learning Objectives
- Write for digital environments using a variety of platforms and develop specific skills, competencies, and points of view needed by digital humanists
- Find, evaluate, and use resources to explore a topic in depth and critique digital humanities projects
- Learn how to apply course materials to improve critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
- Practice expressing oneself professionally and use feedback to improve writing
Assignments
| Assignment |
Due Date |
Percentage |
| Twitter Posts |
Weekly |
15% |
| Research Blogs |
5 over the course of the semester |
50% |
TEI (doesn’t include blog post)
|
2/26 |
10% |
Grant
* Project Abstract
* Full Grant |
3/17
Finals Week (see schedule) |
5%
20% |
You will be responsible for tweeting three times per week (see prompt) and submitting those tweets to me weekly.
You will write five (5) research blog posts over the course of the semester using GitHub/Jekyll.
You will do some basic coding–specifically, TEI (Text Encoding Initiative), a kind of XML (Extensible Markup Language)–of “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson (or Gilman). Don’t worry! It will fine!
After I approve your project abstract, you will write a small grant for a digital humanities project of your design. You will have the option to work in groups of two for this project.
Grading Scale
A: 93 - 100
A-: 90 - 92
B+: 87 - 89
B: 83 - 86
B-: 80 - 82
C+: 77 - 79
C: 73 - 76
C-: 70 - 72
D+: 67 - 69
D: 63 - 66
D-: 60 - 62
F: 0 - 59
Schedule
Readings should be done before class. This schedule is subject to change.
Week 1
Wed 01/20
- Virtual Class. Read the instructions for Collaborate before class
Week 2
Fri 01/29
- No readings.
- About Me post due by 11:59 pm today. Post the link to your blog in the Google Drive.
Week 3
Week 4
Wed 02/10
- Virtual Class. Peer Review.
Fri 02/12
- Use the Hemingway App to see how clear your blog post is. Be ready to talk about your results in class.
- Review Blog Post One due by 11:59 pm today
Week 5
Wed 02/17
- Charlotte Roueché, “Why Do We Mark up Texts?” (available on Scholar)
- Download a free trial of Oxygen
- download the free trial version from here
- register for a trial license key here
- if you can’t use Oxygen on your device, try an alternative here
- Virtual Class. Setting up TEI documents.
Week 6
Mon 02/22
- Virtual Class. TEI troubleshooting.
Fri 02/26
- No readings.
- TEI and TEI blog post due by 11:59 pm today
Week 7
Wed 03/03
- Alok Amatya, “For Beginners, What Makes a Good DH Project?”
- Search for digital humanities projects to review and claim one in the Google Drive (tip: start thinking about what you want to do for your own hypothetical project and try to find something similar)
Week 8
Wed 03/10
- Virtual Class. Peer Review.
Fri 03/12
- Raphael B. Folsom, “Brainstorm within Your Subject” from How to Get Grant Money in the Humanities and Social Sciences (available on Scholar)
- Simon Appleford and Jennifer Guiliano, “Best Practice Principles of Designing Your First Project” – make sure you listen to the podcast as well as look at the slides
- Review Blog Post Two due by 11:59 pm today
Week 9
Mon 03/15
- Read at least one Case Study from Visualizing Objects, Places, and Spaces: A Digital Project Handbook
Wed 03/17
- No readings.
- Abstract Due by 11:59 pm today
Fri 03/19
No Class
Spring Recess
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Mon 04/05
- Virtual Class. Peer Review (Environmental Scan and Bibliography).
Wed 04/07
- Sample Grant Narratives and Budgets (available in the Google Drive)
Fri 04/09
- Browse Tools & Resources AND Budgets & Funding from Visualizing Objects, Places, and Spaces: A Digital Project Handbook
- Sample Grant Narratives and Budgets (available in the Google Drive)
Week 13
Fri 04/16
- Virtual Class. Peer Review (Grant Narrative and Budget)
Week 14
Mon 04/19
- Sample CV and Resume (available in the Google Drive)
Wed 04/21
- Sample CV and Resume (available in the Google Drive)
Fri 04/23
- No readings.
- Grant Process Post/Reflection Due by 11:59 pm today
Week 15
Mon 04/26
- Virtual Class. Peer Review (CV or Resume)
Wed 04/28
- No readings. Review Day. Come ready to talk about the course and fill out your evaluations!
Finals Week
ENGL 350.1 (12:00 - 12:50)
- Friday, April 30th - 2:00 - 4:30 pm
ENGL 350.3 (9:00 - 9:50)
- Wednesday, May 5th - 8:00 - 10:30 am
ENGL 350.2 (13:00 - 13:50)
- Wednesday, May 5th - 2:00 - 4:30 pm
Policies
A Note on Covid-19 and Attendance:
I want you to be in class, but I also understand that COVID-19 and everything that goes along with it (mental health, for one) are going to make this semester especially difficult. And, of course, life goes on so there is always the possibility of 2021 sending even more curve balls our way. Because of this, I won’t have an attendance policy, but (and this is a big BUT), if you aren’t present two class days in a row, I will be checking in on you. I want to know you’re okay.
And, while there’s no strict attendance policy, not coming to class will likely affect your grade. We’ll be discussing important topics in class and going over assignments, so without it, you may struggle. This is all to say, please come to class if you can. However, if you feel ill in any way, it is imperative that you stay home. Please don’t put your classmates or me at risk.
Technology:
Because we will be working a lot with technology, you should expect to spend time out of class familiarizing yourself with new technologies and software. I also encourage the productive use of technology in class, but please don’t distract yourself or others.
Late Work:
For each day an assignment is late, I will be subtracting ten points. That said, if you need an extension, please do reach out to me before the deadline! Life gets complicated sometimes, especially right now. I’m happy to work with you! Just make sure you’re talking to me before things are due.
FERPA:
The Family Educational Records and Privacy Act gives you a right to privacy in this class. In addition to governing where I can and cannot discuss grades and to whom I can disclose information about your class participation, FERPA also implies that I cannot force you to publicly disclose that you are a student in this class.
This means that if you choose to use your real name on your course blog (and as your GitHub account name) or on Twitter, you are waiving that portion of your FERPA rights and disclosing that you are a member of this class. If you would prefer to post using an alias or a handle for the blogging and tweeting portions of this course, you are protecting your right to privacy and are more than welcome to do so.
However, if you use an alias, please list your first name and last initial next to your Twitter handle and blog link in our class Google Drive so I know who you are.
University Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:
The Christopher Newport University community engages and respects different viewpoints, understands the cultural and structural context in which those viewpoints emerge, and questions the development of our own perspectives and values, as these are among the fundamental tenets of a liberal arts education.
Accordingly, we affirm our commitment to a campus culture that embraces the full spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, and disciplines, and offers every member of the University the opportunity to become their best self.
Understanding and respecting differences can best develop in a community where members learn, live, work, and serve among individuals with diverse worldviews, identities, and values. We are dedicated to upholding the dignity and worth of all members of this academic community such that all may engage effectively and compassionately in a pluralistic society.
If you have specific questions, suggestions or concerns regarding diversity on campus please contact diversity.inclusion@cnu.edu.
Disabilities:
In order for a student to receive an accommodation for a disability, that disability must be on record in the Office of Student Affairs, 3rd Floor, David Student Union (DSU). If you believe that you have a disability, please contact Jacquelyn Barnes, Student Disability Support Specialist in Student Affairs (594-7160) to discuss your needs.
Students with documented disabilities are to notify the instructor at least seven days prior to the point at which they require an accommodation (the first day of class is recommended), in private, if accommodation is needed. The instructor will provide students with disabilities with the reasonable accommodations approved and directed by the Office of Student Affairs. Work completed before the student notifies the instructor of his/her disability may be counted toward the final grade at the sole discretion of the instructor.
Success:
I want you to succeed in this course and at Christopher Newport. I encourage you to contact me during office hours or to schedule an appointment to discuss course content or to answer questions you have. During the Coronavirus pandemic, our conversations may need to be via electronic means. If I become concerned about your course performance, attendance, engagement, or well-being, I will contact you first. I also may submit a referral through our Captains Care Program. The referral will be received by the Center for Academic Success as well as other departments when appropriate (Counseling Services, Office of Student Engagement). If you are an athlete, the Athletic Academic Support Coordinator will be notified. Someone will contact you to help determine what will help you succeed. Please remember that this is a means for me to support you and help foster your success at Christopher Newport.
Academic Support:
The Center for Academic Success offers free tutoring assistance for Christopher Newport students in several academic areas. Center staff offer individual assistance and/or workshops on various study strategies to help you perform your best in your courses. The center also houses the Alice F. Randall Writing Center. Writing consultants can help you at any stage of the writing process, from invention, to development of ideas, to polishing a final draft. The Center is not a proofreading service, but consultants can help you to recognize and find grammar and punctuation errors in your work as well as provide assistance with global tasks. Contact them as early in the writing process as you can!
You may contact the Center for Academic Success to request a tutor, confer with a writing consultant, obtain a schedule of workshops, or make an appointment to talk with a staff member about study skills and strategies. The Center is located in Christopher Newport Hall, first floor, room 123. You may email academicsuccess@cnu.edu or call (757) 594-7684.
Course Materials:
All content created and assembled by the faculty member and used in this course is to be considered intellectual property owned by the faculty member and Christopher Newport University. It is provided solely for the private use of the students currently enrolled in this course. To ensure the free and open discussion of ideas, students may not make available any of the original course content, including but not limited to lectures, discussions, videos, handouts, and/or activities, to anyone not currently enrolled in the course without the advance written permission of the instructor. This means that students may not record, download, screenshot, or in any way copy original course material for the purpose of distribution beyond this course. A violation may be considered theft. It is the student’s responsibility to protect course material when accessing it outside of the physical classroom space.
The CNU Honor Code, Academic Integrity, and Plagiarism:
All members of the CNU community are bound by the University’s Honor Code, which states: “On my honor, I will maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity and personal responsibility. This means I will not lie, cheat, or steal and as a member of this academic community, I am committed to creating an environment of respect and mutual trust.” Plagiarism is a direct violation of standards of academic integrity. Your work for this course must be your own new and original work. If you use any outside sources, you must give credit to the original author by clearly identifying words or ideas borrowed or paraphrased. Purchasing papers online, copying a paper from another student at CNU or elsewhere, and submitting your own previously written work from another course without specific written permission from both instructors also “count” as plagiarism. Additionally, if you allow another student to copy your work, you are also in violation of the Honor Code. If you do not understand this definition of plagiarism, it is your responsibility to discuss this topic with me further.
Beyond being a violation of the Honor Code, plagiarism is deeply disappointing behavior. It demonstrates dishonesty and an inability to think for yourself. If you plagiarize on any assignment in this course, you will fail that assignment. Repeated instances of plagiarism may result in failing the course. I will report all plagiarism to the appropriate University authorities.
Safety Protocols Specific to COVID-19 and Academic Instruction:
Offering in-person instruction on campus requires everyone to take individual responsibility for reducing the risk of exposure for all campus community members both inside and outside the classroom. Irresponsible behavior jeopardizes not only your own health, but also that of your fellow students, friends, professors and advisors, and members of our staff. Therefore, you are expected to learn and diligently follow the safety protocols required by the University at all times. The following protocols apply specifically to instructional spaces and academic buildings.
Prior to leaving their residence hall room or home, students should:
- conduct daily health screenings; and
- pack cloth face covering(s), personal cleaning supplies, and related items for campus use.
Students cannot enter instructional spaces or academic buildings if they:
- are experiencing symptoms of any illness, regardless of whether they believe the illness to be COVID-19;
- have been exposed to someone with COVID-19;
- are in isolation while waiting for COVID–19 test results;
- have been directed to quarantine by a University or health department official; or
- have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not been approved to return to campus by a healthcare provider.
All students must adhere to the following requirements while inside instructional spaces, common areas and offices:
- attend only the classes and sections in which they are officially enrolled;
- sit in their assigned seats or work at their assigned stations every class period;
- wear a face covering at all times* (face coverings should cover the nose and mouth, be secured under the chin, and fit snugly against the sides of the face);
- use additional personal protective equipment as required for specific classes;
- maintain physical distancing of at least six feet from other people;
- disinfect their own work areas upon arrival in and prior to departure from the instructional space;
- refrain from sharing personal materials, such as pens, textbooks, etc., with others;
- refrain from bringing food and drinks into the instructional space;
- follow all directional signs; and
- follow directives regarding office hours and advising appointments.
Students who have received an exemption from the face covering requirement for health reasons must present the proof of the exemption provided by the Office of Student Affairs to the instructor upon entering the instructional space.
Because non-compliance potentially endangers others, faculty members:
- are authorized to instruct anyone in non-compliance with safety protocols to correct the non-compliance or immediately leave the instructional space; and
- may submit referrals to CHECS to report non-compliance with safety protocols.
Faculty should immediately notify the Vice President for Student Affairs, Kevin Hughes (dosa@cnu.edu or kmhughes@cnu.edu), if they become aware of a student who has sought a diagnostic test or who has been exposed. In addition, faculty members may submit referrals through the Captain’s Care Program to report absences as a way of identifying students who may have become ill. It would be appropriate to do so when students have not attended class or communicated with the faculty member in any way for a period of one week or longer.
I owe thanks to Andrew Pilsch for some of the language in this syllabus and for the code that helped to create it.
