Syllabus - ENGL 350 - Fall 2022
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/2022/engl350fall2022
office hours: MWF 11:30 am - 12:30 pm and by appointment
office location: McMurran 229
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 schedule an appointment (see Scholar for more information on how to do this).
Course Description
Catalog Description: By writing with and critically analyzing digital platforms and texts, along with the production of new media objects, students are challenged to go beyond print-based composition to explore the affordances of multimodal technologies, especially collaboration. Specific topics vary by instructor, but may include social media, blog-writing, and digital rhetorics and design.
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
According to a study of US employers conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, 93% of the employers surveyed agree that “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major.” Some of the most highly valued skills include: digital literacy, the ability to analyze and interpret data, creative thinking, and the ability to communicate through writing. This course addresses all of these topics, and will provide you with transferable skills to take into the workforce (or graduate school), no matter your major(s) or minor(s)–but do consider the DH minor if you haven’t already.
Assignments
| Assignment |
Due Date |
Percentage |
| Twitter Posts |
Weekly |
15% |
Research Blogs
* About Me Blog
* Review Blog 1
* Review Blog 2
* Reflection Blog |
9/04
9/18
10/23
12/05 |
5%
10%
10%
10% |
Grant
* Grant Ideas
* Annotated Bib
* Lean Canvas/Ideation
* First Draft
* Final Grant |
9/27
10/07
10/30
11/11
12/02 |
5%
10%
5%
10%
20% |
You will be responsible for tweeting three times per week (see prompt) and submitting those tweets to me weekly.
You will write four (4) research blog posts over the course of the semester using GitHub/Jekyll.
After I approve one of your project ideas, you will develop and write a grant for a digital humanities project of your design.
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 (thanks, COVID).
Content Warning: some of the readings deal with sensitive topics.
Week 1
Week 2
Fri 09/02
- Peer Review.
- About Me blog post due by 11:59 pm Sunday. In addition to your submission on Scholar, post the link to your blog in the Google Drive.
Week 3
Week 4
Fri 09/16
- Peer Review
- Review Blog 1 due by 11:59 pm Sunday
Week 5
Week 6
Mon 09/26
- Peer Review.
- Grant Ideas due by 11:59 pm TUESDAY
Week 7
Mon 10/03
- No readings. Continue researching your topic.
Fri 10/07
- Annotated Bibliography due by 5:00 pm TODAY
Week 8
Mon 10/10
No Class
Fall Recess
Fri 10/14
- Find a DH project that is similar to your approved grant idea (the project can also be in your Annotated Bibliography) and claim it in the Shared Google Drive. This will be the focus of your next Review blog.
- Review your feedback from the first Review blog.
Week 9
Mon 10/17
- Tom Shofield, et. al. “Research through design and digital humanities in practice: What, how and who in an archive research project” (available on Scholar)
Fri 10/21
- Review Blog 2 due by 11:59 pm Sunday
Week 10
Fri 10/28
- Get creative and fill out the Ideation worksheet. Bring it to class.
- Lean Canvas/Ideation worksheets due by 11:59 pm Sunday
Week 11
Mon 10/31
- No class or readings. Meetings with me. Bring Lean Canvas and Ideation worksheets.
Wed 11/02
- No class or readings. Meetings with me. Bring Lean Canvas and Ideation worksheets.
Week 12
Mon 11/07
- Ellen W. Gorsevski, “How Can I Make My Grant Proposal Stand Out From All the Others” Writing Successful Grant Proposals (available on Scholar)
Wed 11/09
- No readings. Work on your Grant.
Fri 11/11
- Peer Review.
- First Draft of Grant due by 11:59 pm Sunday
Week 13
Mon 11/14
- No class or readings. Meetings with me.
Wed 11/16
- No class or readings. Meetings with me.
Week 14
Wed 11/23
No Class
Thanksgiving Recess
Fri 11/25
No Class
Thanksgiving Recess
Week 15
Mon 11/28
- No readings. Review Day. Come to class ready to talk about the class and fill out your evaluations!
Wed 11/30
- Peer Review (entire grant packet).
Fri 12/02
- No readings.
- Final Grant due by 11:59 pm TODAY
Finals Week
- Reflection Blog Post due during Finals Time Slot (Monday, December 5th 11:00 am - 1:30 pm)
Policies
My Policies
Attendance:
For this course, you are allowed three unexcused absences, after which I will be subtracting 5% from your total grade for each day missed. Missing a meeting with me (or not scheduling a meeting) during our out-of-class meeting days counts as an unexcused absence.
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 five points. That said, if you need an extension, please do reach out to me at least 24 hours 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.
If you do 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.
Standard CNU Policies
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/Accessibility:
In order for a student to receive an accommodation due to a disability, that disability must be on record in the Office of Student Affairs, 3rd Floor, David Student Union (DSU). If you have a diagnosed 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. 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 Manager of Athletic Academic Success Programs 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.
Public Health:
The university will provide guidance on public health issues and students will be expected to comply with university protocols.
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.
I owe thanks to Andrew Pilsch for some of the language in this syllabus and for the code that helped to create it.
