DTC 338 | Spring 2019
Time: F 2:10pm-5:00pm
Location: VMMC 111
Instructor: Will Luers
Phone: 503-975-3254
Email: wluers@wsu.edu
Office Hours: F 1:00pm-2:00pm in room 30, VMMC (basement)
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to students.
COURSE OBJECTIVE
Electronic Literature is an emergent form of born-digital, experimental writing as well as an academic field with a global community of scholars and artists that support, promote, preserve and write critically about creative works. This course is a survey of the field’s evolution from floppy disks to VR and is broken into thematic modules – such as “hypertext”, “interactive games” and “recombinant poetics” – that frame certain practices of computer-writing. For each module, students will read relevant essays and creative works, as well as explore tools and practices for creative expression.
The course is designed for students to find thematic threads that excite them to creative scholarly responses. While this is not a “production” course, it is important for students to understand certain ideas through hands-on making. Students will receive training in the close-reading and analysis of works of electronic literature, as well as technical training in digital writing tools. Students will practice different forms of digital writing – blogging, experimental and collaborative fiction, multimodal and hypertext essays – that will develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Shorts assignments will lead to a final digital writing project and oral presentation that explores works and/or themes in the course.
Learning Goals
| Required Course Activities |
Student Learning Outcomes and Activities |
University Learning Objectives |
CMDC Goals & Objectives |
| 1. 3 Short Writing Assignments about E-Lit works |
SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking SLO4: Communication |
Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways. Understand how one thinks, reasons, and makes value judgments, including ethical and aesthetical judgments.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. |
Goal 6: Question the way digital media functions in multiple cultural contexts Goal 7: Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring |
| 2. Blogging |
SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking SLO4: Communication |
Define, analyze, and solve problems. Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. |
Goal 7: Goal 10: |
| 3. Final project: Essay and Oral Presentation |
SLO1: Critical and Creative Thinking SLO2: Information Literacy SLO4: Communication SLO7: Depth, Breadth, and Integration of Learning |
Assess the accuracy and validity of findings and conclusions. Think, react, and work in an imaginative way characterized by a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking. Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways. Determine the extent and type of information needed.
Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. By applying the concepts of the general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities. |
Goal 7:
Goal 8: Appreciate the history of technological development, from local to global perspectives, and its implications for a variety of mediums Goal 10: Be practiced and capable communicators in all mediums |
COURSE STRUCTURE
- Focus on the evolution, genres, forms and practices of electronic literature
- Apply close-reading practices to works of electronic literature
- Practice medium-specific analysis to works of electronic literature
- Readings, discussion of concepts, and application of theory
- Multiple assignments and projects
REQUIRED TEXTS/SUPPLIES
- Electronic Literature, by Scott Rettberg (available at the Bookie)
- Selected online readings and handouts
COURSE POINT-EARNING POTENTIALS
- Blogging (20%)
- Glossary Entry (20%)
- Final Essay or Creative E-lit Work (35%)
- Final Project Meeting (5%)
- Oral presentation (10%)
- Participation (10%)
ASSESSMENT AND FINAL GRADES
Both attendance and participation will be monitored and deficiencies in either/both will result in lower final grades. Participation means being attentive in class, joining in discussions, engaging in informal critiques and completing all in-class and outside assignments.
You are allowed one class absences. Each class absence after that will result in a three (3) point deduction from the final cumulative points. It is your responsibility to make sure I check your attendance if you come to class after the start of class. Frequent late arrivals, leaving early, or other forms of lack of attendance will also deduct points from the cumulative total. Absent students remain responsible for all course matters during their absence(s). Opportunities to make up missed work may not be available. Final grades are determined from the cumulative points earned, plus or minus any deductions or additions for attendance or participation. No curving, averaging, or other manipulations are utilized. No other assessment or extra credit opportunities are planned. Incompletes are not available.
Final grades are based on the following scale:
- A 94-100
- A- 90-93
- B+ 87-89
- B 83-86
- B- 80-82
- C+ 77-79
- C 73-76
- C- 70-72
- D –
- F 0-69
*Notice that the grade of “D” is not offered; it reverts to “F.”
Submission of Late Work
Unless you get permission from me, all work must be submitted as and when required. Late work may not be accepted, or accepted with a substantial penalty.
WSU Academic Integrity Statement
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of higher education. As such, all members of the university community share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship. Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Students who violate WSU’s Academic Integrity Policy (identified in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-26-010(3) and -404) will receive [insert academic sanction (e.g., fail the course, fail the assignment, etc.)], will not have the option to withdraw from the course pending an appeal, and will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration as defined in the Standards of Conduct for Students, WAC 504-26-010(3). You need to read and understand all of the definitions of cheating: http://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=504-26-010. If you have any questions about what is and is not allowed in this course, you should ask course instructors before proceeding. If you wish to appeal a faculty member’s decision relating to academic integrity, please use the form available at https://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/student-affairs/student-conduct. If you have any questions about the process on the Vancouver campus, please call Helen Gregory at 360-546-9573.
AWARE network
The AWARE Network is an online resource with a list of important resources as well as an Assistance and Referral From that can be completed by anyone on campus if they have concerns about a particular student. The idea is to make it convenient and easy for the campus community to report a student situation of concern. The online form and other resources are located at http://aware.vancouver.wsu.edu
Classroom Safety
Classroom and campus safety are of paramount importance at Washington State University, and are the shared responsibility of the entire campus population. WSU urges students to follow the “Alert, Assess, Act” protocol for all types of emergencies and the “Run, Hide, Fight” (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cirg/active-shooter-and-mass-casualty-incidents/run-hide-fight-video) response for an active shooter incident. Remain ALERT (through direct observation or emergency notification), ASSESS your specific situation, and ACT in the most appropriate way to assure your own safety (and the safety of others if you are able). Please sign up for emergency alerts on your account at MyWSU. For more information, visit the WSU safety portal (https://oem.wsu.edu/about-us/).
Emergency Notification
“WSU has made an emergency notification system available for faculty, students, and staff. Please register at myWSU with emergency contact information (cell, email, text, etc.). You may have been prompted to complete emergency contact information when registering for classes at myWSU. In the event of a building evacuation, a map at each classroom entrance shows the evacuation point for each building. Please refer to it. Finally, in case of class cancellation campus-wide, please check local media, the WSU Vancouver web page (https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu) and/or http://www.flashalert.net/. Individual class cancellations may be made at the discretion of the instructor.
Service/Emotional Support Animals
Pets are not allowed on campus and service animals must be registered with the WSU Access Center. Please contact the Access Center, Classroom Building (VCLS) room 160, 360-546-9238.
Students with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities or chronic medical conditions. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Access Center website to follow published procedures to request accommodations: https://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/access-center. Students may also either contact or visit the Access Center in-person to schedule an appointment with our Access Center Coordinator. Location: Classroom Building, Room 160; Phone: 360-546-9238; Email: van.access.center@wsu.edu. All disability related accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center. Students with approved accommodations are strongly encouraged to visit with instructors early in the semester during office hours to discuss logistics.
Inclement Weather Policy
In the event that an adverse weather event (e.g., snow or ice) or natural hazard that poses a safety risk occurs, you should take personal safety into account when deciding whether you can travel safely to and from campus, taking local conditions into account. If campus remains open and your instructor decides to cancel the face-to-face meeting and substitute an alternative learning activity, you will be notified by your instructor via email or through Blackboard within a reasonable time after the decision to open or close campus has been made. Instructions regarding any alternative learning options or assignments will be communicated in a timely manner. If travel to campus is not possible due to adverse regional conditions, allowances to course attendance policy and scheduled assignments, including exams and quizzes, will be made. Students who attempt to gain advantage through abuse of this policy (e.g., by providing an instructor with false information) may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct for disciplinary action. If a student encounters an issue with an instructor, the student should first talk with the instructor. If the issue cannot be resolved, the student should follow the reporting violations of policies outlined on the student affairs website.