HUM
2932: Writing in the Humanities I (one credit hour)
Daniel White
Email: dwhite@fau.edu; see my Web
page for office hours and other syllabi: http://wise.fau.edu/~dwhite.
(Please note: this syllabus is subject to regular updates; you should
check this online version weekly.)
Office
Hours, Spring 2009: T & R
11:30-12:30; 2:00-3:00, W 2-4, or by appointment
Updated 2/9/09
This course will meet for one credit
hour (longer on the clock in summer) in order to develop writing techniques in
the humanities. We will be meeing in the Honors College Computer Lab, so as to
emphasize online writing, research, and cultures of electronic media. The class
focuses on two key dimensions of verbal and visual communication in digital
media: first, the critical analysis and exegesis of verbal-visual rhetorics
that influence thought and perception in electronic communications; second, the
creative articulation of ideas in verbal and visual forms of “well tempered”
digital composition. You are expected to attend every class session and to come
prepared for class assignments. You might view the class as a writer’s workshop
in which we explore the best strategies for developing successful papers. Research, documentation, argumentative
structure, rhetorical and visual style will be considered as elements of good
writing. Your work will culminate in a
“intermedia” project and presentation. Beginning in Week 9, you will be
presenting your draft projects to the class for discussion on the basis of
which you will revise your work for final submission.
Course
Theme & Text: “Picturing Texts,” the title of our textbook,
indicates our approach. We are going to approach writing as interdisciplinary
and intermedia composition in a digital environment. You are encouraged to
develop your own voice and imagination amidst the texts that make up digital
and visual cultures.
Grades
will be based upon the following:
1)
Attendance and participation, including a writing
journal (in digital and analog format) in which you will record your
compositional process, culminating in rough drafts for essays assigned. Your
goal should be to develop your own style and identity as a writer while you
study the work of others. Brainstorming,
free writing, reflections on issues raised in class, on motivations for and
commitment to writing, the role of writing in learning, and related issues may
also be included: 30% of final
grade.
2)
Class writing project: including a rough and final draft of your final
composition in the class. This will be a multimedia construction in digital
format including a) expository writing and b) visual media both focused on a
theme “arguing” a thesis of your choosing: 30% of final grade.
3)
A class presentation of your writing project focused a) on the content of your
work (its theme and thesis) and b) on the form of your work (its methods of
composition): 30% of final grade.
4)
Daily work including reading responses, presentations of sections of our text,
and discussion: 10% of final grade.
See end
of syllabus for grading rubric.
Required
textbook:
Lester Faigley et al., Picturing Texts: Composition in a Visual Age
(abbreviated PT below).
Electronic
Sources:
Picturing Texts Student Website
The Rise of
Viral Video -- and YouTube A National Public Radio Report
In just
six months, YouTube boomed from a startup video site to a Web phenomenon. The
site serves up millions of videos daily, uploaded by anybody with a digital
camcorder -- and time to burn. Web Extra: See YouTube Video Classics
Dr.
Weisser’s Online Writing Handbook: http://wise.fau.edu/~weisser/handbook.htm
Baudrillard
Studies: http://www.ubishops.ca/baudrillardstudies/index.html
Ctheory:
Theory, Technology, & Culture: www.ctheory.net
Communication
and Critical/Cultural Studies: Taylor & Francis Journals; sign in first at FAU Library’s EZproxy.
Leonardo
Electronic Almanac MIT
Philosophy
Resources on the Internet: http://www.epistemelinks.com/Main/MainPers.asp Please
note that this source is no longer available due to hacking: a parable about
‘secure’ composition?
Postmodern
Culture: Project Muse via EZproxy.
Assignments
Please note:
Reading and viewing responses will be assigned in class daily. Major
assignments are indicated on the syallabus.
Week
1: 1/6: PT Introduction: From
cave paintings to computer screen.
Week
2: 1/13 PT Chapter 1: Working with Visual and Verbal Texts
Image: Mona Lisa wears a Rose Bowl
Sweatshirt
Week
3 1/20 PT: Chapter 2: Looking
Closer
Image: Nighthawks
by Edward Hopper
Week 4:
1/27 PT: Chapter 3: Making
Lives Visible
Images:
Joseph Squier's Urban Diary;
Sabrina Ward Harrison; Reflections
on Sabrina Ward Harrison
Week 5:
2/3 PT:
Chapter 3: Making Lives Visible, continued.
Week 6:
2/10 PT Chapter 4: Representing
Others
Week 7:
2/17 PT Chapter 4 continued: Representing Others
Week 8:
2/24 Chapter 5: Constructing
Realities
March
2-8 Spring Break
Week 9:
3/10 Chapter 5: Constructing Realities
Week
10: 3/17 Chapter 6: Picturing Argument
Week
11: 3/24 Chapter 6: Picturing Argument
Week
12: 3/31 Chapter 7: Designing Texts: Student Presentations & Discussion; begin presenting drafts of final
projects for class discussion.
Presentations: 1) Bobby; 2) Allison; 3) Trei;
4) Elienne
Week
13: 4/7 Designing Texts: Student Presentations and Discussion
Presentations 5) Kristina; 6) Kim; 7)
Laura; 8) Jessica
Week
14: 4/14 Designing Texts: Student Presentations and Discussion
Presentations 9) Nicole; 10) Sunil; 11) Robin; 12) Laura
Week
15: 4/21 Designing Texts: Student Presentations and Discussion
Presentations 13) Bonnie; 14) Rachel; 15)
Jennifer; 16) Tommy
Weed
16: Thursday 4/23 Exam Period:
Final Projects Due by 1:15 PM, Presentations, Discussion as needed.
Grading Rubric:
Numerical and
Letter Grades: these values apply to all assignments listed in 1-6 above; your final
grade for the semester will be determined by the same criteria.
100-94= A
93-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-84 = B
83-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-74 = C
73-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-64 = D
63-60 = D-
59-0 = F
Check system of
holistic grading when used:
√+++ = 100
√++ = 95
√+(+) = 90
√+ = 85
√(+) = 80
√ = 75
√- = 70
√-- = 65