Assignment Three [aka Module], Part I
Texts and Technology in History
ENC 6801-W61
Dr. Saper, Professor
Module 3: Historical Context for Electronic Texts
Included in this module: Goals; Assignment; Due Dates; Links to Web-site; Assessments; and Grading Rubric. Read this entire module before starting the assignment or asking any questions about the assignment.
Goals:
Students learn how to place a survey of electronic literature in the historical context of diachronic changes to texts in relation to technology.
These goals correspond to the overall goals of the course: to learn about the history of texts and technology in history using digital modes of communication.
Assignment:
Students will learn about the major historical modes of communication and cultural memory relate to new electronic forms of literature:
1. Read Hayles’ Electronic Literature, Chapter one [for part 1 of assignment].
2. Take notes.
3. Look at your notes, find patterns, and add your own research.
4. Outline Hayles’ argument.
5. Write a clear and concise 500 word essay on chapter one – jam packed with information and avoiding wordiness.
Due Dates:
Post the final project by week ten of the semester, but start reading chapter one, take notes, and post just the 500 word essay [1-2 pages] by next Monday October 13, 2008. This will give you an opportunity to ask questions about the assignment and make revisions. No late projects accepted, no exceptions.
Where: Post the finished assignment to the blog, but post a draft to a discussion on the course site. Since everyone gets credit for helping (and you can help more than one of your peers each assignment) you will find someone to give you suggestions for improvement. If you cannot offer any suggestions, then you might want to consider an alternative to academia.
Assessments:
Content: Do the materials include the following:
A. full name of author and helper(s)
C. at least three definitions, arguments, and stories learned from chapter one of Hayles (please do not plagiarize).
Form: Did the student include the following technical aspects?
A. turned-in the project in electronic form
B. prose contains no grammatical, stylistic, or typographical errors
Grader will study the materials (including the design).
1. Does this material present a clear representation of the student's thinking about both Hayles argument and sense of history?
2. Did the student have interesting insights about Hayles especially in terms of Ong?
3. Were the insights expressed clearly?
4. Is the essay interesting, unique, expressive, and informative?
Grading Rubric:
Passing Grade (in the D range): fulfilled number one in the assessment.
Adequate Grade (in the C range): fulfilled one and two in the assessment.
Good Grade (in the B range): fulfilled numbers one through three in the assessment.
Excellent Grade (in the A range): fulfilled all of the four criteria in the assessment
