Course Syllabus

World of New Media

Course Description

 

Storytelling is a process as old as human language. In many ways, it changes every day. In other ways, it remains completely the same. In this course, students engage a critical lens toward what is referred to as "new media," that is, the storytelling that goes on in our digital, connected world. We begin with a historical overview of how storytelling has evolved and changed, as well as how many original facets of storytelling have remained stable. Students then take and apply this knowledge of storytelling to examining podcasts, youtube, video-gaming, Tik-Tok and other social media platforms. Using a similar toolkit as what they use to analyze fiction or poetry, students unpack, deconstruct, and examine the way stories are being told in today's culture. Ultimately, the question being asked of students in this course is why do humans tell stories?

 

You should expect to read often and write often. We will frequently use our technology to interact with these materials, but not always. 

 

Goals & Outcomes

 

My goals for this class are as follows:

 

-to develop a lens for critically analysing the media we interact with every day, using the techniques of literary analysis typical of reading literature.

 

-to expand our own creative storytelling abilities with new media technologies.

 

-to be discerning of motives, contexts, subtexts, and falsehoods perpetuated in new media.

 

-to be able to write coherently about the media we consume.

 

-to be comfortable in various methods of writing and presenting information for the digital world. 

 

-to be self-reflective about our media habits and interests, and how they serve us or don’t.

Course Materials

 

We will read a variety of articles, watch a few movies, and consume lots of media. All reading materials will be provided. Students should come to class equipped with a notebook and a writing utensil, as well as a charged laptop. Students should also plan on using their phones during some class periods.

Grades

 

You will be assessed based on completion of reading and writing assignments, as well as participation. Most of your grade is based on homework assignments. I do not give quizzes or tests in my classes, so your homework becomes a necessity in completing your work. Assignments will include a daily observation journal, readings, written assignments, essays, a creative project, and a presentation. 

 

-You will receive a weekly participation grade. Participation looks different for different students. Some students are comfortable speaking in the full-class discussion. Other students only want to speak in small groups. Others are terrified of speaking in the group, so I may only hear their voices once or twice. You should be working each week to participate in some form, so that we’re all benefiting from your expertise! If your behavior leads to you not being present in class, then your participation grade will reflect that. 

 

-Late policy: I have what I believe is a fair and manageable late policy. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class. Do not take class time working on a homework assignment, or you will lose participation points! You have until the end of the following schoolday to get up to 95% of the assignment’s value, two schooldays to get up to 90%, three schooldays to get up to 85%, four schooldays to get up to 80%, and five to get up to 75%. After that, you can still turn assignments in for up to 70% of the credit due within the first or second half of a course. That being said, I am still assessing the homework assignment based on the parameters listed above; if the assignment is late and incomplete, you still may not receive all 70% of credit. A general rule of thumb in my classes is that if you do the work on time and thoroughly, you will pass my class. 

A.I. Disclaimer

 

Because this is a class focused on developing your reading and writing ability, the use of Artificial Intelligence to assist you in reading and writing will count as plagiarism, unless the teacher has specifically said otherwise about an assignment. A.I. can, and will, be a useful tool for your future reading and writing needs. However, if we are going to improve your current skill set, we need to do so without the “shortcuts” A.I. offer us. If you are unsure if the program you intend to use to help you with an assignment is AI or banned by this class, consult your teacher. “I didn’t know” is not a valid excuse for turning in a piece of work that has used A.I. inappropriately. See the community guidelines around A.I. for more information.

Advice: 

 

A general rule of thumb in this class: if you submit work on time, you will almost assuredly receive an A or B in my class. If you’re challenged or confused by an assignment, ask me. If you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, that’s ok! That means you’re learning how to do something. Produce work and turn it in, even if you’re unsure what the “right” way of doing something is. You do not learn from me making things easier for you. You learn from trying things. You learn from having to try again.