Digital Media Culture

Assignments

Course Participation (10%, 100 pts.)

• Preparation for class, in addition to the quantity and quality of your contribution to class discussions.
• Miscellaneous in-class assignments or quizzes.

Group Presentation (10% total, 100 pts.)

• Students will be put into groups with 2-3 other students to present about a topic we are discussing on your assigned presentation date.
• Each group will give a 10-12 minute presentation, which should include:
  • Analysis of a media object/artifact in relation to the current topic/reading for that class session.
  • Conclusions/suggestions about how the object/artifact might connect with broader issues we have addressed about digital media culture (or factors we have not covered).
  • A set of questions/discussion points to segue into class discussion about the topic.
• EVERY group member should upload a PDF (250 words or less) describing your contributions to the presentation.
• ONE group member should include/upload materials used during your presentation (e.g. Powerpoint slides or links to audio/visual material).

 

Reading Reflections (20%, 200 pts.)

• To make our discussions as fruitful as possible, you will be required to submit reading reflections on a weekly basis.
• You will need to be prepared to summarize your reflections in class as part of our discussions about the readings.
• Your reflection should be 200-250 words in length (under one double-spaced page) and can take multiple forms; be creative. Minimally, your reflection should include:
  • A “one-sentence” summary of the reading (this could take many forms, such as a “click bait” headline, or an illustration, GIF, or meme you create)
  • And, either:
    • A question (or series of questions) you have about the reading—include context/clarification about why you have these question(s) and/or an initial answer to your question(s).
    • An examination of one concept/argument in the reading, which you could create based upon connections to insight you have from other course (work) or connections to contemporary examples (the author wouldn’t/couldn’t address).

 

Research Paper Draft (15%, 150 pts.) DUE on 11/14

• You must receive approval for your paper topic (in person or by e-mail). I will not read paper proposals if I have not approved your topic, resulting in less feedback to incorporate in your final paper.
• This assignment constitutes a first review/draft of your paper. Make it as strong as you can, so that I can provide adequate feedback for you to incorporate in your final paper.

(Minimum) Draft Requirements:

• Broad Introduction to Topic (~1 pages), including:
  • A short description of the the media object(s) you are addressing.
  • A clear & precise thesis statement (designated in BOLD), which indicates HOW you will write about the relationship between your media object(s) and digital media culture.
  • A summary of the main arguments you intend to make in the paper (using signposts like “first,” “second,” etc. can be useful). Each summary point should indicate WHAT you will address, but should also foreground HOW or WHY the topic is addressed.
• Analysis (at least 5 pages): The form of analysis and critical engagement will differ based upon the topic, but should provide at least 5 pages of analysis to illustrate HOW you plan to engage with (one or more of) the arguments previewed in the introduction.
• Bibliographic Sources:
  • Include and cite (at least) four sources that are NOT from course readings.
  • These sources should be referenced with in-text citations and full citation information in a bibliography at the end of your draft.
  • NOTE: I will be assessing the relevance of sources you select. This means you should have read each source to determine whether or not it is applicable to your overall argument.

 

Research Paper Presentation (10%, 100 pts.) In class on 12/5

• Each student will give a 5-6 minute presentation about their research paper. The presentations will include:
  • A summary of the thesis/argument of your paper.
  • A summary of the main arguments you will use to support your thesis.
  • An example of the critical analysis you are using to support your thesis/argument (which may include visual media you are analyzing in your paper).
• After the presentation, each student will be given the opportunity to answer questions from classmates.

 

Final Research Paper (35%, 350 pts.) DUE on 12/11 @ 12noon

• A 15-page (3750 words) research paper, including a minimum of 12 scholarly/academic sources (at least 8 sources must be located outside of course readings).
• Bibliographic sources must be referenced with in-text citations and in a bibliography at the end of your paper. Do not forget how, in addition to checking for the appropriate quantity of sources, I will also be evaluating the quality/relevance of your sources.
• Your final submission should build upon feedback you receive in your draft and will be graded based on criteria found on the feedback sheet in your draft.

 

Grading Breakdown

Grading Criteria

“A” indicates truly exceptional work, which demonstrates command of concepts and theories, presenting them in a well-argued and logically structured manner. “A” work significantly surpasses the expectations of the assignment, is free of spelling and grammatical errors, and does not merely address the questions through a repetition of course material or lectures. It provides fresh, creative, and original perspectives with a unique voice, offering connections between the topic and broader issues and contexts. Superior research skills are demonstrated with relevant citations and quotations advancing the argument.

 

“B” indicates above-average work that clearly achieves the goals of the assignment, providing smart and solid analyses with thoughtful and organized arguments I expect any diligent student to be able to produce. “B” work offers some originality, contains few (if any) typos, spelling errors, or grammatical mistakes, and addresses most questions directly by citing specific materials from the texts and lectures to illustrate points being made.

 

“C” indicates meets the course requirements in an adequate fashion by addressing the questions without sufficient engagement with materials from texts or lectures. “C” work tends to recycle examples from discussion without providing connections to the analysis, contains unfocused, uncritical, or insufficiently supported arguments, and typically contains acceptable but awkward prose with various typos, spelling errors or poorly structured sentences that result in vague arguments.

 

“D” indicates work that is off-topic, poorly written, disorganized and, instead of the course materials, utilizes “personal experience” or inapplicable research materials or support (such as readings obviously applicable in other subjects or classes). In other words, the assignment shows little to no evidence that a student was paying attention in class, does not incorporate materials used in course readings or class discussion, and sounds like a summary or review of materials rather than critically engaged analyses. This type of work may also fall short or far exceed the page limits or time constraints for the assignment and typically contain many spelling and grammatical errors and/or show no signs of being proofread.

 

“F” indicates work that dramatically fails to meet the goals and expectations of the course. “F” work is incoherent, plagiarized, and/or never submitted.