ENGL 108D Digital Lives
M & W 1:00pm – 2:20pm
QNC 2501
Instructor Information
Instructor: Becky Anderson
Pronouns: She/her
Office: PAS 2212
Office Hours: M & W 11:30am – 12:30pm & by appointment
Email: r3anders@uwaterloo.ca
Territorial Acknowledgment
I acknowledge with respect that we are on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, land promised and given to Six Nations, which includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.
Course Description
This course examines how digital communication technologies construct and constrain the formation of online identities and social spaces. We will explore the technical, cultural, and social forces that make digital lives both familiar and unfamiliar, traditional and subversive. Throughout the course, we will develop strategies and methods for studying media and digital platforms, online materials, and popular representations of “digital life.” We will use these critical tools to look at several themes that include auto/biography, social justice movements, gender, race, and more. In addition to studying the who, what, where, how and why of “digital lives,” this course will help you refine your skills as an academic reader and writer in the discipline of English.
Course Objectives
The design of the content and schedule of the course is determined by our goals of scholarly engagement with the idea and practice of ‘digital lives’ and of becoming stronger academic writers in a university setting. By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Describe theoretical, critical, and popular discourses concerning the ‘who,’ ‘what,’ ‘where,’ ‘why,’ and ‘how’ of digital lives
- Apply core concepts of new media theory to your own digital life to engage critically with Digital Culture
- Analyze cultural, material, and immaterial practices, objects, and artifacts of digital lives
- Create projects in several varieties, including a research essay, written reflections, and multi-modal formats
Course Texts
Flew, Terry., and Richard Smith. New Media: An Introduction. Third Canadian Edition, Oxford University Press, 2018.
This book is required, as we’ll work with it almost every week. You may purchase a physical copy or an e-book version. All additional readings will be available on our LEARN course page.
Assignments & Mark Distribution
This course is reading intensive, writing intensive, and participation intensive: I expect you to do the readings, take thoughtful notes, show up, and take part. The following descriptions offer a brief preview of each assignment. Detailed instructions, expectations, and grade breakdowns are located on the corresponding assignment handout on LEARN.
Participation & In-class Activities - ongoing - 15%
Group Presentation - ongoing - 15%
Platform Analysis - October 23rd - 15%
Final Research Project - December 9th - 55%
Participation & In-Class Activities - 15% - ongoing
Participation is one key to success in this course. It’s expected that students attend all classes adequately prepared to engage in discussion and to complete in-class activities. Preparation includes having completed all assigned readings before class begins and bringing a digital copy or hardcopy of the assigned readings to class for our discussions. Participation also includes communicating with your classmates in a respectful manner, listening carefully when others are speaking and responding in a generous manner. As such, sexist, ablest, homophobic, transphobic, racist comments, and hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated. I know, from personal experience, speaking up in class can be an incredibly difficult task for shy students. If you feel uncomfortable communicating orally in the classroom, please speak to me, and we can work out an alternative arrangement. All in-class activities will count towards your participation grade. These activities cannot be made up if you miss class.
History of Digital Culture Group Presentation - 15% - ongoing
During the second week of the semester, you’ll sign up to present in a group of 3 on an assigned topic. Presentations should be 20 minutes in length, with a 10-minute discussion period following the presentation. The assigned topics are included in the schedule and range from ‘dated’ digital artifacts to current cultural events, people and media objects.
These presentations are meant to be focused investigations of a particular moment in the history of digital lives. As such, presentations are supplements not replacements for the assigned reading. As presenters, you will be experts on the topic: you will present to classmates who may not be familiar with the topic and the significance of the topic; Presenting requires research, consultation with me, and planning (such as, linking the topic to what we may have read in the textbook). As audience members, you will be prepared to contribute accordingly. Further details, including specific assignment expectations and grade breakdown, are available on the assignment handout.
Platform Analysis - 15% - due October 23rd at 11:30pm via LEARN dropbox
For this assignment, you’re to write a 750-word analysis on a social media platform of your choice and document your experiences. Your analysis should include the following: a short description of the platform for non-experts; an explanation of who uses the platform; an explanation of how you use the platform; an account of your engagement with the platform; and remarks on the platform’s affordances. You must cite at least two scholarly secondary sources to substantiate your claims. Your choice of platform must be approved in writing by September 30th. Further details, including specific assignment expectations and grade breakdown, are available on the assignment handout.
Final Research Project 55% - due December 9th at 11:30pm via LEARN dropbox
The final project is scaffolded; that is, it contains multiple components due over the course of November, and each component is worth a certain amount of the overall percentage. The final project can either be a research essay, a creative essay, or a critical media project. Each option requires minimum of 3 scholarly secondary sources that are not your textbook. Further details, including specific assignment expectations and grade breakdown, are available on the assignment handout.
The research essay requires you to write minimum 1300 words and maximum 1500 words on a particular research topic of your choice related to the course themes. The topic can build off the presentation you gave, it can be related to digital lives in your discipline, or it can be something else entirely! You must use scholarly secondary sources to support your arguments. The creative essay is similar to the research essay in the sense that you will construct an argument on a particular research topic of your choice related to the course themes. However, instead of a written essay, you can make a video essay, a podcast essay, or a creative format that you propose to me. Submissions must be 8-12 minutes and scholarly secondary sources must be used to support your arguments. The critical media project is a creative project, supplemented by a 3-page critical reflection. For a critical media project, you can make something (a small game, a podcast, a let’s play video, a poem, or a short piece of fiction) that investigates a theme or issue, or topic related to this course. You are then required to write a critical reflection on your experiences and/or on the creative intent of your project, and what your project argues about that particular theme/issue/topic.
Resources for Students
Accommodations
We’ll all need some accommodations in this class because we all learn differently. If you need specific accommodations, let me know. Your success in this course is important to me, and I’ll work with you to ensure you have means of accessing class information, ways to take part in-class activities, and avenues for a fair assessment of your coursework. The University of Waterloo has a long-standing commitment to supporting the participation and access to university programs, services, and facilities by persons with all types of disabilities. All students who have a permanent disability, as well as those with temporary disabilities, have the right to what UW calls AccessAbility Services. Please contact them at 519-888-4567 ext. 35082 or visit Needles Hall North room 1401.
Counseling Services
Your mental health is extremely important, and we all experience mental health concerns at some point in our lives. University is a very stressful environment, and if you are feeling unwell, please know that you’re not alone. The University of Waterloo offers various services to students in need such as individual appointments, workshops, coping skills seminars, group therapy, peer counseling, and online information and resources free of charge. Please visit Counselling Services, drop by their office on the second floor of Needles Hall North or give them a call at 519-888-4567 ext. 32655 for more information. I’m not, by any means, an expert, but if you approach me with a mental health concern, you can be sure I’ll take your disclosure very seriously and will point you in the direction of help.
Writing and Communication Centre
The Writing and Communication Centre aims to provide assistance to students for their writing and communication needs. They offer one-on-one appointments and drop-in sessions as well as workshops, learning resources, and comprehensive programs to students of all experience levels and disciplines. Please visit the Writing and Communication Centre or drop by their office on the second floor of South Campus Hall for more information.
Student Success Office
The Student Success Office provides academic and personal development services, resources for international students, as well as study abroad and exchange support. They aim to create a vibrant student experience and help students achieve personal and professional goals. Visit the Student Successs Office, drop by their office on the second floor of South Campus Hall or reach them by phone at 519-888-4567 ext. 84410 for more information.
Course Policies
Contacting Me
Please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss your writing, to seek assistance or clarification, or to raise questions or concerns pertaining to coursework. I’m readily available via email, but do require 24 hours to respond during business hours. I also hold office hours twice a week, and have an open-door policy at the time specified under “Instructor Information”. My office is a safe space for peoples of all races, religions, genders, abilities, and sexual orientations. If you wish to meet outside of my office hours, do contact me to arrange an alternative meeting time.
Electronic Devices
This is a digital humanities course and, as such, access to a laptop, tablet and/or cell phone during class is a good idea. Sometimes we’ll work online, and sometimes we’ll work offline. Whether we’re working online or offline, I expect you to be fully engaged with the class and course materials; you will lose points towards participation if you misuse your tech (i.e. by doing homework for another class, by spending class time on social networks, websites, games, etc. unrelated to the weekly topic or immediate discussion) because it’s distracting to your colleagues and disrespectful to your instructor.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted without penalty if prior permission has been granted. If an extension is needed, please contact me, at the latest, 72 hours prior to the submission deadline. Extensions will only be granted within 72 hours prior to the submission deadline if proof of an extenuating circumstance is provided. Otherwise, late work will be penalized 5% per day, including weekends. All late work must be submitted to the appropriate LEARN dropbox.
Turnitin.com
Text matching software (Turnitin) may be used to screen assignments in this course. Turnitin is used to verify that all materials and sources in assignments are documented. Students’ submissions are stored on a U.S. server, therefore students must be given an alternative (e.g., scaffolded assignment or annotated bibliography), if they are concerned about their privacy and/or security. Students will be given due notice, in the first week of the term and/or at the time assignment details are provided, about arrangements and alternatives for the use of Turnitin in this course.
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit the alternate assignment.
University Policies
Academic Integrity
In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. All sources of information that you use in your written work in this class must be cited fully and scrupulously. If I suspect that you have committed an academic offense, including plagiarism, I must report it to the Associate Dean; if the offense is confirmed, the normal result is a failing grade on the assignment. For more information, visit the Office of Academic Integrity.
Academic Discipline
A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for their actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g. plagiarism, cheating, etc), or who needs help learning about the ‘rules’ for group work and collaboration, should seek guidance from the course instructor, their academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline.
Academic Grievance
A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of their university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4.
Academic Appeals
A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals.
Course Schedule
Week 1
- Sept. 4 - Course intro
- The Syllabus
Week 2
- Sept. 9 - Intro to NM
- Ch. 1 pp. 1-15
- Assignment 1 Handout
- Ch. 1 pp. 1-15
- Sept. 11 - Intro to NM
- Ch. 1 pp. 15-30
Week 3
- Sept. 16 - History of NM
- Ch. 2 pp. 34-49
- Apple Macintosh, GUI, 1984 Superbowl Commercial
- Ch. 2 pp. 34-49
- Sept. 18 - History of NM
- Ch. 2 pp. 50-62
- AI, Machine Learning, & Bots: From Eliza to Siri
- Ch. 2 pp. 50-62
Week 4
- Sept. 23 - Approaches to NM
- Ch. 3 pp. 67-74
- Media Archaeology: From Video Stores to Streaming Services
- Ch. 3 pp. 67-74
- Sept. 25 - Approaches to NM
- Ch. 3 pp. 74-90
- Assignment 2 Handout
- Online Ethnography: The David Duchovny Estrogen Brigade
Week 5
- Sept. 30 - Mobile NM
- Ch. 4 pp. 94-111
- Mobile Gaming & Wizards Unite
- Assignment 2 Platform Choice
- Mobile Gaming & Wizards Unite
- Ch. 4 pp. 94-111
- Oct. 2 - Mobile NM
- Ch. 4 pp. 111-125
- Digital Abstinence
- Ch. 4 pp. 111-125
Week 6
- Oct. 7 - Social Networks & Participatory Culture
- Ch. 5 pp. 128-146
- Autobiographical Coaxing
- Ch. 5 pp. 128-146
- Oct. 9 - Social Networks & Participatory Culture
- Ch. 5 pp. 146-163
- Internet Challenges
- Ch. 5 pp. 146-163
Reading Week **no class October 14 & October 16**
Week 7
- Oct. 21 - Conducting Scholarly Research
- Assignment 3 Handout
- Develop & Narrow a Topic
- Assignment Planner – Research Essay & Annotated Bibliographies
- Oct. 23 - Conducting Scholarly Research
- Assignment 2 Final
Week 8
- Oct. 28 - Games
- Ch. 6 pp. 167-181
- Serious Games/Social Change/Gamification
- Ch. 6 pp. 167-181
- Oct. 30 - Games
- Ch. 6 pp. 181-191
- 10 Gender & Racial Representation in Games
- Assignment 3 Project Proposal
- 10 Gender & Racial Representation in Games
- Ch. 6 pp. 181-191
Week 9
- Nov. 4 - Creative Industries
- Ch. 7 pp. 196-211
- Murmur Toronto
- Ch. 7 pp. 196-211
- Nov. 6 - Creative Industries
- Ch. 7 pp. 211-222
- Assignment 3 Annotated Bibliography
- Ch. 7 pp. 211-222
Week 10
- Nov. 11 - Global Knowledge Economy
- Ch. 8 pp. 226-241
- 12 Beyonce’s Lemonade
- Assignment 3 Intro Paragraph & 1-on-1 Meetings
- 12 Beyonce’s Lemonade
- Ch. 8 pp. 226-241
- Nov. 13 - Global Knowledge Economy
- Ch. 8 pp. 242-256
- 13 Celebrity Pseudoscience
- 1-on-1 Meetings
- 13 Celebrity Pseudoscience
- Ch. 8 pp. 242-256
Week 11
- Nov. 18 - Internet Law, Policy, & Governance
- Ch. 9 pp. 260-277
- #OwnYourData Campaign and digital rights
- Ch. 9 pp. 260-277
- Nov. 20 - Internet Law, Policy, & Governance
- Ch. 9 pp. 277-294
- Effective Peer Review
- Giving Effective Feedback
Week 12
- Nov. 25 – Peer Review Workshop
- Assignment 3 Peer Review
- Nov. 27 - Peer Review Workshop
- Assignment 3 Peer Review
- Dec. 2 – Course Wrap Up & Peer Review Workshop
- Assignment 3 Peer Review