Syllabus

syllabus

Objectives
Requirements
Assignments
Grading
Policies
Schedule

Section 01, Fall 2008
Combs 004, 12:30 - 1:45 TR
teaching.zachwhalen.net/forms/

Instructor: Dr. Zach Whalen
zwhalen [at] umw.edu
Office hours: 10:00 - 11:00, M - F, Combs 308
www.zachwhalen.net

Objectives

Stories are all around us, helping us make sense of the world and communicate that understanding to others. As media change and new expressive forms exploit technological resources in novel ways, the underlying principle of narrative provides a useful framework for understanding how these forms work. In this course, we will use narratology (the formal study of narrative) to analyze forms such as comics, film, video games, and electronic literature. The successful student will become fluent in the unique vocabulary of narrative analysis and bring those tools to bear on new media texts.

Requirements

Books

Ryan, Marie-Laure. Avatars of Story.
McCay, Winsor. Little Nemo: 1905 - 1914.
Montgomery, R.A. The Abominable Snowman.

Computer Access

Access to a modern computer (any platform) on which you have the ability to download and install software.

Note on other readings: Other text readings will be distributed through the class website. Additionally, we will schedule at least one film screening, TBA.

Note on content: Some of the readings or screenings for this course will feature mature content which may be offensive to some audiences. Additionally, topics may include gender, class, race, or politics. In all cases, students are expected to approach the material with an academically appropriate level of maturity, including a commitment to a civil classroom discourse.

Note on "reading": Some of the works we read/play in this class will feature a non-linear structure. As such, the "end" of a text may be ambiguous or subjective. In all texts, students should read/play enough to master its content and gain fluency with its structure.

Assignments

Participation

This class will rely heavily on in-class discussion, and as such, it is imperative that you attend all class meetings and contribute to the conversation. As an incentive toward this goal, you will be graded on your participation in the class. Factors contributing to a high participation grade include speaking up in class and posting comments on blog entries. Factors contributing to a low participation grade include non-attendance, disrupting class, and inappropriate use of lab computers (Facebooking during class, for instance).

Participation comprises 15% of your final grade.

Blogs

Throughout the semester, students will be expected to maintain a weekly blog of responsive writing that reflects a critical engagement with the readings. Think of these as extensions of our in-class discussions or opportunities for you to raise an issue or pose a question that we didn't get to in class. These entries have no minimum or maximum word count, but will be graded on a 4-point scale (A, B, C, F). An entry will earn an A if it is clearly written, interesting and indicates an understanding of the texts. Occasionally, blog prompts and topics will be suggested in class. Students may also wish to read other students' blogs and post an entry in response. Commenting directly on blogs is also encouraged, although comments themselves are not graded as blog entries.

Addendum (9/18/08). For a blog entry to receive an A, it should contribute something new to the conversation about a particular. This contribution should take the form of a reference to or summary of some other work besides the text or conversation you're focusing on from class. For example, you could find a critical essay on the text, a work of art that demonstrates a similar idea, or another text by the same author, and write your blog entry on how that external item informs or changes your reading of the core text.

Addendum (10/12/08). All external sources should be acknowledged, either by an inline link or pasting a URL or book title at the conclusion of your entry. In other words, no formal citation system is necessary, but you should make it clear which texts you're consulting. Failure to attribute a source may be considered an honor code violation and reported accordingly.

These blog entries will be created and posted through an account you create on the course website.

There are 14 checkpoints in the semester, and your final grade for blogs will be an average of your 10 highest-scoring entries. This means that you may wish to write only 10, and if you choose to write more, I will drop the lower grades. If on a given week you have not posted an entry, you will receive a zero for that week. You cannot write "extra" entries later to make up for that zero, but that zero can be dropped and will not adversely affect your grade if you still complete at least 10, eventually.

At the end of the semester, your blog will account for 20% of your final grade.

Quizzes

Throughout the semester, I will give quizzes to assess your comprehension of key terminology. Typically, these will fall every other week, and I will generally give you advance notice of what each quiz will cover. However, I reserve the right to give quizzes at any time, so you should prepare for each day of class by making sure you know important terms and names from the assigned reading(s).

At the end of the semester, your quiz grades will be worth 15% of your final grade.

Take-home Mid-Term Exam

The mid-term exam will be a take-home essay test where I offer 5 questions or prompts for you to answer in short essay form. The test will be distributed on Thursday, Oct 2 and will be due at the beginning of class on the following Thursday, Oct 9.

The Mid-term exam will be worth 20% of your final grade.

Final Project

The final in this course will be a project of your own choosing. I will give you several options, some creative, and I will consider other proposals. In keeping with the goal of the course, your project should be a reflection on or experiment with the formal properties of narrative. For example, you may wish to create a narrative using one of the media we discuss in class. You may also decide to write an analysis of a particular form that we have not previously discussed.

Your final project grade will be worth 30% of your final grade.

Grading

Grades will be recorded and reported through the course website, the same site where you will write and post your blogs.

Distribution

Participation	15%
Quizzes	15%
Blogs	20%
Mid-Term	20%
Final Project	30%

Scale

Where applicable, the following letter-to-number equivalent will be in effect:

A	94 - 100
A-	90 - 93.9
B+	87 - 89.9
B	83 - 86.9
B-	80 - 82.9
C+	77 - 79.9
C	73 - 76.9
C-	70 - 72.9
D+	67 - 69.9
D	63 - 66.9
F	0 - 62.9

Policies

Decorum

Students are expected to treat the instructor and fellow students with the appropriate degree of respect, both in class and in online discussions. Communication, either in person or through electronic media, that is deemed abusive, threatening, or harassing in nature will not be tolerated.

Late Work

Unless otherwise indicated, all assigned work is due at the beginning of class on the specified due date. Work that is submitted less than 24 hours after class on a due date may be penalized a full letter grade. No work will be accepted more than 24 hours after class on its due date. Extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances, but must be requested before the due date arrives.

Use of Electronic Devices in Class

Students are allowed, even encouraged, to bring laptops or other electronic devices to class for the purpose of taking notes. However, activities such as surfing the web, reading e-mail, or text-messaging are not allowed. Also, turn off your cell phone, and don't answer it if you forget and it rings. Failure to comply with this policy will negatively impact your participation grade.

Academic Dishonesty

The UMW Honor System is in effect for our course. I may authorize specific exercises as collaborative work, but all other work must be your own, as per Article 1, Sections 1 and 2 of the University of Mary Washington Student Honor Code.

Students with Disabilities

The Office of Disability Services has been designated by the University as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you already receive services through the Office of Disability Services and require accommodations for this class, get in touch with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Please bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in the strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you have not contacted the Office of Disability Services and need accommodations, (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.), I will be happy to refer you. The office will require appropriate documentation of disability. Their phone number is 540-654-1266.

Schedule

The schedule is available through the link at the upper right of each page on this website. It is also accessible through a calendar interface. Information about the next scheduled class meeting is always available in the block at the upper right, just below the search box.

Agenda items and non-class events such as screenings are subject to a number of variable factors and are, therefore, tentative.