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[ Summary & Requirements ] [ Syllabus] [Bibliography & Resources][ Blog][Online Community Wiki] |
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| Course Summary: On-line Communities and Computer-Mediated Communication |
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| Course Number: Comm. Studies 395, Section 28; CS 395, Section 28 |
Professor Justine Cassell TA: Yolanda Rankin |
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In the 21st century the Internet has become a central focus for communication --- business meetings that rely on collaborative software, distance learning, and personal exchanges that involve email, instant messenger, chat rooms and online communities. In this course we will examine several different types of online communication -- both business-, education- and recreation-oriented, that engage several different communities -- young and old people, monolingual and multilingual, mononational and international. In doing so, we will analyze very closely the types of computer-mediated interactions and collaborations that occur among people who share common (or perhaps uncommon) interests, and the language that they use to express themselves. Format: Course Requirements: Class participation: This is not a lecture class and so your participation is expected. But note the definition of class participation: being willing and able to speak intelligently in class about the topics under discussion. Clearly, in order to be able to speak intelligently about a topic, you will need to have done the readings for that topic. You will also need to be physically present and alert . . . Interpretive questions: Before each class meeting students are required to post at least two interpretive and motivated questions for the readings assigned for that class. Since the point of the questions is (a) to demonstrate that you have done the readings, and (b) to give the instructor a roadmap for class discussion, your questions cannot be both about the same reading. You can write one question for each of two different texts, or one question that compares two texts, and one question on a third text, or two questions that compare three texts, and so forth. Questions must be posted to the class blog on Monday by noon (24 hours before the class meets), so that the instructor can base her discussion of the readings on the questions submitted. Questions that are posted after Monday at noon will be marked down. Occasionally I may cancel the question requirement in favor of another equally straightforward and non time-consuming assignment. Due each class period Blog Comments: Blogs are most interesting when each post launches a conversation. Just to make sure you get to experience that phenomenon, you are required to comment on one of your classmate's posts once per week. So, when you are online posting your own questions, take a moment to post a response to a classmate's question. Due each class period. Class Presentation of Assigned Reading--- Each student is required to present 2 assigned readings during the course of the quarter. The class should be done in teams of two. The presentation should feature the highlights of the assigned reading (do not give a summary of the reading), and a novel application of the theory presented in the reading to some online community. Students will be asked to sign the roster for class presentations during the first week of class. Class presentations will be posted on the website. Due twice during the quarter. Initial Analysis of an Existing Online Community: You will analyze an online community by describing its purpose, its target audience, the technological tools it relies on, the kind of mediated communication it uses, the kind of activities that comprise it, and something distinctive about the language use in this community . This assignment should be no longer than 5-7 pages. Due January 18th. Details of assignment Proposed Design of an Online Community: You will submit a proposal for the design of a new online community (it can be as simple or complex as you like. You will be working in teams with at least one tech-savvy person on each team). Refer to the guidelines presented in Kollock and in Preece for your proposal. Make sure that you describe target audience, purpose, design principles, technological tools, and how this online ocmmunity fills both a social and technological void. Proposal should be no longer than 5-7 pages. Details of assignment Due February 1st Implement an Online Community : Carry out your proposal. You will show the community to the class, so try to convince some people to use it! Due February 22nd. Final Paper: Apply one of the topics (study of gender, race, international context, use of the body, etc.) discussed in class to some particular online community (slashdot, ActiveWorlds, Friendster, etc.). A proposal for the final paper is due February 8th. Paper is due March 8th. Grading Policy: Your grade is based on completion of the following responsibilities: Interpretive questions and class participation will be graded with a check mark for each class meeting, to indicate that the requirement was met. Late interpretive questions will be accepted once during the semester, no questions asked, provided they are turned in before the following class meeting. Other than this, please note that all work must be turned in on time, no late work will be accepted. Do not even think of asking for an extension in the following cases: 1) you have a lot of tests or papers in other classes that week; 2) you will be away on the day the assignment is due, 3) a last-minute emergency. Assignments are given well in advance, and just because you planned to write the paper the night before but got food poisoning is not an excuse for not turning in your paper on time! The critical essay will be graded on both content and form. Content means the originality and interest of the research question, nature of the methodology used to investigate the question, plausibility of your interpretations. Form means the organization, clarity and quality of the writing, and the scholarly use of conventions such as citations and footnotes. An 'A' quality term paper finds an interesting research question, makes use of primary and secondary sources to address the question, and adds interesting and original interpretations of the author's own. It is well-organized and clearly and professionally written. You will be encouraged to carry out the community observation, analysis and design assignments in groups. However, if you write a paper together, you must include a paragraph stating which part of the work was done by each member of the team. In order to make sure that your collaboration falls within the Northwestern guidelines of academic integrity, you must read : http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/ and http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html. |
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