Writing in & for Digital Environments Updated Syllabus (pdf)
Required texts for this course are available in the bookstore and online:
~ Writing for Digital Media by Brian Carroll (Routledge, 2010) ISBN: 978-0415992015
~ Finish this Book by Kerri Smith (Perigee Trade, 2011) ISBN: 978-0399536892
Additional materials will be available through the website or distributed in class
Reading and Writing Due IN CLASS
**Week 1** Introduction and Overview
T 8/27 course introduction and overview
R 8/29 + Join class blog (you should receive an email)
+ Writing Questionnaire Due (handout)
+Read Chapter 1 in Writing Analytically (PDF)
**Week 2** Why Write Online?
T 9/3 + Read Chapter 1, pp 3-7, and Chapter 2, pp 23-44 in Writing for Digital Media. Come prepared to share 3 facts/tips you find illuminating and any questions
+ Plus, please bring in examples of blogs you like and be prepared to answer why (No ideas? Take a poll of your friends. What blogs do they read? Why?)
R 9/5 + “Digital Writing Uprising: Third-order Thinking in the Digital Humanities” by Sean Michael Morris (online article)
+ “Organic Writing and Digital Media: Seeds and Organs” by Pete Rorabaugh (online article)
+ exercise from Finish This Book (see handout)
+ blog post due by Sunday at midnight (see prompt on handout)
*Week 3* Choose a Topic & Begin Research
T 9/10 + Read Chapter 7 in Writing for Digital Media, “Blogito, Ergo Sum”
R 9/12 * meet in library lobby*
+ Speaker: Elise Ferer (Dickinson Librarian)
+ blog post due by Sunday at midnight (see prompt on handout)
**Week 4** Design & Analysis
T 9/17 + Read Writing for Digital Media Chapter 5, “Designing Places and Spaces”
+ “Why we Love Beautiful Things” by Lance Hosey (NYT article)
R 9/19 *meet in Bosler*
+ Read and comment on 2 posts in class blog
+ Speaker: Brenda Landis (Dickinson Multimedia Specialist)
+ Paper #1: Blog Proposal and Annotated Bibliography due by Sun, 9/22 at midnight (via email; see Paper #1 Prompt)
**Week 5** Application to Liberal Arts & Civic Duty
T 9/24 * meet in library *
+ Speaker: Elise Ferer (Dickinson Librarian)
+ look at the “About the Open Peer Review” for Web Writing: Why & How and for Liberal Arts Teaching & Learning
+ then read the chapter: “Creating an Environment for Student Engagement and Web Writing: The ‘We Just Want Stephen Colbert to Come to Our College’ Super PAC”, by Susan Grogan (online article)
R 9/26 + read 2 chapters of your choice in Web Writing: Why & How and for Liberal Arts Teaching & Learning (online text book; table of contents appears in menu on left)
+ Come prepared to share a short summary of your two articles with the class (See assignment on Paper #2 Prompt)
**Week 6** Revision: On Writing Well
T 10/1 + complete 4 more explorations from Finish This Book
+ be prepared to continue our discussion of Web Writing
R 10/3 + Paper #2 Draft: In class Peer Review (bring 3 copies of your paper) (See Paper #2 Prompt and this sheet with Helpful Hints and Tips)
**Week 7** Marketing/cross publication
T 10/8 *meet in Bosler*
+ Read Chapter 3, “Screen Writing” in Writing for Digital Media
+ Speaker: Brenda Landis (Dickinson Multimedia Specialist)
R 10/10
+ Read “What Makes a Good Web Essay?” by Jack Dougherty (online article)
+ Final Draft Paper#2 posted by Sunday, 10/13 at midnight See Paper #2 Prompt and this sheet with Helpful Hints and Tips
Note: final draft includes posting your comments to Web Writing (4 comments/chapter; 2 chapters total– see prompt)
** Week 8**
T 10/15 + Read Writing Analytically on making personal writing more analytical, Chapter 7 (PDF)
+ Blog Project Workshop- come prepared to share what you have built and written
R 10/17
+ Read Writing for Digital Media, Chapter 8, “We the People: Part I”
+ Blog Project Workshop- come prepared to share what you have built and written
**Week 9**
T 10/22 *No Class* Fall break
R 10/24 + No New Reading
+ Blog Post to Class Blog: Unveiling of Your Site see Blog Project Prompt, due by class time on Thurs, 10/24
+ Read and comment on 2 of your peer’s blogs, due Sun, 10/27 by midnight
**Week 10**
T 10/29 Guest Speaker: Jennifer Dary
+Read Writing for Digital Media, Chapter 9, “We the People: Part II”
R 10/31
+ Blog post to your site due by Sunday at midnight (see Blog Project Prompt)
**Week 11**
T 11/5 *Meet in Bosler*
+Bring questions for Brenda about blog or final project
R 11/7
+Complete 3 more explorations from Finish this Book, bring journal to hand in (you should have completed a total of 10 exercises)
+ Blog post to your site due by Sunday at midnight (see Blog Project Prompt)
**Week 12** Copyright & Who Owns Information?
T 11/12
+Read Chapter 11, “Learning the Legal Landscape” in Writing for Digital Media
+Read: How Much Should People Worry About the Loss of Online Privacy? (online article) and “The Digital Divide” (pdf) from The Handbook of Computer and Information Ethics
R 11/14 *Meet in Library*
+ Speaker: Malinda Triller (Dickinson Special Collections Librarian)
+ Blog post to your site due by Sunday at midnight (see Blog Project Prompt)
**Week 13**
T 11/19
+ Individual presentations (Presentation Guidelines & Feedback Worksheet)
R 11/21
+ Individual presentations (Presentation Guidelines & Feedback Worksheet)
+ Blog post to your site due by Sunday at midnight (see Blog Project Prompt)
**Week 14**
T 11/26
+ Individual presentations (Presentation Guidelines & Feedback Worksheet)
+ Blog post to your site due by Monday 12/2 at midnight (see Blog Project Prompt)
R 11/28 NO CLASS Thanksgiving Break
**Week 15** Writing and Sustainability
T 12/3
+ Read the Afterward, “Core Values of Online Journalism” in Writing for Digital Media
R 12/5
+ Final class, wrap up
+ Read Anne Lamott Bird by Bird selections and article “The Unrevised Life” (PDF)
**Monday 12/9** Final Project Due (Final Project Prompt)