LIT 3308: 501 Electronic Expression

Elizabeth Coker
Wednesdays, JO 4.122/ 4.124 7:00-9:45pm

We do not truly see light, we only see slower things lit by it, so that for us light is
on the edge--the last thing we know before things become too swift for us.
--C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet

Description of Course:
The phrase “electronic expression” poses more questions than it answers. What
expression do we have, or do we foresee, in new and emerging electronic
environments? How has technology affected our interactions, our futures, and
our view of humanity? How can we balance human creativity with mechanized
conformity? In this class we will examine new narrative theory and speculative
fiction, as well as practice writing in and responding to electronic environments.

For this class, you will complete four short projects and one long, final project.
Each of these assignments can range from the traditional research essay format to
a creative project (story, play, screenplay, website, graphic novel, and so forth).
As this is ostensibly a literature class, you will be required to read thoroughly
and extensively each week, and come to class prepared to discuss the readings.

Prerequisite: Rhetoric 1302

Instructor Contact Info:

Email: emc011300@utdallas.edu

ecokerutd@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Tuesdays 3-4pm and by appointment.

Required Texts:
Hamlet on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace
by Janet H. Murray
ISBN: 0262631873
Digital Storytelling: A Creator's Guide to Interactive Entertainment
by Carolyn Handler Miller
ISBN: 0240805100
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
by Philip K. Dick
ISBN: 0345404475

Other readings will be posted on the class Web CT site, and are indicated with an
* on the course calendar.
Grading Breakdown:

Attendance: 5%
Participation in class discussion/ activities: 10%
Weekly reading responses 10%
Three short projects: 15% (5% each)
Midterm Group Project/ Presentation: 20%
Final Project Phase One: 15%
Final Project Phase Two: 25%

Important Deadlines:

January 25
Short Project One: Interactive Storytelling Analysis DUE

February 15
Short Project Two: Identity Mining DUE

March 1
Short Project Three: Group Multiform Story Project/ Presentation DUE

March 29
Meet with Fearless Leader to discuss your Final Project (come to the meeting
with a clear idea of what you'll be doing!)

April 5
Final Project Phase One DUE

April 19
Final Project Phase Two DUE
Policies:
Drop Policy
See here for details on deadlines and procedures for dropping:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/class/current/newpolicywpwf.htm

Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work as your own, whether
you mean to or not. For example, copying or paraphrasing passages from
another writer’s work without acknowledging that you’ve done so is plagiarism.
Allowing another writer to write any part of your essay is plagiarism. Copying or
purchasing a paper from any source is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. The possible consequences range from failing the
assignment to failing the course, or worse. Each incident of plagiarism at UTD
must be reported to the administration. If you are not sure how to properly cite a
quoted or paraphrased source, or if you need help with the format of a citation,
check with the New Century Handbook and/or with your teacher. Although you
can (and, in fact, should) seek help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors,
and others, be sure that your written work is your own.

Email Policy
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO UTD STUDENTS: As of August 1, 2004, all email
correspondence with students will be sent ONLY to the student's U.T. Dallas
email address. U.T. Dallas provides each student with a free email account that is
to be used in all communication with university personnel. This allows the
university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all
individuals corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. The
Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for
students to forward email from other accounts to their U.T. Dallas address and
have their U.T. Dallas mail sent on to other accounts. Students may go to the
following URL to establish or maintain their official U.T. Dallas computer
account: http://netid.utdallas.edu/

Computer Use
During class time, you may NOT use the computers for email, IM, or other
personal, non-class related use without permission from the instructor. Points
will be taken from your participation grade if you engage in these activities.

Cell Phones, other wireless devices

Please turn off your cell phones BEFORE entering the classroom. Do not leave
the class to take a call-- you can check your messages during the break. Using
cell phone during class time is rude to both the instructor and your fellow
students. Likewise please disengage any music or other media devices when you
enter the room.

Grading Policies:

Attendance: 5% of final grade

As this class only meets once a week, your attendance is even more crucial to
your success than in a bi or tri-weekly class. Therefore you will lose 2% off of
your final grade for EACH absence. If you miss more than two classes, you
should meet with me to discuss whether or not you will be able to successfully
complete the course.

Participation: 10%
Your participation grade is based on whole class discussions, small group
exercises, and in-class behavior (see Computer Use policy). I expect you to do
your readings before class and come prepared with questions/ comments. You
will argue for your participation grade both at Midterm and at the end of the
semester.

Weekly Reading Responses: 10%

To facilitate discussion, each week that I assign readings, you must bring in a one
to two paragraph typed response per reading-- e.g., if two chapters, or two
separate texts are assigned in one week, you will bring in two responses. In these
responses, I expect you to 1. Identify the author's main argument (or summarize
the story, if it is fiction); 2. Critique the author's argument (agree or disagree and
elaborate on your reasons one way or the other). Or, in the case of fiction,
critique a few elements of the story-- structure, style, characterization, etc.-- and
explain what you find to be effective, not effective, etc.

Written Work Format:

All written work must be typed, double spaced, and 10 or 12 point font, with
normal (1 inch) margins. I expect you to check for spelling/ grammar/ syntax
errors before handing work in. You must print up your work BEFORE coming to
class and bind it with a staple or paper clip BEFORE coming to class. I cannot be
held responsible for unattached pages. If your work is lost because you forgot to
staple it, it's simply lost. All work is due at the BEGINNING of the class hour.

Late Work:
If you have to miss class on the day an assignment is due, you must email me the
assignment BEFORE class time in order to receive full credit. Work received
after class begins, but before midnight that day will lose 5% of its total grade.
Work received one to seven days late (i.e. until and including the next class
period) will lose 10% of its total grade. After one week, late work will NOT be
accepted.

Extra Credit Options: Maximum of 2

ALL PRESENTATIONS MUST BE SCHEDULED AT LEAST 1 WEEK IN

ADVANCE

Extra Credit 1: Mini Book Report/ Presentation

Give a traditional “who, what, and where” book report/ review on a novel or
collection of short stories (150 pages +) that deals with any of the issues raised in
class. The list below is just a beginning; there are hundreds of possibilities out
there. If you're doing a book not on the list, however, I recommend you get prior
approval. Write 2-3 pages and give a 5-10 minute presentation.

I, Robot, Issac Asimov

The Illustrated Man,by Ray Bradbury
Neuromancer, William Gibson
Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card
Robota, Orson Scott Card
Dune, Frank Herbert
Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert Heinlein
Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson
Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
Value: can replace your lowest Short Project grade

Extra Credit 2: Show and Tell

Give a 10-15 minute presentation (including handouts!) on a film, website, TV

show/ episode, video game, graphic novel, etc. that deals with any of the issues
raised in class. This is your opportunity to expose us to many of the thousands
of media I haven't covered on the syllabus.
Value: can boost A&P grade up to 3%
Extra Credit 3: Vocabulary Journal

Keep a record of the new words/ ideas you encounter along the way. You must
include the source, a dictionary definition, and your own practical definition.
Minimum of 10 words for credit. Value: can boost A&P grade up to 2%

More extra credit opportunities may be offered during the course of the
semester. These will be announced both in class and on the class WebCT
page.
 Class Calender

NOTE: The syllabus and calendar may change at any time according to the
needs of the class and/or its instructor.

The texts listed for each day indicate the work discussed that day in class, not
homework for the next class. As with any college class, it is YOUR JOB to keep
track of the daily readings, essay deadlines, etc. rather than depending on
reminders from me.

January 11: Initiation

Introduction to Course
In-class email assignment

January 18: History

Digital Storytelling, Preface and Ch. 1
Hamlet, Introduction
Watch and discuss “Hamlet” by the Reduced Shakespeare Company
In-class storytelling workshop

January 25: Convergence

Short Project One: Interactive Storytelling Analysis DUE
Peer reviews/ workshop
Digital Storytelling, Ch. 3 and 4

February 1: Identity
*Sherry Turkle, “Identity Crisis”
Digital Storytelling, Ch. 13
Watch and discuss “The Parlor”

February 8: Multi-forms
Hamlet, Ch. 2, 7
Watch and discuss The X-files, “Bad Blood”

February 15: Immersion

Short Project Two: Identity Mining DUE
*“The Veldt,” Ray Bradbury
Hamlet, Ch. 4
watch first half of eXistenZ
February 22: Collaboration
finish eXistenZ and discuss film
Work with groups on stories/ presentations

March 1: Multiform 2
Group Multiform Stories/ Presentations

March 8: Holiday
SPRING BREAK! NO CLASS!

March 15: Tools

Digital Storytelling, Ch. 5, 6, 7
Three-Part Writing Workshop

March 22: Blog

*Blog articles on WebCT
In-class blog critique

March 29: Conference

Short Project: Sketches DUE
NO CLASS. Meet with Fearless Leader (in her office) to discuss your final project
(this means you will come to the meeting with a clear idea of what you'll be
doing).

April 5: Drafting
Final Project Phase One DUE
Peer reviews/ workshop

April 12: PKD

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (entire novel!)

April 19: Endgame

Final Project DUE
Watch Blade Runner, eat pizza, discuss film, eat more pizza