Unit #1: Thinking (and Writing) About Thinking (Weeks 1-3)
Project #1: News Consumer’s Handbook Annotated Infographic
25 pts./25% of course grade
This assignment will be an infographic focused on a specific news story. Students will be expected to apply concepts used during the first unit to create a 10-point annotated infographic to guide media consumption of contemporary news story. The infographic is required to have 10 (ten) specific suggestions for understanding this news story that will be annotated with short 2-3 sentence explanations from our course readings.
Unit #2: Jumping off Bridges (in the Social World) (Weeks 4-5)
Project #2: Social Media Analysis Essay
20 pts./20% of course grade
This assignment will be a social media analysis essay. Students will be expected to apply concepts used during the second unit to rhetorical analysis of an element from a social media timeline. Students will develop an original argument based on their analysis of elements of a social media timeline and include 1-2 sources to support their argument. The essay will be 1000-1200 words (roughly 4-5 pages, not including notes and images) in length, double-spaced, and typed.
Unit #3: The Place Where There is No Darkness (The Political) (Weeks 6-7)
Project #3: Group Multimedia Presentation: Political Concepts from 1984 in Today’s World
20pts./20% of course grade
In this group presentation, students will work in groups of 3-4 students to create a 20-minute oral multimedia presentation. The presentation should include a presentation component in addition to handling discussion questions and queries from the class.
The presentation should focus on a specific social and political idea or concept from the novel 1984 and provide specific examples of how this operates in today’s world (or does not operate). Presentations are expected to include a series of short video clips, deliberately chosen visuals, engaging classroom activities, and directed and specific class discussion questions. You will also submit a 750-1000-word summary of your presentation as an addendum to your presentation.
Graded Class Discussion
5 pts/5% of course grade
In the final class period, students engage in a graded class discussion focused on the final two readings from the course (Nietzsche, Wright) and reflect on the major topics from the course.
Blog Entries
10 pts./10% of course grade
Each of the three required blog entries will be 500-750 words long and be guided by a writing prompt. The blog entries are designed to get you thinking and reflecting on the topic of the unit, as well as the major project due in each unit. The blogs will be graded on a strict pass/fail guideline and should include text, images, and videos as rhetorically appropriate. I ask that you create your blog for this course on http://sites.gsu.edu/, where you can create a free blog.
Weekly Quizzes and Homework
10 pts./10% of course grade
We will begin class at the end of each week with a short quiz that asks you to respond to the readings assigned for class that week. These quizzes will be 3 multiple choice questions and will be assessed numerically (100, 66.66, 33.33, 0). With few exceptions, such as university-approved absences, quizzes cannot be made-up later. I will drop one (1) quiz at the end of the semester.
Additionally, we will very rarely have homework or take-home assignments. These will also be calculated into the final quiz and homework grade.
Participation
10 pts./10% of course grade
My goal is to involve you in the learning process. Your comments and analysis will provide much of the substance of our class. To this end, your participation will be assessed on three main criteria:
“A” participation (95,90): superlative preparation (multiple readings of all assigned texts, excellent assignments, and further reading) for all class sessions, full awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, awareness about staying quiet so others may talk, full participation and leadership in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“B” participation (85, 80): full preparation for all class sessions (full reading of all assigned texts good assignments), good awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“C” participation (75, 70): satisfactory preparation (at least one reading of all assigned texts, basic fulfillment of assignments), awareness, and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“D” participation (65,60): lack of awareness and focus (sleeping in class, checking your phone or laptop when asked not to do so, and preparation (e.g., not doing the readings or completing assignments), disruptive and / or disrespectful behavior, frequent tardiness or leaving class early, lack of contributions to class discussion, failure to participate in group work.
The total number for the points is out of 100. Grades will be made available to you on iCollege and should be easy for you to track as well.
Project #1: News Consumer’s Handbook Annotated Infographic
25 pts./25% of course grade
This assignment will be an infographic focused on a specific news story. Students will be expected to apply concepts used during the first unit to create a 10-point annotated infographic to guide media consumption of contemporary news story. The infographic is required to have 10 (ten) specific suggestions for understanding this news story that will be annotated with short 2-3 sentence explanations from our course readings.
Unit #2: Jumping off Bridges (in the Social World) (Weeks 4-5)
Project #2: Social Media Analysis Essay
20 pts./20% of course grade
This assignment will be a social media analysis essay. Students will be expected to apply concepts used during the second unit to rhetorical analysis of an element from a social media timeline. Students will develop an original argument based on their analysis of elements of a social media timeline and include 1-2 sources to support their argument. The essay will be 1000-1200 words (roughly 4-5 pages, not including notes and images) in length, double-spaced, and typed.
Unit #3: The Place Where There is No Darkness (The Political) (Weeks 6-7)
Project #3: Group Multimedia Presentation: Political Concepts from 1984 in Today’s World
20pts./20% of course grade
In this group presentation, students will work in groups of 3-4 students to create a 20-minute oral multimedia presentation. The presentation should include a presentation component in addition to handling discussion questions and queries from the class.
The presentation should focus on a specific social and political idea or concept from the novel 1984 and provide specific examples of how this operates in today’s world (or does not operate). Presentations are expected to include a series of short video clips, deliberately chosen visuals, engaging classroom activities, and directed and specific class discussion questions. You will also submit a 750-1000-word summary of your presentation as an addendum to your presentation.
Graded Class Discussion
5 pts/5% of course grade
In the final class period, students engage in a graded class discussion focused on the final two readings from the course (Nietzsche, Wright) and reflect on the major topics from the course.
Blog Entries
10 pts./10% of course grade
Each of the three required blog entries will be 500-750 words long and be guided by a writing prompt. The blog entries are designed to get you thinking and reflecting on the topic of the unit, as well as the major project due in each unit. The blogs will be graded on a strict pass/fail guideline and should include text, images, and videos as rhetorically appropriate. I ask that you create your blog for this course on http://sites.gsu.edu/, where you can create a free blog.
Weekly Quizzes and Homework
10 pts./10% of course grade
We will begin class at the end of each week with a short quiz that asks you to respond to the readings assigned for class that week. These quizzes will be 3 multiple choice questions and will be assessed numerically (100, 66.66, 33.33, 0). With few exceptions, such as university-approved absences, quizzes cannot be made-up later. I will drop one (1) quiz at the end of the semester.
Additionally, we will very rarely have homework or take-home assignments. These will also be calculated into the final quiz and homework grade.
Participation
10 pts./10% of course grade
My goal is to involve you in the learning process. Your comments and analysis will provide much of the substance of our class. To this end, your participation will be assessed on three main criteria:
- Quality and Quantity of Contributions to Class Sessions. Do you participate in every class? Do you make sure you remain respectful during class discussion? Do you listen carefully to the instructor and other students and respond to their contributions? Do you ask good follow-up questions? Do you take notes?
- Preparedness. Do you come to class ready to work, with all required preparations completed? Do you show up on time? Do you bring your textbooks and writing supplies to class?
- Collaboration. Do you contribute to group projects effectively, both in and out of class time? Do you put full effort into peer review? Do you make use of office hours?
“A” participation (95,90): superlative preparation (multiple readings of all assigned texts, excellent assignments, and further reading) for all class sessions, full awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, awareness about staying quiet so others may talk, full participation and leadership in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“B” participation (85, 80): full preparation for all class sessions (full reading of all assigned texts good assignments), good awareness and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), frequent substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“C” participation (75, 70): satisfactory preparation (at least one reading of all assigned texts, basic fulfillment of assignments), awareness, and focus while in class (not sleeping or checking Twitter or talking when you shouldn’t), substantive contributions to discussion (driven by inquisitiveness, respect, and honesty), questions or comments that further the discussion and invite classmates to respond, full participation in group work and peer review, excellent homework and class assignments.
“D” participation (65,60): lack of awareness and focus (sleeping in class, checking your phone or laptop when asked not to do so, and preparation (e.g., not doing the readings or completing assignments), disruptive and / or disrespectful behavior, frequent tardiness or leaving class early, lack of contributions to class discussion, failure to participate in group work.
The total number for the points is out of 100. Grades will be made available to you on iCollege and should be easy for you to track as well.