Basic Concepts of New Media

There are four essays/assignments worth 475 points of the 1000 total. Each essay will be given a “points/no points” grade based upon its meeting minimum requirements (subject matter, word count, turned in on time). Two will receive a letter grade, one of your choice (you will write a short paragraph explaining why you selected this assignment) and one of the remaining two selected at random.The last assigned essay is a reflection on your learnings in the course. It substitutes for a final exam and will be due finals week. Late assignments are not accepted.

On your course blog, you should have a “page” (not “post”) titled COM300 (created in lab). This page will serve as a “table of contents” that links to each of your public assignments. Learning Goal: learn how to link resources (create hyperlinks) and use WordPress to build a website composed of pages as well as posts.

1. Assignment 1 – Due Fri 30 January @ 9 pm (student posts)
2. Assignment 2 – Due Fri 13 February @ 9 pm
3. Assignment 3 – Due Fri 6 March @ 9 pm
4. Assignment 4 – Substitutes for final exam. Due, via Collect-It, 9 pm Wednesday, 18 March

Assignment 1 – Finding and Evaluating Online Communication
Due Friday 30 January @ 9pm
Published as a “blog post” and categorized as “assignment”; then linked on COM300 page.
500-700 words
Total points: 125 of 475
Graded on completeness and quality of analysis.

See everyone’s first essay.

Pick a topic of personal interest related to digital media, such as social networking (Facebook or MySpace), privacy and security (cyberstalking or FISA or anonymizers), politics (elections or electronic voting) or new technologies (OLPC or the mobile web). The more specific your choice, the easier the assignment will be!

Using a UW library electronic database like Academic Search Complete or EBSCO, find two (2) sources relating to your topic. One should be a scholarly source and one should be a popular source. (You can use your favorite web search tool to find the popular source, if you like.) You will create an APA citation and summary for each source. You should also save the search terms that you used to find the source.

Begin your essay with a topic sentence; make this sentence bold. (If you are composing in WordPress, highlight the sentence and then click the “B” on the rich-text editor bar. Briefly state why you are interested in this topic.

Write a short summary of each article. Then compare and contrast the two, focusing on form, content, writing style. What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of each? How did each help you learn more about your topic?

This endnote information does not affect your word count:
* End the essay with each APA citation. Don’t try to format the hanging indent — it’s too hard to do with WordPress!
* On a separate line, list the search query that you used when you found each article.

Assignment goal:
To use electronic search tools successfully (skill); to become intimately familiar with the concept of “information overload” (knowledge); to demonstrate understanding of the differences between scholarly and popular resources (analysis); and to prepare students for their roles as topic discussion leader in the course (practice).

Assignment 2 – Social Networks
Due Friday 13 February @ 9pm
Published as a “blog post” and categorized as “assignment”; then linked on COM300 page.
500-700 words
Total points: 125 of 475
Graded on completeness and quality of analysis.

Wikipedia is an example of social production (social networks, facilitated by technology, producing an artifact). Although some criticize Wikipedia because it can be “edited by anyone,” others point to this characteristic as a strength. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your digital media literacy (an important skill as citizen and scholar) by selecting and analyzing a Wikipedia article (of personal interest but it must be related to digital media, the topic of this class!).

You can begin by searching Wikipedia via its search tool — by adding “wiki” to a Google search string — by browsing categories or reading featured content. How you begin is up to you. Your article must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least six months old. Check by clicking the “history” tab at the top of the article.
• Have at least four authors. The “history” tab will tell you this, too.
• Have at least five external citations. These appear as “notes” or “references” at the foot of the article.

The following articles are examples that have varying degrees of value for this assignment. From best to worst: Marshall McLuhan, Electronic Books, Intellectual Property.
1) After you have selected your article, list the title and URL and describe the article. Your description should be a sentence or two describing the content, origin date, and number of contributors. Explain why you selected this article/topic; make this sentence bold. (If you are composing in WordPress, highlight the sentence and then click the “B” on the rich-text editor bar.)

2) Analyze the veracity of the article by reading it critically and by studying the cited sources. If the topic is controversial, explain why. If you believe the article is biased, explain why. (Look at the Discussion Page!) You can also use your own knowledge of the topic to make a judgment. This guide to evaluating wikis and blogs may be helpful.

3) Find at least one other article (consider using a UW Library database) that discusses the same topic. Compare and contrast the two. Which do you believe is the more credible and why?

This endnote information does not affect your word count:
* End the essay with each APA citation. Don’t try to format the hanging indent — it’s too hard to do with WordPress! Remember, Wikipedia provides citation information from a link in the left navigation column (Cite this page).

Assignment goal:
To demonstrate digital media literacy (critical judgment); to become familiar with forms of social production (knowledge); and to develop your writing style and voice (practice).

Assignment 3 – Access
Due Friday 6 March @ 9pm
Published as a “blog post” and categorized as “assignment”; then linked on COM300 page.
500-700 words
Total points: 125 of 475
Graded on completeness and quality of analysis.

Pick one aspect of the digital divide (domestic or foreign) or access/accessibility and prepare a persuasive essay (call to action) — yes, you must take a position!

Possible topics: The importance of the One Laptop Per Child Project (or OLPC versus Intel) or why the Americans With Disabilities Act should (or should not) apply to web sites or why cable companies should provide access to their wires into your home just like the telephone company does. Use your imagination! Pick a topic that is meaningful to you. (Tips on writing opinion pieces.)

Be sure to make your topic sentence bold. (If you are composing in WordPress, highlight the sentence and then click the “B” on the rich-text editor bar. Note: Mac users will need to use Firefox; the WordPress rich-text editor does not work with Safari.)

Assignment goal:
To creatively express an opinion (critical judgment and creativity); to become familiar with the concept of the digital divide (knowledge); and to practice writing short, persuasive articles (practice).

Assignment 4
This, the final assignment, substitutes for a final exam. In this essay, you should reflect upon what you have learned in the course; give examples (evidence, such as references to readings); illustrate how your thinking changed or detail other “ah-ha” moments. How will you apply these learnings outside the classroom?

750-900 words.

In addition (not part of word count), at the end of this paper, write a paragraph detailing the essay (one of the three) that you have selected to be evaluated for a letter grade. Explain why you selected this assignment (why you think it’s your best work) and provide a URL.

Due, via Catalyst, 9 pm Wednesday, 18 March (Week 11 – Finals Week)
Graded on quality of insight and analysis, grammar, spelling, general professionalism; late assignments not accepted. No DOCX files, please; DOC is OK.
Total points: 100 of 475