| Assignments |
First Web Writing Assignment (500-1000 words):
Due Wednesday, 9/6
Create your own personal blog on blogger.com.
Then post your own personal computer history and timeline to your blog.
Talk about your first encounters with a computer, with email, with web
pages, with music, games, chat, etc. Was it at school, at home, or with
a friend? What machine did you use? What games and software did you use?
What did you do on your computer? In short, tell us what your history with
computers has been up to now. Be as specific, concrete, detailed, and complete
as possible. Include links and graphics where appropriate.
Post a response on our class
blog with the address of your new blog for us.
Bring a printed copy of your paper to hand in to me in class.
You will also present your blogs and papers to the class for discussion
on Wednesday 9/6.
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Second Web Writing Assignment (750-1500 words):
Due Monday, 9/18
Write an essay reflecting on the creation of your new blog in light
of our readings from both Vannevar
Bush and Nathaniel
Hawthorne.
How does the internet in general, and your blog in particular, fit into
the very different visions of the relationship between technology and society
expressed by these two authors? Does the internet and blogging seem to
you like a realization of Bush's dream of the memex? Or is it more like
the insidious threat to social and domestic life Hawthorne sees in his
new-fangled wood stove?
Take a clear position and argue for your view making specific use of
both articles. Please use MLA
bibliographic style for all works cited.
Post your essay as an entry in your blog using links and graphics as
appropriate.
Please bring a printed copy of your paper to hand in to me in class,
or put a copy in my box.
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Third Web Writing Assignment (1000-2000 words):
Due Wednesday, 10/25
"What are we thinking about when we think about computers?" (Turkle
47). Pick one specific text, character, representation, TV commercial,
print advertisement, film, TV show, software, game, or other cultural artifact
dealing with computers and analyze and explore the ideas it conveys about
computers and our relationship to computers. Compare and contrast those
representations with one of the science fiction portrayals we have
discussed in class: 2001, Blade Runner, Neuromancer, or The Matrix.
Making substantial use of Sherry Turkle's Life on the Screen, explore
how these portrayals might affect the way we think about and interact with
computers, with each other, and even with ourselves. Please use MLA
bibliographic style for any works cited.
Post your paper to your Web site. Think carefully about how to best
articulate the thesis and themes of your paper as a Web page (or pages)
through your use of appropriate links, graphics, etc. You will be graded
on both your writing and Web design. When you are finished, post a link
to your paper on your blog.
Please also bring a printed copy of your paper to hand in to me in class,
or put a copy in my box.
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Final Web Project and Symposium (1000-2000 words):
Due Wednesday, 12/13, 3:00-5:30 PM
Final group projects on topics from Free Culture will be presented
during our regularly scheduled final exam period.
Each group will investigate the issues raised in Lessig's book by examining
in detail the current copyright and intellectual property issues surrounding
one
type of digital media: texts, images, music, video.
Using specific examples and current events, provide an overview
of the current state of copyright issues dealing with your particular digital
medium along with its history, current struggles over copy protection,
piracy, etc., and recommendations by your group for specific policy changes
and improvements.
Your group will construct online content explaining, analyzing, and
evaluating this situation, making direct and substantial use of Lessig's
book in your project, and linking to other relevant online information.
You may also use any other materials we've read during the semester as
you see fit. What conclusions can you draw from your example and discussion
about the future of the Internet, and what policy goals and recommendations
would your group suggest? Be creative. Be bold. Be focused. Be specific.
Post the address of your group project to our class blog.
Groups:
1. Alysa, Leah, Christoph, Max, Lauren: Texts
2. Amanda, Tanith, Michael H., Mark: Images
3. Derek, Sam, Katy, Jen: Music
4. Wade, Michael B., Samantha, Sara: Video
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