Syllabus

Assignments

Readings

Resources

Assignments:

1. Weekly quizzes (30 points - 2 points each)
-- due each week
There will be weekly quizzes covering the reading material assigned for each week. Quizzes will open on Friday at 1:00 a.m. and are due on Tuesday of each week by 9:00 a.m. You can take the quiz any day during this time frame, but once you start, you will have 20 minutes to take the quiz. There is no second attempt. Quizzes are available on moodle. Each quiz includes about 10 multiple-choice and/or short-answer questions. Quizzes on weeks 3 and 9 are double, which means they'll contain double the amount of questions, and will add to 4 points each. You'll also have double the amount of time (i.e., 40 minutes) to complete these quizzes.

The lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Quizzes are supposed to test how much you learned from the readings, and to make sure you come to class prepared for the lecture and for class discussion. They will be easy enough so that if you read the text carefully, taking notes, and underlining the important parts, you will have no problem in completing it successfully. Because some of the texts are complex, and include a large amount of information, you might need to read it twice before taking the quiz. However, if you do not read the text BEFORE starting the quiz, you most likely won't be able to answer any of the questions.

Because quizzes are online, it is YOUR responsibility to take it in a place with stable internet connection, such as the library or one of the University's computer labs. I won't accept late or incomplete quizzes because of bad internet connection.

2. Mid-term and Final Exams (25 and 35 points respectively)
-- on 09.29 and 12.06
The mid-term is an in-class exam. The final is a take-home exam. In the mid-term, I will give the class about 2 or 3 options, and you'll choose to answer one. In the final exam, I will give the class about 4 or 5 questions, and you'll choose to answer two. Questions are complex, and multifaceted, meaning that they will include material from multiple lectures. The purpose of the exams is for you to demonstrate that you have understood the major issues addressed in the course and that you can articulate an insightful, well-supported position on those issues.

You should present a clear, well-structured answer to the questions, incorporating information, facts, or quotations from the course readings and from your lecture notes, class readings, and class discussions. This is the minimal requirement, however; if you are aiming for an “A,” don’t settle for the minimum. All source material must be properly indicated using quotation marks (if it is a quote) and credited using proper parenthetical references.

Your answers will be evaluated based on:

o how you answer the questions in adequate detail.
o the quality of the sources you use to support your argument.
o how well you connect your assignment to the topics discussed in class.
o the quality of your writing.

Discussion/exercise classes on Thursdays will normally include activities that will prepare you for the exams. For you to be successful in the exams, it is necessary that you come to these classes and participate in the discussions and activities.

Model of good answers: [new media] [networks] [virtual]

3. Participation (10 points)

Participation entails not only attending the class but coming prepared having done all the readings, having made an honest attempt at understanding the author’s argument, and bringing reading notes and questions you’d like to ask. Participation grades will be given according to the following criteria:

• Be present in class;
• Contribute to the class with your ideas, comments and questions;
• Actively participate in all discussion/exercise classes, completing homeworks, when needed;
• Actively participate in the course, answering the instructor's questions and engaging in class discussions.

The participation grade will be given according to the following criteria:

• A+ (10): Outstanding participation. Student meets and exceeds all criteria for “A” participation.
• A (9.5): Student is well prepared, attentive, and participates in all discussion classes and exercises. Student always responds when called upon and volunteers often with pertinent answers or questions.
• B (8.5): Student is usually prepared, participates in most of discussion classes and exercises, responds when called on and volunteers on occasion.
• C (7.5): Student shows evidence of being unprepared on occasion, misses many discussion and exercise classes and/or is not an active participant, has trouble when called on and does not volunteer often.
• D (6.5): Student is unprepared, inattentive, never volunteers, and/or comes to class late.
• F (0): Student exhibits a lack of concern for the class, sleeps in class, or disturbs the class by talking or using laptop or mobile phone in innappropriate times.

4. Extra credit opportunity

Throughout the semeter, there will be opportunities for extra credit. Extra credit activities consist of a one page (max) summary/comment of the week's readings. The writing assignments are due on Tuesday by the beggining of each class WHEN MARKED on the CLASS SCHEDULE. You should bring a print out of your assignment to class. Your assignment should follow the following format: Letter size papper, 12 points Times New Roman font, double-spaced, one-inch margins. Otherwise it won't be accepted.

Extra credit activities are worth up to 1 point of your final grade and will be graded according to the following criteria:

1. The student (a) provides a clear and objective summary of the text's main ideas, and (b) connects the text main topics with previous classes and readings, and personal observations (For this part, you may address the following question: why is this text relevant to understand the topic (new) media history and theory?)
0.5. The student (a) identified some main ideas in the text, but did not address them adequately, (b) did not provide a clear summary of the text, or (c) did not satisfactorily connect the text ideas with previous classes, readings and personal observations.
0. The student (a) did not summarize the text and did not connect it to past classes, or (b) turned in the assignment after the deadline.

THIS IS **NOT** A MANDATORY ACTIVITY.

Example of a good summaries/comments can be found here.