NCSU Department of Communication

COM598W::Gaming & Social Networks
Instructor: Dr. Adriana de Souza e Silva

 

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Assignments:

Assignments will be evaluated based on:

  • The originality and creativity of your ideas,
  • The quality of your argument,
  • The quality of the sources you use to support your argument
  • How well you connect your assignment to the topics we are discussing in class,
  • The quality of your writing / speech

All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. No late assignments will be accepted, except with prior permission from the instructor.

 

1. Weekly reflections (blog posts) (10 points)
-- due each class
These are brief summaries/comments about the texts assigned for each class. The writing comments are due the day before (i. e., on Monday) each class and should be about half- to one- page long (1.5 leading space, 1” margins, 12-point font). You should summarize each text separately and then connect them together.

For each post, you are expected to address the following questions:

  • What are the main ideas and concepts of the texts?
  • How do these texts connect with other readings in the course, class discussions, as well as with relevant outside materials?
  • To what extent do these texts allow me to understand games in general and social games in particular? How do they apply to my own experience?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of these texts?

Posts are graded as 1, 1/2 or 0.

In the first class you will receive a login and a password, as well as detailed instructions on how to post your comments.

Assignment goal: Blog posts are supposed to prepare you for class discussion by helping you to organize your analysis of the texts, and make you aware of your colleagues comments and points of view. You are strongly encouraged to ask research questions on your blog post and bring them to class in order to contribute to class discussion.

Instructions to post comments:
1. Go to: http://www2.chass.ncsu.edu/blog/com598W/wp-login.php
2. Login with your username and password.
3. Go to "Write > Write post"
4. Give a title to your post: the title should be the last name of the text's author, e.g., Abbatte.
5. Write your post.
6. Sign your post (include <p></p><p></p> by "your name")
7. Assign a category to your post. This should be your name, listed on the right hand side of the page.
8. Unclick the "uncategorized" category.
9. Click "publish".
10. To view your post, click on "View Site" on the top right hand corner of the page.
11. If you wish to re-edit it, click on "Edit" below your post, which will take you back to the post interface. Make your changes and click "save".

NOTE: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CLICK ON YOUR NAME UNDER "CATEGORY" BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR POST. FAILURE TO DO THAT WILL **NOT** ASSIGN THE POST TO YOUR NAME AND THEREFORE I'LL NOT BE ABLE TO GRADE IT.

 

2. Text presentation (30 points)
-- twice a semester (15% each)

Each class, one students will be responsible for presenting a text and leading class discussion on the text assigned for that day. Much like the blog posts, you should summarize the text, addressing the following questions:

  • What are the main ideas and concepts of the text?
  • How does this text connect with other readings in the course, class discussions, as well as with relevant outside materials?
  • To what extent does this text allow me to understand games in general and mobile technologies in particular? How does it apply to my own experience?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of this text?

Also, you should:

  • Bring any type of materials (scholarly sources, newspaper clips, web pages, online works, video clips, etc) that help to understand and contextualize the topic.
  • Address research questions / develop a critical analysis of the text responding to the author’s argument
  • Bring questions to lead class discussion.
  • Take about 15-20 minutes to present the text.
  • Lead class discussion for 30-40 minutes.

You’ll be evaluated based on:

  • how you describe the main concepts in the text adequate detail
  • how you connect the text with other readings in the course and class discussions
  • how you conceptualize the topic in a broader research context,
  • the quality of your research questions
  • the quality of your text analysis and criticism (responding to the author’s arguments)
  • how you conclude/expand the topic beyond the author’s ideas
  • the quality of the research materials you bring (scholarly papers, articles, audio/visual)
  • the adequate length of the presentation (15-20 minutes long)
  • the adequate citation of sources (APA style)
  • your presentation outline
  • your public speaking abilities

--> You should have your presentation outline ready one week before the due date to discuss it with the instructor.

Assignment goal: The text presentations are supposed to prepare you for public speaking. The presentation part matches the general length of a conference presentation. The discussion part will help you to lead group discussions, as in a classroom setting. Additionally, presenting the text requires you to develop a mini-research on your topic through broader connections to outside research materials.

Download text presentation grading rubric model

 

3. Gaming database (10 points)
A general task to be performed throughout the course is the development of an online database of sources (scholarly and non-scholarly) about gaming that will serve as an updated research source for the class. You need to bring in newspaper / magazine clippings, ads, web pages, exhibit announcements, video clips, or any other artifact you may run across that in relate to the issues raised in the readings for that class period. As a suggestion for finding relevant sources on the topic, you should subscribe to the Websites/RSS feeds which are in the resources list of the Gaming Lab Website. You are also encouraged to find your own sources. Each student should plan on bringing at least one source each week. You should be able to justify why your source is relevant for the class and for the topic we are discussing that week.

The first 10 minutes each class will be dedicated to the discussion of the research sources you bring with you. You should be prepared to critically analyse the sources and to explain to the class:

  • why you chose that specific source
  • why is it relevant for the topics discussed in class
  • how it connects with other sources brought by other students

Additionally, a digital version of you source must also be posted on the class wiki. The entry should contain:

  • The title of your article/news/image (etc)
  • A brief description
  • The uploaded file / link to the file

Instructions to populate the online database at the wiki:
1. Go to: http://wikis.lib.ncsu.edu/index.php/COM_Gaming_%26_Social_Networks
2. Login with your unity ID and password at the top right hand corner of the page.
3. Click on the class topic (e.g., "Games as Play")
4. Click on the "Edit" button at the top navigation bar
5. Decide if your contribution is a scholarly article, popular press article, a blog/wiki or a book. Click under the category you chose.
6. Write a title for your article / news / image, etc.
7. Select the title and click the "b" button at the edit navigation bar to make it bold.
8. Write a brief description of your source.
9. If you want to add a link, use the links at the top edit bar.
10. If you want to insert an image, you need to upload it first using the link at the left hand side. Keep the name of the file. Then go back to your edit page and click on the button for "embedded image". Replace the given tag with your image name.
11. Sign your name in the end, so I know you wrote that source: by yourname.
12. Also click on the signature button to keep track of when you posted.
14. Click on "Save Page " to finish.
15. ALWAYS GIVE A DOUBLE SPACE IN BETWEEN ENTRIES (INSTEAD OF USING A HORIZONTAL BAR).

Assignment goal: Game Studies is a fairly recent academic area. Therefore, the number of resources available (especially journal articles) is very limited and can be hard to find. By creating an online database we are collecting our own sources and sharing resources among ourselves in order to promote and facilitate research.

 

4. Final assignment (50 points)

You have three options to choose from:

1. Final individual paper (50 points)
2. Final individual project (50 points)
3. Final group project + short individual paper (20 and 30 points)

1. The paper:
The final individual paper is meant for students who would like to focus on theory during the course and on their own research. The paper topic is open, as long as you focus on some theoretical aspect of games as social environments. You can use a rhetorical approach, discourse analysis or critical theory as methods for developing your paper. It is recommended that you also investigate some characteristics of mobile, location aware or hybrid reality gaming. Your analysis should emphasize any cultural and social implications of games.

General directions for the paper:

  • Minimum of 20 and maximum of 25 pages, not including title page, notes, references list, and appendix.
  • Double line spacing, 1” margins, 12-point font, and no extra space between paragraphs
  • If you want to include images, insert them as an appendix. Don’t forget to mention copyright and sources
  • Cover page with the paper title, your name/number and class
  • Follow APA style guide for references and paper formatting.
  • You must have at least 15 sources; 9 of which must be scholarly sources. You should cite at least 4 texts used in class.

Your paper must have:

  • Abstract / 5 keywords / Introduction / Conclusion / References.
  • a clearly defined research question(s);
  • a clearly defined thesis statement;
  • clear supporting points;
  • a logical, argument-based structure; and
  • concrete, well-documented evidence.

Your paper will be evaluated based on:

  • your topic definition, that is:
    • how you define your research questions / thesis statement in adequate detail.
    • if you analyze multiuser and/or location aware games
    • if you connect it to your project
  • the substance of your research, that is:
    • the originality of your idea
    • how you completely and clearly discuss the issues involved drawing from class lectures, discussions and readings.
    • how you define, review, and draw on the relevant scholarly literature.
    • how you provide specific criteria and evidence for the position being espoused based upon readings and lectures.
    • if your research is appropriate to your topic.
  • Your paper structure, that is:
    • the adequate length of your paper;
    • the adequate number of sources;
    • the adequate number of scholarly sources;
    • the proper formatting and citation of sources;
    • if the paper is clearly structured and organized.
    • the quality of your writing (paragraph transitions, spelling, grammar, punctuation).

You will write this paper by completing a series of 4 individual assignments, each of which contributes to the total of 50% of your grade:

For additional help on writing your paper look at the following Workshop: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/index.html

*Download grading rubric model

 

2. The project:
The final project is meant for studens who would like to focus on practical skills and exercise game development. The project should consist of a working prototype or documentation for a multi-user / pervasive / location-based / mobile game. It should also include a 5-10 page manual that explains and theorizes the game.

In order to create an original and interesting game, you should first look for and study existing games. Think about the following questions:

  • How would your game differ from the games we studied in class?
  • How is it similar?
  • What would be the feasibility of producing this game?

Minimum requirements* for the project:

  • a one paragraph description of the game
  • a story board (may be made in ppt, html, Photoshop).
  • A 5-10 page game manual / instructions, including theoretical analysis of the motivations for developing the game (comparison to other existing games, target public, theories studied).
  • A documentation that simulates the game (a video, or website) or the game itself.

* These are minimum requirements. The closer your project gets to an actual game, the better.

The game plot is open, as long as it deals with multi-user, location-based and/or pervasive games.

The project will be evaluated based on:

  • How well you create a method of representing interactive storylines / multimedia interactions (documentation)
  • How clearly and concise you present your game design concept
  • How clearly and concise you present your game rules
  • How you define the audience of your project (with supporting arguments)
  • If the game components allow for social interaction
  • If the project shows extensive research on the previous work done on the field
  • If the manual describes the game in adequate detail (with no need of further explanation)

You will develop the project by completing a series of four assignments, each of which contributes to the total of 50% of your grade:

  • Define work groups (09.04)
  • Present a written (one paragraph proposal of the final project to be discussed in class (10.02)
  • Present an initial storyboard for the final project (10.16)
  • Final presentations (12.04)

Download project grading rubric

 

3. Group project + short paper:
This option is for students who would like to develop the gaming project working in a group of 2 or 3 people. Because the workload will be split among the group, students who choose this option should also turn in a short paper based on the project.

The project directions are the same as the individual project.

The paper should be a theoretical extension of your project. You will use the paper as a way to develop some critical analysis and investigate theoretical issues that might have arisen with the project development. You should connect the paper with the concept of pervasive and mobile games, relating to its future uses and developments for social communication and mobile culture. Your analysis should focus on any cultural implications and contextualization of the game. The paper directions are the same as the individual long paper, with the difference that the short paper length should range from 10 to 15 pages.

 

The last class meeting will be reserved for students’ demonstrations / presentations of the projects and the papers.