General course information
Required Texts
- Anderson, M. T. Feed. 2002.
- Baker, Stephen. The Numerati. 2008.
- Stephenson, Neal. Snow Crash. 1992.
- A variety of other readings will be required, most of which are online.
Course Objectives
- continue to develop ability to write clear, error-free, university-level prose
- continue to develop ability to write short essays (argumentative and/or research)
- demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the course texts
- gain a basic understanding of the field of Digital Humanities and its goals
- develop ability to critically assess the impact of digital technology on the social world
- develop an understanding of the theory and rudimentary techniques of text analysis
Preparation and Participation
You are expected to participate in class in an informed manner. At the very least, you are expected to come to class regularly,
having read all assigned reading for that class. Ideally, you will have thought about the reading, taken notes on the reading, and
have prepared opinions on and notes and questions about the reading. Ideally, you will participate in class discussions. Keep in mind
that participating in class is usually a highly rewarding experience, greatly enhancing your ability to understand the course material
and helping ensure your success in the course. Everyone is expected to be courteous and professional at all times in class.
Lateness
Assignments are due in class. For each assignment, you may hand in the assignment up to one week late without penalty; after that,
there will be a 2%/day penalty for every day (including weekend days) it is late. Any assignment handed in more than two weeks after
the due date will receive a penalty of 20% and will be graded with little to no feedback. All assignments must be submitted by the
last class.
Plagiarism
The Department of English Studies and Nipissing University maintain a strict policy on all forms of academic dishonesty.
Each assignment must be original work produced by the student only for this course. All referencing and documentation must
be complete and accurate for both direct and indirect quotations. The Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines for essay
preparation are the standard in English Studies. Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism will not be accepted as an excuse:
if you are uncertain about any of this information, see your instructor immediately. All essays and tests are subject to an
additional oral and/or written test at the instructor’s discretion. All suspected plagiarism will be reported to the
chair of the department, the dean of the faculty, and the registrar of the university.