General course information
Primary Texts
Games
Please consult the Guide to Games for information about the games for our course.
Readings
- Aarseth, Espen. “Introduction: Ergodic Literature.” Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature. Johns Hopkins Literary Press, 1997, pp. 1-23.
- Bogost, Ian. “The Rhetoric of Video Games." The Ecology of Games: Connecting Youth, Games, and Learning. Ed. Katie Salen. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Media and Learning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2008, pp. 117–140. <www.cogsci.rpi.edu/public_html/ruiz/EGDFall2013/readings/RhetoricVideoGames_Bogost.pdf>.
- Frasca, Gonzalo. “Simulation versus Narrative: Introduction to Ludology.” The Video Game Theory Reader. Eds. Mark J. P. Wolf and Bernard Perron. Routledge, 2003, pp. 221-35. <www.ludology.org/articles/VGT_final.pdf>.
- Jenkins, Henry. “Game Design as Narrative Architecture.” First Person: New Media as Story, Performance, and Game. Eds. Noah Wardrip-Fruin and Pat Harrigan. MIT Press, 2004, pp. 118-30.
- Juul, Jesper. “Introduction.” Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds. 2005. MIT Press, 2011, pp. 1-22. <www.half-real.net/sample/half-real-introduction.pdf>.
- Simons, Jan. “Narrative, Games, and Theory.” Game Studies: The International Journal of Computer Game Research, vol. 7, no. 1, 2007. <gamestudies.org/0701/articles/simons>.
- Tavinor, Grant. “Bioshock and the Art of Rapture.” Philosophy and Literature, vol. 33, no. 1, April 2009, pp. 91-106. <muse.jhu.edu/article/262096/pdf>.
Course Expectations or Outputs
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- critically engage the theoretical, historical, and cultural contexts of a focused topic in digital media and technology.
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the course topic through the analysis of primary texts in both class discussion and written work.
- analyze cultural responses to digital technologies.
- construct and sustain analytical arguments in clear, coherent prose and proper essay format.
- enrich analytical arguments about primary texts through the judicious use of secondary sources.
Course Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate:
- a detailed knowledge of a focused topic in digital culture.
- an ability to offer theoretically and historically informed interpretation of texts.
- an ability to compare the merits of different critical and theoretical approaches.
- an ability to gather, review, and assess secondary sources appropriate to the topic.
- an ability to communicate logical, analytical arguments in clear, correct, and persuasive prose.
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 and played all assigned games (!). You are expected to 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
- The term essay is due in class on November 20. After the due date, there will be a lateness penalty of 2%/day (including weekend days) until December 4. After December 4, the penalty will be 5%/day and papers will be graded with minimal or no feedback.
- For the short analysis essay or video, students may choose to analyse any one course game. The essay or video is due anytime before the beginning of the first class that treats the work the student has selected to write on; for BioShock and Spore, the assignment is due on November 6. Assignments handed in after the class has begun on the deadline date will not be accepted, except for analyses of BioShock and Spore, which will be accepted with penalties of 2%/day until the first scheduled lecture on that game.
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.