108D F21 Ehrentraut

ENGL108D: Digital Lives

Department of English Language and Literature - University of Waterloo

Instructor: Dr. Judy Ehrentraut, jehrentr@uwaterloo.ca

Overview

This course will give you the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of how old and new media affect our lives. We will examine how digital communication technologies create and promote online identities and social spaces, while exploring the technical and cultural forces that inform what it means to have “digital lives.”

In this course you will also:

• Learn the importance of digital literacy and its history
• Develop your close reading skills so you can critically analyze what you read
• Identify the terms used to theorize media and form your own academic voice
• Learn how to organize an argumentative essay and create a proper thesis statement
• Learn how to thoughtfully respond to the opinions of your peers

Course Meeting Times

Though this is an online course, you are expected to log into LEARN at least twice per week to access the slideshows and do the readings on/before Mondays and Wednesdays. Participating in the Group Discussion component is the equivalent of attendance, and this is mandatory. A detailed explanation can be found in Content > Group Discussion Assignment on LEARN.

Grading Scheme and Due Dates

Required Texts

Flew, Terry and Richard Smith. New Media: An Introduction. 4th Canadian Edition, Oxford UP, 2021

All other texts are available via links in Content > Weekly Schedule or in Content > Readings.

Email Policy, Questions and Virtual Office Hours

Any questions you may have about the course, the assignments, the schedule, what group/section you are in, etc. can be posted under Connect > Discussions >Ask Me Anything. Before emailing me, please check this forum to see if someone else has already asked your question. Since some of you may have the same general questions, I would prefer to only respond once.

If your question has not been answered in this forum and is of a more personal or specific nature, please feel free to email me. Keep in mind that email is fast, but not instant. I will read your emails and respond within 24 hours, but please do not ask me to explain an entire reading to you in order to help you answer the Discussion Questions. If you have a specific question about a reading, I’ll answer it, but please complete the reading first and then ask for clarification.

I will also be available for individual virtual office hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 12 pm - 1 pm EST, should you want to communicate with me over Microsoft Teams. If those times don’t work for you, please email me and we can set up a time that works for both of us.

Late Policy

Given the online nature of this course and the fact that attendance cannot be recorded, the only way I can ensure you have done the readings and are keeping up with the course content is through your participation in the Group Discussions twice a week. If you miss a reading or miss your window to post your answer/response depending on your assigned Section, remember these are only worth 2% each. It would be better for you and your entire group if you focused on the next reading to ensure you don’t fall behind, so, unfortunately, I cannot allow any extensions or make-ups for the weekly Group Discussions.

If you are late uploading any of the Reflection Assignments, I deduct 3% for the first day and 5% for all days following, including weekends. This is so that you can take one extra day to make sure you are satisfied and totally finished with your work, without losing too much of your grade.

NOTE: The Final Reflection is your final major assignment in place of an exam. If you don’t hand it in, you will fail the course. If you need an extension, please email me.

Extensions

Students who require extensions must email me at least 24 hours before the due date, and must provide a legitimate reason for the extension request. I, unfortunately, cannot grant extensions without some kind of proof that demonstrates a medical or family emergency. Students who regularly require extra time for assignments should register with Accessibility Services at the beginning of term, but must still request extensions from me.

Academic Integrity

The Faculty of Arts requires that I make you aware of the following: “Students are expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for their actions. Students who are unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who need help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about ‘rules’ for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Assistant Dean.

For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy #71, Student Academic Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm Students who believe that they have been wrongfully or unjustly penalized have the right to grieve: refer to Policy #70, Student Grievance: http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm

Turnitin.com: Text matching software (Turnitin®) may be used to screen assignments in this course. Turnitin® is used to verify that all materials and sources in assignments are documented. Students’ submissions are stored on a U.S. server, therefore students must be given an alternative (e.g., scaffolded assignment or annotated bibliography), if they are concerned about their privacy and/or security. Students will be given due notice, in the first week of the term and/or at the time assignment details are provided, about arrangements and alternatives for the use of Turnitin® in this course. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit the alternate assignment.

Note for Students with Disabilities