Participation in one Team Project - 25%
Each week, one to two student teams (maximum of two students in a team) will present their research on specific web-related themes for class discussion. For a successful project, research must include primary on/off-line and theoretical secondary sources (suggested in our syllabus) and must favor thorough investigative analysis over show and tell (the “how cool is this!” factor). A successful project will consist of a 30 minute presentation followed by a class discussion of up to 30 minutes. After receiving feedback and/or corrective suggestions from class and professor, each team will finalize the report in a printable and web-ready format one week after delivery, so we can upload it onto our course site and all students can access it for their own research.
Class Participation/Discussion Participation/E-Journal - 25%
It is every student’s responsibility to prepare her/himself actively for each session by reading the assigned material, previewing assigned websites and keeping an inquisitive critical focus on Internet Culture and her/his own user habits. Log your own use of the Internet for the semester by writing an email/online journal about your observations – use it as a jumping board for your research projects and for class discussions.
Analytical 10-page Paper - 25%
Our Writing Associates from the Writing Center will read and discuss your drafts with you IF you give them enough time to work with (1-2 weeks!). Make an appointment before you hand the papers to me.
The paper, due by Friday of Week 7 (the day before spring break begins), should focus either
- on one aspect of Web Studies selected from our weekly topics, its accompanying readings and notes from the discussion and lecture (this aspect must not coincide with the topic of your team project).
- on one aspect of Web Studies only briefly treated or missing from our syllabus
Use the following questions as guidelines for your outline and argument:
- Is there a specific case study that has determined the development of theories on this aspect of web studies? Which is it? And why has this case been so important for the definition and discussion of Internet Culture? If there is no such “case,” discuss why this aspect is so crucial to the understanding of Web Studies and Cyberculture in consultation with secondary literature and your own web savvy-ness.
- What constitutes this aspect’s (inter)disciplinary relationship to Internet- or Cyberculture?
- What kind of questions does this aspect raise about Web Studies and/or Cyberculture?
- At what type of answers does it allow you to arrive?
- Which major problems, debates or conflicts surface in the light of recent technological developments and the interaction of your chosen aspect with contemporary web-related theories?
Final Exam - 25%
The exam will be scheduled by the registrar during finals week. It will encompass readings, lectures, and discussion material.