English

3183Authoring in the Information Age

Professor: Dr. Will Kurlinkus
Time: T & R3:00-4:15 pm
Location: Gittinger 232
Email: wkurlinkus@gmail.com
Office Hours: T.R 2-3:00 or by appointmentGittinger 307A
Course Website: http://english3183a.wordpress.com/
Course Number: 33377

English 2269: Digital Media Composing

Modern technology is no more neutral than medieval cathedralsit embodies the values of a
particular industrial civilization, especially those of elites that rest their claims to hegemony on
technical masteryAndrew Feenberg, Critical Theory of Technology (v)
Why do you love me? Why do you need me? Always and forever. We met in a chatroom, now
our love can fully bloom. Sure the World Wide Web is great, but you, you make me salivate. I
love technology, but not as much as you, you seeBut I still love technology, always and
forever.Kip Dynamite

Course Description
01. Exigence
What does it mean to participate in democracy in the twenty-first century? Whether its AIDS
patients struggling for their right to participate in drug trials, arguments about Internet neutrality,
or protests against ambient tracking technologies and phonetapstechnology matters in a
democracy. Of course technology has always mattered to democracyfrom the architectural
design of the Greek Agora, to the saboteurs of the automated loom in 15th century Holland, to
the development of the American military industrial complex under Vannevar Bush and Franklin
Roosevelt. More and more, however, academics, designers, and consumers alike have become
aware that to participate in democracy directly one has to participate in technology.

02. Goals
The goal of this course, then, is to gain the skills necessary to be technologically literate in the
twenty-first century. But in doing so, we will be constantly challenging what technological
literacy means and, thus, constantly exploring the idea that technology is both a set of things, a
set of skills, and a set of valuesor, as new media theorist Henry Jenkins explains, A medium
is a technology that enables communication; on the second, a medium is a set of associated
protocols or social and cultural practices that have grown up around that technology. Thus,
while we will be learning and teaching one another technical skills (Wordpress, Photoshop,
Dreamweaver, Audition, and Premier, etc.) we will also be exploring and teaching each other
socio-technical skills and values: Why do so many people wear headphones on the bus? Why are
lol cats so popular? Why has there been a dramatic rise in Internet dating? Why do people get so
mad when technology doesnt work? What are girl technologies and what are boy technologies?
What makes a photograph beautiful? What makes a photograph ethical? What is involved in the
art of a good mixed CD (why do we still make mix CDs)? Whats gained and lost in the
negotiation between creating the kinds of photographs, songs, movies, websites we like and the
kinds that someone might buy? Why do I hate the auto-tuner but love a distorted amp?

04. Objectives
More generally, the learning objectives of this course are to:
Understand and apply fundamental rhetorical and design principles for analyzing,
planning, creating digital media texts for public consumption.

Use and critically examine numerous digital capture and editing technologies (e.g., digital
cameras, digital audio recorders, digital video cameras; Photoshop, Dreamweaver,
Audition, and Premier.

Required Texts and Equipment

As far as skills go, there are no technological prerequisites; well learn everything as we go.
All texts will be made available for free on our course blog.
Headphones.
External hard-drive (not a flash or thumb drive) at least 100G.
6-pack of double-a batteriesIll tell you when to get them.
Notebook

Participation
I want to hear from you, in any and all forms you're comfortable with. And, perhaps more
importantly, I want you to hear from each otherto know what one another think of the
readings, course topics, etc. This is why participation (in-class and blogging) totals nearly a
quarter of your course grade.

01. Blog
As youll see below, blog posts are 12% of your grade.
a) For each unit I will be giving you a few short blogging prompts, which you will then
compose a multimodal (~300 words including some images, links, or embedded videos
whenever possible) response to on your own Wordpress blog (youll need to make one
for our class). If you feel more comfortable you could also create a video-post of
equivalent quality.
b) In addition, once throughout the semester each student will write a longer featured blog
in which I give them a specific topic which they research and write an 800 word post
which will be posted on our course blog.
c) Ill also be keeping a class blog/website on which Ill post specific blog and assignment
prompts; reading questions; follow-up links and questions about class discussions to
which you might respond. I recommend checking the blog a couple times a week
(especially before classes) to see whats up, whats being discussed, and whats due.
The goal of these blog posts are to excite and enliven our in-class discussions, explore further
into and beyond the topics weve discussed in class (we cant cover everything, after all), and
provide you with content that may develop into your final project.

02. In-Class
Much of what we're reading is not dry, stodgy, solitary literature. It should elicit responses from
youemotional, ethical, intellectual, or otherwise. I hope you'll feel comfortable weighing in
during class discussions and group activities, and even if you're not normally inclined to talk in
class, I'd encourage you to step outside your comfort zone here. We won't bite. (Note: please
don't bite.)

Course Policies

01. Access
The University of Oklahoma is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity
and full participation for students with disabilities. Consistent with the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, The University
of Oklahoma ensures that no qualified individual with a disability will be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination solely on
the basis of disability under any program or activity offered by The University of Oklahoma.
Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting the Disability Resource
Center in Room 166, Goddard Center (405) 325-4173/TDD or (405) 325-3852 Voice.
If you ever need better access to anything in the course, please talk to me and we will work
together to accommodate you.

02. Attendance
Attendance is an important part of your ability to understand the class material. Therefore, each
absence after three will result in the lowering of your final grade by a third of a letter grade. Six
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WILL AUTOMATICALLY RESULT IN THE FAILURE FOR
THE COURSE. Excused absences, such as those for documented illness, family tragedy,
religious observance, or excused travel for intercollegiate athletics, will not affect your grade.
There will be an attendance sheet passed around each day of class. It is your responsibility to
sign the attendance sheet to indicate your presence in class each day. Whether you are excused or
not, if you miss a class, you are expected to make up the work. This means, if you miss on a day
that involves an in-class exercise, you must make arrangements to complete the exercise on your
own time. Additionally, I will count you as absent if you are more than 20 minutes late to class,
sleeping, or if you come to class unprepared to discuss the days assigned readings. I reserve the
right to hold quizzes to spot check for preparedness.

03. Student Work

Must be completed and submitted on time. All assignments should be posted onto your blog by
the time they are due.
Drafts for peer review must be brought to class on the specified days. Failure to have a draft
in class for peer review or missing peer review day will result in the deduction of 1/3 letter
grade from the final graded assignment (for example, a B+ would go to a B).
Late submission of a final graded assignment will result in the deduction of half a letter grade
for each day past the due date (for example, a B+ would go to a B). Missing class or
encountering technological misfortunes are not acceptable excuses for failing to meet a
deadline. Save early and save often, and be sure to back up your work. I recommend that you
save your work in two separate locations (e.g., save one copy to your external hard drive, and
another copy on a flash drive or CD-ROM). The hard drives of the classroom computers
are wiped every night, so plan to back up your work somewhere else if you do your
composing work there.
Unexcused absences or encountering technological misfortunes are not acceptable excuses
for failing to meet a deadline. The grade will not be affected when an assignment is late for

reasons that would result in an excused absence. Students who know they will miss the class
when the assignment is due must contact the instructor as soon as possible in advance of
class to arrange for submission of the assignment.

04. Class Cancellation

Class cancellation is a possibility in the unlikely event of an emergency. I will contact you via
email and request that a note on department letterhead be placed on the classroom door. In
addition, I will contact you as soon as possible following the cancellation to let you know what
will be expected of you for our next class meeting.

05. Changes to the Schedule

Changes are a possibility, even likely. Our topic is constantly growing and changing so a
particular issue might arise that Id like us to cover. I will notify you of any changes in class and
I will post on the blog homepage. If we should need to rearrange the syllabus, I will post a
revised syllabus to the blog content page.

Resources

You will be given time in class to finish projects. However, if you find yourself needing
some of the software in our classroom at other times, a list of computer labs and open hours
can be found out: http://www.ou.edu/content/ouit/learning/labs/locations.html
Ive made arrangements for the software we will be using in class to be made available at the
following open computer labs (see the link above for hours):
o Bizzell Microcomputer Lab (room 131)
o Dale Hall Tower Lab
o Physical Sciences Center Lab (room 232)
If you ever find yourself needing extra help on the programs we are using you can, of course,
talk to me, but the university also has access to a great instructional video website,
Lynda.com, at http://www.ou.edu/content/ouit/learning/lynda.html

Grading
Participation: 10%
Blog Portfolio+1 Researched Post: 12%
Modal Projects: 48%
1. Image: 12%
2. Sound: 12%
3. Video: 12%
4. Web: 12%

Final Project: 30%

Annotated Bib: 5%
Primary Research: 5%
Final: 20%see http://jump.dwrl.utexas.edu

Schedule
Date

Readings Due

Writing/Assignment Due

Unit 1: Writing OnlineWriting, Rhetoric, Design

T 1.13

R 1.15

T 1.20

Introductions and Expectations

Create Wordpress accounts
Read: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3021394/evidence/thesecrets-of-a-memorable-infographic
Think about composing identity online by creating profiles using
easel.ly
o In Class: Whats the difference between writing, rhetoric,
and design?
The Politics of Technology
Norman, Donald A. Three Levels of Design: Visceral,
Behavioral, and Reflexive.. Emotional Design: Why We Love (or
Hate) Everyday Things. New York: Basic Books, 2004. 6398. Print/PDF. (pp. 35)
o In Class: Designing beautiful documents
Rhetoric and Technology
Business. Watch Jonah Berger, Why Things Catch On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN4eDk1pq6U

Blog Post:
What is
interactivity?

Blog Post:
What is user
experience
(UX) design?

Unit 2: Writing with ImagesTechnology and Ethics

R 1.22

T 1.27

Fair Use and Photoshop

Readings: Lessig, Lawrence. Lawrence Lessig: Free Culture:
Lessigs Book Condemns the Monopoly of Ideas. Talk of the
Nation. NPR, 2004. Web. (Click: Listen, 32minutes)
Aoki, Keith, James Boyle, and Jennifer Jenkins. Bound By Law:
Tales from the Public Domain. Duke University. Duke Center
for the Study of the Public Domain, 2006. Web.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/09/hillary-clinton-dertzitung-removed-situation-room_n_859254.html
Look over the Creative Commons Website more generally
o http://web.law.duke.edu/cspd/video/
o http://creativecommons.org/about
Visual Rhetoric
Business Reading: Made to Stick, Chapter 2
Visual rhetoric reading: https://medium.com/design-story/how-

Bring in harddrives

Blog Post:
What is
participatory

R 1.29

to-create-a-color-story-aa75a62bf953
https://fstoppers.com/food/what-week-groceries-looks-aroundworld-3251
http://gizmodo.com/9-photos-of-grisly-vintage-crimes-ontodays-nyc-street-1285628429
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63pogF_ZiQk
https://chroniclevitae.com/news/368-want-students-to-come-toclass-prepared-try-rolling-the-dice
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/opinion/sunday/slaves-ofthe-internet-unite.html?_r=1&
o 30-minute visual rhetoric group scavenger huntpost to
course blog
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/code-documentary-gender-gap/
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/incredibly-simple-photoshophacks-everyone-should-know#.boKwKzAkm

T 2.3

R 2.5

Workshop

design?

Blog Post:
Research 2
similar
businesses
who use social
media to their
advantage
Draft due

Unit 3: Writing with SoundDigital Authenticity

T 2.10

R 2.12

T 2.17

Introduction to Audio Rhetoric and GarageBand

Ira Glass on Storytelling: 1-4. (~ 16 minutes)
Business Reading: Made to Stick Chapter 5
o In Class: Look at several This I Believe audio
essays.
Radiolab:
1. http://www.radiolab.org/story/211119-colors/
2. http://www.radiolab.org/story/91721-oops/
3. http://www.radiolab.org/story/91863-makingthe-hippo-dance/
Watch video on audio production software before
class
o In Class: Culture Jamming and finding
creative commons sources
Listen: This American Life
What is a manufactured soundscape?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9V0cN4NWs
http://harlotofthearts.org/index.php/harlot/article/vi
ew/166/121
Are there places in the real world where
soundscapes are used to manipulate people? See

Subvertising Campaign
Due

Blog: Tell me about a song

that makes an argument.
You must describe how
both lyrics as well as the
instrumental music work
together to make this
argument.

Blog about a class that

youve had thats been
improved or worsened by
the use of instructional tech

R 2.19

T 2.24
R 2.26

muzak.
Business: The Experience Economy: Chapter 1
http://www.wired.com/2014/05/a-slick-productthat-gives-physical-form-to-your-digital-music/
o In Class: Autotuner and faking music
Peer Review Day 1
Peer Review Day 2

Draft Due
Draft Due

Unit 4: Writing with VideoDigital Lives and Deaths

T 3.3

R 3.5

T 3.10

R 3.12
T 3.17
R 3.19
T 3.24

Introduction to Film Theory and iMovie

Read: Gitlin, Todd. Nomadicity. (Available under
readings on the blog.) (pp. 7)
o In Class: Everynone. Radiolab Presents
Symmetry. Youtube. RadioLab, 2011.
Web.
o Everynone. Radiolab and NPR Present
Words. Youtube. RadioLab, 2010. Web.
o Everynone. "Radiolab and NPR Present
Parabolas." Youtube. Radiolab, 2009. Web.

Viral Videos and Video Layout

Read: Jenkins, Henry. Buying into American Idol:
How We Are Being Sold on Reality. (Will be
made available on the blog). (pp. 32)
Business Reading: Nir Eyal
o Watch: Drunk History
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/s
cience/2014/02/flame_challenge_2014_what_is_col
or_alan_alda_has_kids_judge_scientists.html
RSA Animate: On Blog
Studio Time
Studio Time
Ted Talks: On Blog

This I Believe Audio

Essay Due

Blog about and bring in a

Viral Video

Final Project Proposal Due

Blog about net neutrality.

What is it and why does it
matter?

Spring Break
Spring Break
Draft Workshop

Unit 5: Writing with HTML and CSSEducation and Equality

R 3.26

Introduction to HTML

Concept in 60 Due

Watch my HTML video before coming to class

Begin to look at this great free library of
introductory web design videos:
http://teamtreehouse.com/library

T 3.31

Introduction to CSS
Watch my CSS video before coming to class

R 4.2

Krug Dont Make Me Think Selections: On course

blog
Deresiewicz, William. The End of Solitude. (pp.
9)
o In-Class: Web Design standards

T 4.7

Introduction to DreamWeaver
Watch my dreamweaver video before coming to
class
Business Reading:
o In-Class: Web Design Standards 2

R 4.9

T 4.14

Blog about free technology

resources. Create a list of
free technology resources
in Oklahoma city.

Slacktivism: http://sortable.com/blog/rise-of-theslacktivist/
http://www.wired.com/2013/09/focus-on-peoplenot-tech-and-other-impt-lessons-for-interactiondesign-and-life/

Blog about the topic of

your final project.

Final Project Annotated

Bibliography Due

Google Fiber: http://www.wsj.com/articles/googlefails-to-close-kansas-citys-digital-divide1412276753

Digital Divide:

R 4.16
T 4.21

Peer Review

Putting it All Together

R 4.23
T 4.28
R. 4.30

Workshop and Studio Time

Workshop and Studio Time
Last Day

Final Project
Final Project
Final Project Show Case

Guest Blog Post TopicsExamples:
1. Slacktivism

2. Social media and sex in high school

3. BlackTwitter
4. Interactive Marketing
5. Bic for Her Protests

6. Prosumers
7. History of the Apple store
8. History of the Geek Squad