ENGL480 Digital Humanities History and Methods
Professor Daniel Anderson
Tuesday, Thursday 9:30-10:45
Murphey 204
Office hours will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 11:00-12:00 (and by appointment). My office is in Greenlaw Hall, room 533. (I’m sometimes in room 431.) I can be reached by e-mail at iamdan@unc.edu.
Most of the course information and activities will play out at http://altscholarship.com/dighum. Consult the site regularly for important tasks and to participate.
There are no books for the course, but you will be required to purchase screen recording software at a cost of $29.00. There will also be a number of online readings.
Goals
In this class, we will learn about the methods and fields related to digital humanities. We will also practice several research approaches and compose projects using a range of media.
Assignments
There will be six key components to the course:
- A research report on digital humanities history and a digital humanities project
- A video report on digital humanities history and a digital humanities project
- A podcast episode on digital humanities concerns and controversies
- A report on gender dynamics and Pinterest
- A portfolio video reflecting on class projects
- A course portfolio
You may continue revising these projects for the duration of the course.
There will also be a number of smaller, improvisational projects assigned throughout the term. You will also be expected to provide feedback to your peers during the semester. You will also make occasional postings using the class Web site.
Participation
A good deal of activity will take place through our class site. You will be required to use the site to exchange ideas, review one another’s work, etc. You can participate on the site using social media tools—commenting, rating, updating. In class, helping with projects, joining discussions, being prepared, and offering materials for critique are expected as part of your participation.
You will also be required to read the course texts; reading responses will be key to your participation and will be collected on our site. You will be asked to demonstrate your participation in the course portfolio (see below). Portfolios that do not demonstrate satisfactory participation will not receive full credit for the course.
Grading and Portfolio
Your final grade will be based on meeting all of the requirements in the course and on a portfolio of your work. The portfolio is the main project for the course. You will also collect and reflect on the materials you have created throughout the term. Your portfolio will be evaluated based on the following rubric:
- Quality of the projects
- Demonstration of revision processes
- Demonstration of intellectual and personal growth
- Demonstration of curiosity and creativity
- Engagement with and awareness of learning outcomes
Successful portfolios will demonstrate fully these qualities, be very close to error free, and include drafts and revisions of all major assignments
We will discuss and develop the portfolio throughout the semester.
Policies
Please remember that the syllabus functions as a contract between instructor and students. We will go over these policies during the first few days of class, but youare responsible for knowing and abiding by these policies.
Attendance and Preparation
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each session. Late arrivals may be prevented from adding their name to the daily attendance roster. You should come to class having prepared the assigned reading, writing, or other homework, and you should be ready to engage with your classmates and the text(s) at hand. Barring illness or an emergency (like a documentable death in the family), you should make every effort to attend all classes. We will do a significant amount of work in class, so your attendance is crucial to your success. Each of you may miss two class sessions, but subsequent absences may lower your grade. Missing more than five classes may result in a failing grade
Technology
At minimum, you must check your email and our class website daily for messages and updates. Expect to bring your laptop to class regularly. Please make sure that your laptop is working properly, with the battery charged, beforecoming to class.You must allow time and seek assistance for any technical issues that arise when completing computer-based activities (information and technical assistance are available at http://help.unc.edu or 962-HELP). You should also be aware that electronic class activities will be public in nature. We will be posting materials and conducting activities on the Internet. In addition, the course Web site is available publicly on the Internet. No protected information will be shared, but the assignments, projects, and activities will be conducted and available publicly. Additionally, the activities related to the class may be viewed, discussed, and shared by the instructor, the students, or others—as part of conversations about teaching or publishing efforts. I will ask you to sign a permission form indicating that your work may be viewed and shared electronically or used for publishing.
Students must also observe appropriate behavior during all computer-based activities related to this class. Students must act with respect and responsibility. Engaging in activities deemed to be offensive or inappropriate will be considered a violation of the UNC Honor Code.
The Honor Code
The honor code applies to everything that you—and I—do at this university, including our use of outside sources in our research and writing. Our work in this class will conform to the principles and procedures defined in the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance(http://instrument.unc.edu/). The research that we do this semester, whether primary or secondary, print or online, formal or informal, will require documentation on your part. We will review citation guidelines early and often throughout the semester.
If I suspect you of plagiarizing all or part of a project, even unintentionally, I am required to report the offense to the Honor Court.
Students with Disabilities
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ensures that no qualified person shall by reason of a disability be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by the University. In compliance with UNC policy and federal law, qualified students with disabilities are eligible to receive “reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to education opportunities, programs, and activities” (http://www.unc.edu/depts/lds/faculty-policies.html). If you anticipate such accommodations, please notify me as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Additionally, you may seek out student support services at the Department of Disability Services (DDS) (http://disabilityservices.unc.edu/) and through the Learning Center (http://learningcenter.unc.edu/)
Non-Discrimination Policy
This university does not discriminate against its students or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. The University’s policy states that sexual orientation be treated in this same manner. In this class, we will strive to maintain an open atmosphere with shared respect for all differences.
The Big Picture
We will be experimenting heavily with what it means to do digital work in the humanities. We will take risks together, learning to solve problems and practice creative thinking.