The first eight classes of the course focus on selected readings designed to start students thinking about how contemporary "digital humanities" methods complement, alter, or challenge the way we study literature (for example, by contrast with the "close reading" methods that . These classes run in instructor-led discussion mode. From Class 9 on, the course enters its workshop mode where everything is geared toward the making of team projects. Some of workshop classes will also feature student presentations of their projects-in-progress; others will be pure "studio" or "lab" sessions giving team members a chance to work side by side in consultation with the instructor.
= Solo assignment = Team assignment
1. "Digital Humanities" and Literary Study: A Primer
Class 1 (Oct. 6) — Introduction
Class 2 (Oct. 8) — From "Close Reading" to "Distant Reading"
For each class, please read the assigned texts & other works prior to class:
Course "practicums" are hands-on, small-scale exercises that ask students to experiment at a beginner's level with the tools of the digital humanities. Each practicum should be completed before class, resulting in a "souvenir" of the exercise left on the Student Work site. (General instructions for practicums)
Class 3 (Oct. 13) — Graphing Literature
Class 4 (Oct. 15) — Mapping Literature
Create a bio for the course wiki, including your intellectual interests. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Student Bio)
Class 5 (Oct. 20) — Encoding Literature
Class 6 (Oct. 22) — Text-Analyzing Literature
Class 7 (Oct. 27) — Playing Literature
Class 8 (Oct. 29) — Changing Literature
At least one team-meeting outside class by this date to begin brainstorming. (See Assignments: Team Preparatory Tasks)
2. Project-Building
Class 9 (Nov. 3) — Project Planning Workshop
* [No class November 5th (instructor away). Teams should use time to prepare for project idea presentations and to begin collecting sources, tools, and materials for their project.]
Class 10 (Nov. 10) — Presentations of Project Ideas
Class 11 (Nov. 12 ) — Presentations of Project Ideas
Class 12 (Nov. 17) — Workshop (teams work together on projects in class)
Annotated bibliography due. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Annotated Bibliography)
Class 13 (Nov. 19) — Workshop
Class 14 (Nov. 24) — Workshop
4-page research report on one of the items in your annotated bibliography due. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Research Report)
Class 15 (Nov. 26) — Workshop
Class 16 (Dec. 1) — Workshop
Class 17 (Dec. 3) — Workshop
Class 18 (Dec. 8) — Final Presentations
Formal presentations of team projects. (See Assignments: Team Final Tasks) [12-minute presentations; presentation schedule]
Class 19 (Dec. 10) — Final Presentations [last class]
Formal presentations of team projects (continued). (See Assignments: Team Final Tasks) [12-minute presentations; presentation schedule]
(Dec. 15) Final Essay due. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Final Essay)