Schedule


Readings and Assignments for English 149

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 = Solo assignment  Team assignment = Team assignment

 

1. "Digital Humanities" and Literary Study: A Primer

 

Class 1 (Oct. 6) — Introduction

Class 1 Notes

 

Class 2 (Oct. 8) — From "Close Reading" to "Distant Reading"

Class 2 Notes

      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 3 Notes

 

Class 4 (Oct. 15) — Mapping Literature

Class 4 Notes

Solo Assignment Create a bio for the course wiki, including your intellectual interests. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Student Bio)

 

Class 5 (Oct. 20) — Encoding Literature

Class 5 Notes

 

Class 6 (Oct. 22) — Text-Analyzing Literature

Class 6 Notes
Team Assignment Teams to be formed in class on this date. (See Assignments: Team Preparatory Tasks)

 

Class 7 (Oct. 27) — Playing Literature

Class 7 Notes

 

Class 8 (Oct. 29) — Changing Literature

Class 8 Notes

Team AssignmentAt 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

Class 9 Notes

 

* [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 10 Notes
 

 

 

Class 11 (Nov. 12 ) — Presentations of Project Ideas

Class 11 Notes
 

 

 

Class 12 (Nov. 17) — Workshop (teams work together on projects in class)

Class 12 Notes

 

Solo AssignmentAnnotated bibliography due. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Annotated Bibliography)

 

Class 13 (Nov. 19) — Workshop

Class 13 Notes

 

Class 14 (Nov. 24) — Workshop

Class 14 Notes

 

Solo Assignment 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 15 Notes

 

Class 16 (Dec. 1) — Workshop

Class 16 Notes

 

Class 17 (Dec. 3) — Workshop

Class 17 Notes

 

Class 18 (Dec. 8) — Final Presentations

Class 18 Notes

Team AssignmentFormal presentations of team projects. (See Assignments: Team Final Tasks) [12-minute presentations; presentation schedule]

 

Class 19 (Dec. 10) — Final Presentations [last class]

Class 19 Notes

Team AssignmentFormal presentations of team projects (continued). (See Assignments: Team Final Tasks) [12-minute presentations; presentation schedule]

 

 

(Dec. 15) Solo AssignmentFinal Essay due. (See Assignments: Solo Assignments: Final Essay)