Hypertext: Literature and Writing Culture

 (Please do not make changes to this Wiki!)

The class will explore literacy and literature in the hypertext medium.  Students will study the nature and form of major literary archive projects such as the Rossetti Archive, read hypertext fiction such as Patchwork Girl, and experiment with writing in Storyspace.  These encounters with traditional and cutting-edge literature on the web will require the class to ask questions about form and meaning; the intersection of media, image, and literature; and the role of the manuscript, book, and computer in literary studies and written culture. 

In addition, students will produce a web page for a work of literature or their own creative writing (no previous web experience needed).  Our investigations, I hope, will "enable us to measure more accurately the changes that are revolutionizing our relations with written culture (Roger Chartier, Forms and Meaning 5).

Texts:

Landow, George. Hypertext 2.0: The Convergence of Contemporary Critical Theory and Technolgy. Baltimore: John Hopkins UP, 1997.

Hacker, Diana.  The Writer’s Reference. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2003.

This text is the adopted writing handbook for Marylhurst University.  

I strongly recommend you have this text or some writing handbook.

Readings and Primary Gateway for all Assignments!
 

Primary Learning Objectives:

 Liberal Arts Core AIB7 and HCD4:

·    AIB7: Analyze how the form or structure of a work of art or literature is both an expression of and factor in forming the works content or meaning.

·    HCD4: Analyze and discuss the social consequences of technological change.

Assignments:

·    Create a blog that explores a work of literature.  You must update your blog weekly.

·    Work with another member of the class to create a website.  The website can focus on a work of literature or can focus on the collaborators' own creative writing.

·    Collaborate on a class website of Thoreau's A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.

·    Write a brief (2-3 page) reflection essay that integrates your ideas as a result of the course, the technology, and the readings.

Graduate Students:

·    Preparation of discussion questions at least once during the term.

·    Presentation to the class on one of the theorists assigned.

·    A short (5 page) paper that explores the work of one of the theorists read in class in relation to hypertext theory and literature.

Grading:

You must complete all assignments to get a grade in the course; assignments must be handed in during class on the day they are due.  As we are a seminar, faithful attendance is extremely important to me and is required; please be punctual.  More than one absence will lower your grade by a half step for each additional absence (i.e. from B+ to B).  Contact me in case of medical or family emergencies.  I encourage each student to make an appointment for a conference with me to discuss your paper proposal as well as your work and ideas related to the class.

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Undergraduates:

·    Participation       30%

·    Weblog              20%

·    Website             20%

·    Class website      20%

·    Reflective essay   10%

Graduate Students:

·    Participation and Presentation      30%

·    Weblog                15%

·    Website               20%

·    Class Website       20%

·    Final Paper           15%

A = 94 -100;  A- = 90-93;  B+ = 86-89;  B = 83-85;

B- = 79-82;  C+ = 76-79;  C= 73-75;  C- = 69-72.

About the Instructor:

My academic specialty is medieval literature, Arthurian literature and Textual Studies.  I study the transition from manuscript culture to print culture (mid-1400’s) as well as the development of printed maps.  In addition, I am interested in how form shapes meaning and thus, how technology shapes out experience of literature in the 21st century.

I received my Ph.D. from the University of Washington in August 2002 in English and Textual Studies where I was a non-traditional parent/student commuting between Portland and Seattle.   I have taught at Portland State, the University of Washington, and Lewis and Clark College. 

Marylhurst Writing Standards:

Writing is one of the central activities through which students learn, communicate, and demonstrate learning. Academic writing differs from other forms of writing in that it usually:

- is appropriately narrow in focus,

- presents an argument based on sound critical thinking,

- draws upon and properly acknowledges the work of others, and

- presents new understanding in an organized fashion.

Unless otherwise indicated by the instructor, all writing in Marylhurst University classes, from electronic bulletin boards, to personal essays, to formal research papers, will be evaluated on the basis of Standard American English, quality, creativity, effectiveness of argumentation and reasoning, and accuracy of information.  In addition, academic writing will be evaluated on the selection and use of appropriate supporting material.  Any information not original to the student must be cited in a recognized format—for example, APA, MLA, or Chicago—appropriate to the academic discipline.  Use of information or material from outside sources without proper citation is plagiarism and grounds for disciplinary action, see “Academic Honesty” in the 2002-04 Marylhurst Catalog, page 15, and “Conduct Code” in the Student Handbook.

Student Rights and Responsibilities: 

All members of the Marylhurst community are expected to act in ways that foster the university’s primary function of education.  Conduct that interferes with this educational responsibility will be dealt with directly.

Please refer to the Marylhurst University Student Handbook, for specific information about student rights and responsibilities, as well as the policies and procedures.  The Handbook is available online at: http://www.marylhurst.edu/student/resources/studenthandbook.html. For further information contact the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs at 503-699-6316.

Individuals with a Disability:

If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, please contact the Services Coordinator for Students with Disabilities at 503.636.8141, ext. 3344, or 800.634.9982, ext. 3344, or TTY 503.699.6301, or email adaservices@marylhurst.edu.