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Catalog Description
Relationship between technology and communication; writing practices from a historical point of view.

Detailed Description
As the title indicates, this course is about three things--language, text, and technology. But it's not about those three things in isolation; they don't work in isolation. They work together (with humans and all kinds of other elements) to influence and create important aspects of our culture. To begin the course, we'll consider the three terms in the title and then investigate how they intertwine, interact, and influence cultures. Since looking at specific cultural objects often makes study more interesting (as compared to just thinking about cultural changes abstractly), we'll be looking carefully at printing/books, maps, and money. This careful consideration will take a historical view as we try to understand how language and texts have been influenced by technologies. Because we're taking a historical approach, we won't start with the influences of digital technology. In each unit, however, we will end up with digital technology and how new technologies will continue to intertwine, interact, and influence cultures.

Goals
1. To understand the historical relationships between language, texts, and technology and how they impact cultures.
2. To demonstrate through class discussion and unit projects, a critical approach to language, texts, and technology.
3. To approach interactions between language, texts, and technology in an integrated, holistic manner.
4. To anticipate future interactions between language, texts, and technology.

Required Texts (all are available at Crimson and Gray)

The British Library Guide to Printing: History and Techniques by Michael Twyman
978-0802081797 University of Toronto Press

The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects by Marshall McLuhan and Quentin Fiore  Ginko Press 978-1584230700

The History of Money Jack Weatherford Three Rivers Press (1998) 978-0609801727

The New Nature of Maps: Essays in the History of Cartography J. B. Harley (2002)
 978-0801870903

Required Technology
Access to computer, Internet, and printer. Email address needed.

Attendance and Assignments
To successfully complete this class, you must faithfully attend class and complete all assignments. Because we will be working collaboratively on many assignments, your regular attendance is vital.
> extensive tardiness will be considered in assessing absences;
> planned absences must be discussed and OK’d by the teacher prior to the absence;
>planned absences count in the total absences;
> acceptance of late work is unusual and must be discussed in conference with the teacher. Late work unaccompanied by a sufficient excuse (and conference) will receive a lowered grade if turned in within one week of the original due date. Work turned in later than one week past the original due date will be give an automatic grade of F:
>all assignments must be completed to pass the course.

Schedule
There will be weekly additions and corrections to the schedule. Reading questions and daily assignments will be added to the schedule often. You must check the online schedule often to keep up with course assignments and activities.

Students with Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC). All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Room 205). Please stop by or call 509-335-3417 to make an appointment with a disability specialist.

Academic honesty
All students are expected to act in accordance with the WSU policies on Academic Honesty found in the Student Handbook. These policies include falsification of information, fabrication of information, plagiarism, multiple submission, and various others. Information about these policies can be found in the Handbook. These policies will be discussed in class and students will be asked to acknowledge that discussion and a basic understanding of the polcies. For additional information on the plagiarism, WSU has a good site.

Because academic honesty is a serious issue, in this class you are required to read the Office of Student Conduct's Academic Disonesty Web site. You must then print and sign the online form to indicate that you understand and will abide by the WSU policy. See the class academic honesty form by clicking here. Please print, read, sign, and bring this form to class.

Projects and Evaluation

Class Participation	15%	Includes participation in discussions based on reading of assignments and cooperative collaboration during in-class and group projects
Quizzes	10%	Quizzes will be given randomly during the semester and will be based on assigned readings.
Brief Writing Assignments	15%	Short, reseach-based writing assignments will be required throughout the semester. These will be both in-class and out-of-class assignments.
Unit projects	45%	Three projects each worth 15% (each includes an oral presentation of the project as part of the total).
Final Project	15%	Revision of one Unit project

 

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