Monday, November 24, 2008
For Monday, December 1
2. We will meeting in Powermaker Hall 208 on Monday and Wednesday.
3. Class is cancelled on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 24
Essay #3 : A Short History of X
Since this will be a research-intensive process, we are going to take a slightly different approach: you will be assigned to a group of three or four students, and as a team you will choose a topic and conduct research. Your research must presented in an annotated bibliography on a group wiki (created on Google Sites). Each of you will be responsible for reporting on at least one source related to the topic (Wikipedia does not count). Then, using these sources, each of you will write your own 4-5 page paper on your group topic using a wiki format. Finally, you will compose a short (3-4 minute) video that briefly presents your topic.
Possible Topics
Parks
Libraries
Resorts
Bars / Taverns
Hotels / Inns
Subways
Cemeteries
Sewers
Weekends
Hitchhiking
Sneakers
Keys
Pets
Birthdays
Chewing Gum
Soup
IDs
Money
Receipts
Magazines
Fandom
Dentistry
Grades
Composition classes
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
For Monday, November 17
2. If you're not one of the three mentioned above, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
3. Bring in 3 copies of your second paper following the instructions given for its format and content.
Monday, November 10, 2008
For Wednesday, November 12
2. Find another ad for your theme and post it on your blog.
3. By Wednesday at noon, email me your thesis statement for your next paper. Also, send me a link to an advertisement that you will use to support your argument and briefly explain how it does so.
4. Post a comment on Esther's blog or Nicholas' blog. If you are Esther or Nicholas, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Esther or Nicholas, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
For Monday, November 10
2. Find another ad for your theme and post it on your blog.
3. Read this essay by Roland Barthes, "Myth Today." Much of class on Monday will be spent discussing how we can apply Barthes' theories.
4. Post a comment on Stephen's blog or Diana's blog. If you are Diana or Stephen, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Diana or Stephen, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Paper #2 Guidelines: Analyzing Ads
How long should the paper be and how should I format it? The paper should be 4-5 pages, double spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman font or equivalent.
Do I need a thesis statement and supporting quotations? Yes, you definitely need a thesis statement for this paper. Supporting quotations are helpful, but in this paper I'm looking for analysis more than for an integration of secondary sources.
How should I cite my sources? You can follow the directions I provided for the last paper: footnoting your sources.
When is the paper due? We will peer review the paper in class on Monday, November 17. You must have a full draft of your paper by then. The final draft of the paper will be due on Monday, November 24.
How many copies of my paper should I bring for peer review? Please bring 3 copies of your paper.
After you grade my paper, will I be able to revise it again for a higher grade? No, you will only have the opportunity to revise your paper after peer review.
What exactly should I write about in this paper? By now you should have an archive of ads on your blog. Choose three ads that you find particularly interesting or that are good examples of the theme you're investigating. Then construct an argument that explains how the ads use that theme to sell a particular product or message.
Ultimately, your paper will answer a form of the following question: How does [fill in with your theme] work to either consciously or unconsciously persuade viewers that product/message will make their lives better, easier, richer, happier, etc...?
Are there some things that I should make sure to mention in my paper? Just remember to pay close attention to the details! Reviewing some of the questions and resources for analyzing ads that I've posted on this blog should provide helpful guidelines for writing a nuanced, analytical, and thoughtful reading of your ads.
Monday, November 3, 2008
For Wednesday, November 5
2. Find another ad for your theme and post it on your blog.
3. Look through this site: http://www.genderads.com/ Make sure to read "How to Read Ads" and "Controversy." You might also want to look at examples under "Side by Side."
4. Post a comment on Sara's blog or Sylvia's blog. If you are Sara or Sylvia, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Sara or Sylvia, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
For Monday, November 3
2. Find another ad for your theme and post it on your blog.
3. Read and watch this slideshow essay from Slate. After you click on the link, click "here" on the page that opens.
4. Post a comment on Atara's blog or Salisha's blog. If you are Atara or Salisha, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Atara or Salisha, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
Note: On Wednesday, October 29 I will have individual meetings with students instead of a regular class session.
Ad Savvy: Analyzing Ads
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Questions to Consider When Analyzing Your Ads
What is being marketed? How can you tell?
Are there people in your ad? How would you describe them? Are they old, young, male, female, white, black, Asian-American, Latino? Why were these people chosen?
What color schemes are used in the ad? What effect does this produce?
Are there any props? How are they used?
Where is the ad taking place? Why was this location(s) chosen?
What kind of music is used? Are there any other sound effects? What kind of tone do they produce?
Is there a voice over in your ad? What kind of voice is used? Why effect does it produce?
Is there any text in your ad? What does the text do?
What kind of emotion does your ad want you to feel? How can you tell this?
Does your ad make any promises? How does it convey these promises?
Are there characters in the ad the audience is meant to identify with? How can you tell this?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Assignments for Monday, October 27
2. Find another ad for your theme and post it on your blog.
3. Read this article from the LA Times blog and read the first page of comments that follow.
4. Post a comment on Jonathan's blog or Neal's blog. If you are Jonathan or Neal, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Jonathan or Neal, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
Election Ads that Invoke Fear
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Two Links That We'll Be Looking At in Class on Wednesday
Also this feature from the NY Times called "The Ad Wars" has interesting statistics and information
See you tomorrow!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Assignments for Wednesday, Oct. 20
2. Find another ad that exemplifies the theme you're investigating in advertising. Post the ad on your blog.
3. Read this article from Newsweek.
4. Post a comment on Stephanie's blog or Jiarui's blog. If you are Stephanie or Jiarui, write a post that analyzes your ad in 300 words.
5. If you're not Stephanie or Jiarui, write a post that analyzes your ad in 150 words.
What's the Role of Politics in the Classroom?
Advertising Techniques
Identifying them might help you analyze how an ad aims to convince people of its message.
Attack Ads
"KEATING ECONOMICS: John McCain & The Making of a Financial Crisis"
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Assignments for Monday, October 20
2. Begin thinking about what component of advertising you might like to research. Find an example of this issue in advertising and post it on your blog. It can either be an image or a video.
3. Read this article. Make sure to read some of the comments at the bottom as well. We'll have a discussion about it in class and perhaps a quiz.
Reminders for Paper #1
Length: Your paper should be 4-5 pages in 12-point Times New Roman font or equivalent. Please double space.
Requirements: Your paper must have a thesis statement with supporting evidence. You should have at least two outside research sources to support your argument, and you should integrate at two to three quotations from those sources to support your argument.
Citations: A works cited page is not needed for this assignment. However, for every source you site include a footnote that either links to the online article you're referring to or gives the author, title, and date of publication.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Mabinogi Summary
Summary of Tencent QQ
Monday, October 6, 2008
For Tuesday, Oct. 14
2. Bring in 12 copies of the introduction to your paper. We will peer review it in class. Also, include 2-3 examples in outline form describing how you plan to support your argument.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Summary of Centsports
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Assignments for Monday, Oct. 6
2. Please read this article on trolls and the internet from the New York Times.
3. By Sunday, Oct. 5 at noon, please email the following to me:
a. A thesis statement for your first paper on cyber communities.
b. Two articles that you will use to support your paper's argument. Please include links to the sources. One of them can be a reading that was assigned for class discussion.
c. A summary of 3-4 sentences of each of these articles.
d. One quotation from each of the articles that you might use to support your argument.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
GoodReads Summary
GoodReads is a social networking site for those who love to read and want to connect with other book lovers. The site allows for a person to create a customizable profile that they can use to list the books they have read, and even allows for them to give reviews and opinions. The site even has a section so people can communicate together, create groups discussion of books and make friends.
One of the issues we discussed in class was that if the site supported the idea of the digitization of books. I feel that the site is the introduction of books to technology. I support the joining of technology and books as seen in the Kindle, some may not. However, it does pose possible negative outcomes, like if books were digitized some people may illegally share the data of the books as it has been done with music.
Paper #1: Digital Communities and Networks
Your paper should be 4-5 pages in 12-point Times New Roman font or equivalent. Your paper must have a thesis statement with supporting evidence. You should have at least two outside research sources to support your argument, and you should integrate at two to three quotations from those sources to support your argument. As you begin your research and writing, please think of one of the following questions as a way to frame your argument:
1. How have social networking sites brought up issues around privacy? Do you think these sites are in violation of people’s privacy? Why or why not?
2. Some critics of online communities say these spaces encourage anti-social behavior? Do you agree with this criticism? Why or why not?
3. Digital communities have received some attention recently because of fraudulent and/or criminal activities on the sites. Do you think online communities encourage this kind of behavior or make certain behaviors more prevalent?
4. Cyber Neighborhoods have allowed for what some observers call “interactivity” or "convergence culture"—opportunities for participants to mix various media (graphics, video, ARGs). How has interactivity changed the way people communicate and/or view entertainment?
5. Cyber communities have been applauded for democratizing access to information and the dissemination of knowledge. Do you agree that the internet is more democratic? Why or why not?
The first paragraph of your paper will be due Tuesday, October 14. The final draft will be due on Wednesday, October 22.
Youtube Article Summary
Monday, September 22, 2008
Mabinogi
http://mabinogi.nexon.net/Downloads/VideoList.aspx
And here is an article in wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabinogi_(video_game)
Sorry guys, i don't know why the link is not working, just copy and paste the link in the address bar, it should be working.
Hey guys, i found this interesting article while i was looking for my sources, read it if you have time.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_164/5162-My-Korean-Fantasy-Life
Articles about Tencent QQ
1.
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147334/facebook_tencent_launch_chinese_networking_sites.html
2.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Globe7-Tencent-Partner-For-Networking-Site-in-China/281500/
Also there is a websit that introduce the Tencent QQ.
http://www.startinchina.com/tencent_qq.html
YouTube Summary
Assignments for Wednesday, Sept. 22
2. Erik, Yan, and Jiarui will post links to articles about their topics.
3. Read this article from Time about the 2006 person of the year. Please print a copy of this article and bring it to class. Also, write one sentence that summarizes the argument of the Time article. Please bring the sentence to class.
4. On Wednesday, we will be going over thesis statements and arguments. I will also explain the first essay assignment. This will be one of the most important classes of the semester. Please make sure to be there!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
GoodReads
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/17/goodreads-raises-angel-round-to-help-you-find-that-perfect-book/
http://www.flakmag.com/web/goodreads.html (If you read only one, this should be it).
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Encyclopedia Dramatica
My apologies about the last blog. My internet went out for a little while, and by the time Time Warner Cable came to fix it, it was way past the deadline. I tried going on my friend's computer, but I forgot my password since it was saved on my computer. Essentially, I had a bad weekend.
Encyclopedia dramatica, as discussed in class, is a satirical website making a mockery of everything from politics to lifestyles. As shown in class, it is set up exactly like Wikipedia, with the same layout, search engines, and ideals; a free website where every article is posted anonymously and can be updated and changed by anyone. The article I chose speaks of "trolling" which is the main thing done on Encyclopedia dramatica. It also talks about the Craigslist Experiment and 4chan.org, which is similar to Encyclopedia dramatica. When you get down to it, Encyclopedia dramatica is a site you can go to for a good laugh or a smile and NOT something you should look into for any real facts or to do research on.
Thanks, and have a good night.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Summary Of Our You Tube Disscussion
Viacom (a media conglomerate which produces television, music, and movies) has said that the collected I.P. addresses will only be used by their lawyers to further its billion dollar lawsuit against Google for copyright infringement. They also said that in most cases I.P. addresses (your computer's address) can't be used to identify individual users.
Privacy advocates counter by saying that in many cases, technology experts and others have been able to link I.P. addresses to individuals using other records of their online activities. Kurt Opsall, a lawyer for an online civil liberties group said users should have a right to challenge and contest the revealing of this deeply private information.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
summary of wikipedia discussion
Assignments for Monday, September 22
2. Nicholas and Neal will post links about GoodReads. Read their articles.
3. Read Chapter Two of Solove's The Future of Reputation, available here.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Assignments for Wednesday, September 17
2. Read the Introduction to Solove's The Future of Reputation (pg. 1-13)available here.
3. Email your synthesis to me by Tuesday at midnight.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Encyclopedia Dramatica
Thursday, September 11, 2008
link to article on wikipedia
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/31/060731fa_fact
Myspace Summary
Myspace
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Assignments for Monday, Sept. 15
2. Esther and Stephen will post links to their articles on Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Dramatica.
3. Finish reading Jenkins' Introduction to Convergence Culture.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Facebook Summary
Facebook is the most known website for social networking. Many strongly agree that Facebook has its problematic issues with invading privacy and feel like its no longer sacred. Members, daily if not constantly change their status and others in an instant know what’s going on with them or what they are planning for their weekend. The Newsfeed traces every step you take on commenting a picture to even reading what others have written on the walls of friends. Just last week, on the second of September, Facebook proclaimed its 100 million members and each and every one of them has a right to know your relationship status, your interests and who your friends are. Members can have unlimited accounts, one for personal use and other accounts for business .Having an account with Facebook might decrease your chances of finding a high well earning job because of the incriminating pictures and details that are posted. Some suggest that Facebook’s “social utility” reduced the amount of personal interaction with friends and family. Instead of people using Facebook chat to catch up with old friends, they are numerous ways in which people can get updated for instance a phone call or a visit. While Facebook has it cons it also has it pros. Facebook could draw millions of young voters to politics and easily can be influenced by simply joining a group and going to there events. This way teenager’s can be more vocal in voicing their opinions. Additionally, Facebook provides thousands of ads on different areas such as different types of diet/ nutrition plans or job openings. Furthermore, Facebook members can sell products on line earning profits. Most importantly, members must know how to manage their accounts safely as possible and not to exceed on personal details.
- Diana Y
.
summary on facebook discussion
Myspace Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/business/media/16myspace.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=myspace&st=nyt&scp=3
-Stephanie
Assignments for Wednesday, Sept. 10
2. Stephanie and Sara will also post links about MySpace for Wednesday's discussion. Please read them before class.
3. Read the first 12 pages of the Introduction to Convergence Culture by Jenkins. You can access the book here through google books.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Presentation Schedule
Mon. Sept. 8: Facebook: Samuel, Atara, Diana
Wed. Sept. 10: MySpace: Stephanie, Sara
Mon. Sept. 15: Wikipedia: Esther Encyclopedia Dramatica: Stephen
Wed. Sept. 17: YouTube: Jonathan, Sylvia, Salisha
Mon. Sept. 22: Goodreads: Nicholas, Neal.
Wed. Sept. 24: Lineage: Jiarui CentSports: Erik Maginogi: Yan
If your name isn't listed above, please email me as soon as possible with your choices. Remember, the first thing you'll need to do is post a link to an article you find about your topic.
In class, just be prepared to talk briefly about community--no more than 5 minutes-- and perhaps demonstrate any important points about how this community works.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
third article about facebook
Hope you all had a great weekend, enjoy the reading: http://www.newsweek.com/id/32261/page/1,
Atara
Facebooks 100 million members
Article on Facebook
This is the link to the Times article on Facebook: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1532225,00.html
- Sam L.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Assignments for Monday, September 8
2. Read U R 2 Old for Monday.
3. Read the articles posted by the first 2 presenters. (The articles will be posted by Saturday at noon.)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Cyber Communities
Once you choose your cyber community, you will be asked to become involved with that community and to present your findings during class discussion.
MySpace: www.myspace.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com
Friendster: www.friendster.com
Orkut: www.orkut.com/About.aspx
Hi5: www.hi5.com
Cyworld: www.cyworld.com
Tagged: www.tagged.com
Xanga: www.xanga.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com
Second Life: www.secondlife.com
Flickr: www.flickr.com
Picasa: picasa.google.com
Wikipedia: www.wikipedia.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com
GoogleEarth: earth.google.com
Digg: www.digg.com
Shelfari: www.shelfari.com
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com
Library Thing: www.librarything.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com
Find Satoshi: www.findsatoshi.com
Heroes: www.nbc.com/Heroes
LonelyGirl15: www.lg15.com
LostPedia: www.lostpedia.com
Zynga: www.zynga.com
Yahoo Games: games.yahoo.com
BitTorrent: www.bittorrent.com
Last.fm: www.last.fm
Deviant Art: www.deviantart.com
Craig’s List: www.craigslist.org
Dave’s ESL CafĂ©: www.eslcafe.com
Nerve: www.nerve.com
LavaLife: www.lavalife.com