Course Description
From a historical, theoretical, and meditative perspective, this course investigates the intersections between texts and technology, and how society uses both to communicate. We will discuss the development of various writing innovations—everything from cave drawings to television programming—and we will analyze the ways in which civilizations have influenced and evolved with and alongside writing technologies. From a creative perspective, you will construct rhetorically effective compositions that make use of various technologies. We will approach the design of every document with a contemplative awareness of how our writing implements (and software) shape the compositions we produce. Our readings will support these learning goals, so that when you finish this course you should be able to describe major theoretical concepts that connect writing and technology.
Credits: 3
Semester: Spring 2018
Oral Histories
In the first major unit of this course, my students were asked to identify an individual aged 60 or older who would be willing to discuss how communication technologies have changed over the last few decades. In the example I share, masterfully crafted by my student, Ms. Caylie Jordan, you can see how this student learns from and contributes to our cultural understanding of the relationship that exists between technology and society.
Digital Book Reviews
In the second unit, students focus on textual consumption and production by reading a book or book-like text focused on a technological issue within society at large or located specifically in the academy. Below are several examples of how students combined written, oral, visual, and electronic modes of communication to enhance the message within their reviews. Click on any one of the examples, and a link will take you to that digital book review. The example on the right features several narrative videos commenting on Rhizcomics, the center example emulates the visual philosophy of Avita Ronnell's The Telephone Book, and the example on the right uses visuals and text to convey the idea of a world with disappearing letters (as discussed in Ella Minnow Pea.
Created by Kayci Bonilla, Sam Brewer, Cooper Budd, and Shawna Dyer.
Created by Annie Brenkus, Taylor Helm, and Ashley Parks.
Created by Abby Faust, Caylie Jordan, and Alyssa Johnston.
Writing for Public Audiences
For our third and final unit, my students engaged in service learning by spotlighting local non-profit organizations in Fort Worth. Each student was asked to identify an under-recognized non-profit, write with "head and heart" about the mission of this organization for a local audience, and then submit their work for publication consideration to the editor and publisher of Madeworthy Magazine. I am proud to say that three students were published in varying capacities by this publication. The students on the right had their social media texts published to the company's Instagram and Facebook accounts, the center example shows the work of a student who was published on the company's blog, and the third example was published in the July/ August issue of Madeworthy.
Created by Zoë Carillo, Kennedy Collins, Quynh Nguyen, and Taylor Spruth
Created by Cameron Law
Created by Thu Pham, Felicia Taylor, and Cole Turner