The Online Portfolio demonstrates your growth as a writer through statements and textual artifacts. Each student will create an Online Portfolio using Google Sites. The Online Portfolio consists of three sections:
We will go through the process of creating an Online Portfolio in class. The Online Portfolio is scored as an Engagement Assignment as is not part of any course project. As such, it is evaluated upon each student's good faith effort at meeting the parameters above. Online Portfolios are used within the department to assess the effectiveness of courses and assignments, and as a means to demonstrate student learning for accreditation purposes. The outcomes applied to Online Portfolios for assessment purposes are appended below.
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In preparation for Discussion Friday #11 (which happens on Nov. 19), you should read chapters 6, 7, and 8 from James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy. Then, post a comment of approximately 500 words using the form below. Remember that what is called for here is critique, not summary. Do not simply collect your reactions; organize your response into a complete statement with a beginning, middle, and end. The following prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any applicable direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.
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In preparation for Discussion Friday #9 (which happens on Oct. 29), you should read chapters 3, 4, and 5 from James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy. Then, post a comment of approximately 500 words using the form below. Remember that what is called for here is critique, not summary. Do not simply collect your reactions; organize your response into a complete statement with a beginning, middle, and end. The following prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any applicable direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.
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In preparation for Discussion Friday #10 (which happens on Nov. 12), each student will play no fewer than two games I am labeling "provocative." These are games that are particularly adept at rewarding critical engagement or eliciting emotional response. Students should spend at least four hours total with these games. After getting experience with provocative games, each student must post a critical comment of approximately 500 words. Students must select games from the list below (some of which are available at Sharky's or available for check out from me) or independently find games that they can effectively defend as being provocative.
Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding your game experiences, such as:
The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #8 (which happens on Oct. 22), each student will play no fewer than two sandbox games. Because sandbox games develop as they are played, students should spend at least two hours with each game (not all of that time has to be spent in one session). After getting experience with sandbox games, each student must post a critical comment of approximately 500 words. Students must select games from the list below (some of which are available at Sharky's or available for check out from me) or independently find sandbox games.
Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding your sandbox game experiences, such as:
The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #7 (which happens on Oct. 15), you should read chapters 1 and 2 from James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy. Then, post a comment of approximately 500 words using the form below. Remember that what is called for here is critique, not summary. Do not simply collect your reactions; organize your response into a complete statement with a beginning, middle, and end. The following prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any applicable direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.
I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #6 (which happens on Oct. 8), each student will participate in three sessions of network multiplayer gaming with one or more other people. This means that students must play with other people online in different physical locations. Students may play the same game during each session or different games. Students may play with the same people each session or different people (although I encourage students to play at least one session with strangers). Play may be cooperative or competitive. After the three play sessions, each student must post a critical comment of approximately 500 words. Students must select games from the list below (most of which are available at Sharky's or available for check out from me) or independently find games with a network multiplayer component.
Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding your network multiplayer experiences, such as:
The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #4 (which happens on Sept. 17), each student will participate in three sessions of local multiplayer gaming with one or more other people. This means that students must play with other people in the same physical location (not through the internet). Students may play the same game during each session or different games. Students may play with the same people each session or different people. Play may be cooperative or competitive. Class members may wish to form groups to play together. After the three play sessions, each student must post a critical comment of approximately 500 words. Students must select games from the list below (most of which are available at Sharky's) or independently find games with a local multiplayer component.
Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding your local multiplayer experiences, such as:
The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #5 (which happens on Oct. 1), you should read Tom Bissell's Extra Lives. Then, post a comment of approximately 500 words using the form below. Remember that what is called for here is critique, not summary. Do not simply collect your reactions; organize your response into a complete statement with a beginning, middle, and end. The following prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any applicable direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.
I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
In preparation for Discussion Friday #3 (which happens on Sept. 10), students should read chapters 1, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Jesper Juul's A Casual Revolution. Then, post a comment of approximately 500 words using the form below. Remember that what is called for here is critique, not summary. Do not simply collect your reactions; organize your response into a complete statement with a beginning, middle, and end. The following prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any applicable direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.
I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class.
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In preparation for Discussion Friday #2 (which happens on Sept. 3), each student will play five "casual" video games and then discuss them in a critical comment of about 500 words. Students will select one game from each list below, and then identify two other games independently. Select one of the games in this list:
Select one of the games in this list:
Select one of the games in this list:
Now find two casual games on your own to play. You may select two titles from the lists above, or you may choose completely different games. Feel free to stretch the boundaries of what a casual game might be. Be aware that Sharky's Game Room in Fisher Student Center has Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles and games available for students. Submit your comment below after critically considering issues surrounding these games, such as:
The preceding prompts may help you focus your thoughts, but feel free to take your discussion in any productive direction you wish. Make certain to cite specific portions of the text to support your ideas.I look forward to reading your work and discussing it in class. |
Most Fridays this semester the class will hold "Discussion Friday." To prepare for these meetings, class members will read an assigned text or play a specific game. (We usually alternate between readings and games each week.) Students will then post a critical response to the reading/game. Each Discussion Friday, a certain number of students will read their posts in full to spur class discussion, which will last for the whole class period. The readings and games assigned for Discussion Fridays will take time to digest, so students are encouraged to engage with them as soon as they are assigned. Our first Discussion Friday will take place on August 27. To prepare, students should read the posted excerpt from Steven Johnson's Everything Bad is Good for You. Then, students should post their critical response using the Discussion Friday #1 form. Usually Discussion Friday is interesting, productive, and even fun. I look forward to hearing your ideas. |
Welcome to ENG 496-001: Writing and Video Games with Dr. Jeremy Tirrell. I will put updates and news that you should know on this Announcements page. The course flows through this website. As such, you should take some time to familiarize yourself with it, particularly the Syllabus, Calendar, and Projects sections. Again, welcome to this Senior Seminar! I hope you find it challenging and rewarding. If you have any questions, feel free to email me through tirrellj@uncw.edu. |
The following list articulates my expectations for Reading Responses. Keep in mind that Engagement Assignments (such as Reading Responses) constitute 25% of your total course grade. I've seen many students' grades lowered by a letter or more due to neglected Engagement Assignments.
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