Assignments and Grading

Pick topics and readings: Students (individually or in small groups) will be responsible for selecting a topic within the area of pragmatic technology and leading a class session on that topic. The first step is to prepare a brief description of the chosen topic and list several tentative readings for your session. Readings may be selected from any of the texts listed on the syllabus, or from other sources (you're encouraged to start with the required texts). (5%)

Annotations of readings: Produce annotations for three readings of your choice. Your chosen readings can be books, chapters, journals, journal articles, websites, etc. You may want to select readings that are related to your chosen topic for the class session you will be leading. Your annotation should be a paragraph or two, with some substance, which may include your evaluative comments.

Add you bibliographic entry with your annotation to the Pragmatic Technology Bibliography. Check first to see whether the article is already in the database. If so, you can send a message to Steven Poulakos asking him to add the annotation. (5%)

Keywords: Produce an analysis of one keyword of your choice. This keyword is not just an index term as in the bibliography, but a core concept for the field. The analysis is a short essay (1-2 pp.) on the definition, history, and multiple uses of a term, which is central to understanding a text or a field of study. (5%)

Session template: Develop a plan for a class session you will lead. This will typically include several readings and possibly some activity for students prior to the class, and a scheme for how the class time can be used to examine those readings or apply them to some problem. (5%)

Session leading: Lead a class session on a topic of your choice. (15%)

Site contribution: Contribute to building a web resource on pragmatic technology. (15%)

Analysis of practice: Choose an area of activity in which you can apply a pragmatic technology analysis. For examples, see Dewey's logical theory, edited by Burke, et al., in which various authors explore questions of value or practice using ideas from pragmatism. (30%)

Participation: Active participation throughout is assumed, both for your own learning and to help others learn. This occurs both in class and in the LEEP bulletin boards. (20%)

Enter assignments and view feedback to them in the C-Base online assignment management system.