Book Reviews
Everyone--
Choose one of the books/readings from the class library (see list above) or suggest a relevant book-length reading of your own (subject to approval) and write a substantial (3-7 page) review of that piece, some web sites might also be appropriate for review. Be sure to include the strengths and weaknesses you noticed, and suggest how you might use, in your own work, the theory, observations, evidence, or practices developed in the reading. Let us know who you might benefit from reading the piece. Prepare materials for a short presentation.
We have a chance this term to explore how our 1500 year old print culture has developed at the same time we investigate the changes that may be occuring as a result of what's happening in, for lack of a better term, the digital realm. In each book (or site) determine the fundmental proposals the author(s) is trying to make. What conceptual "moves" does s/he make? Who is s/he talking to? Why? What "gap" (in theory or practice) is s/he trying to fill? Why is it important to fill that gap? Try to determine where and when the approach will be most useful in helping us understand observations of specific areas of cultural interest: education, law, forestry, sports, art, . . . . What other writers, theorists, or practitioners can be related, contrasted, or compared productively? Finally, once you've made an honest attempt to understand how s/he intended this volume to be read, what do you see that is not there? By that we mean, what digital and print-based literacy practices or theories have you observed that challenge or require some adjustment in the theory of this book?