Journal

Twenty-five percent of your grade will depend on your ongoing maintenance of a reading/research journal for the class. How you implement the journal is up to you: it can certainly be on a public or private blog (as long as I am able to read it!), or it can take the form of email messages to me. This can (should!) be very informal, low-stakes writing: initial reactions to readings, musings about the class project, questions and puzzlements. If you share your journal only with me, I will maintain your confidentiality, though I may ask you in class to discuss ideas from your journal.

I will aim to give you a few writing prompts each week (some weeks in the calendar already include prompts). In general, I'd like you to

1. reflect on the readings: provocative? illumating? boring? did you read any of the cited work? is this something you want to learn more about? what questions are left unanswered?
2. reflect on how the readings illustrate a relationship between computationan and the humanities;
3. identify areas you'd like to discuss in class--things you find confusing, or things you have strong opinions about, perhaps;
4. develop your thinking around your class-work--brainstorm topics for your mini-session, work through some research questions, whatever.

This element of the course is intended to

1. help you formulate your ideas about the readings before you come to class,
2. help me get a sense, before we meet, of how the readings were received and
3. help both of us make sure your project work is on track.

Therefore, I expect you to share a journal entry at least weekly, at the latest by Wednesday evening.