January 12, 2010 Archives

Feminist scholars have long been interested by the ways that technology seems to change the way we "embody" acts of communication.

Read Consalvo (in Williams and Smith 203-222). What are the benefits and drawbacks of treating this article as an exploration of gender? Write a 500-word response that demonstrates your ability to engage with an academic text. (Upload to Turnitin.com.)

Rather than listing the benefits and drawbacks in different paragraphs, then tacking on an intro and conclusion, take and support a non-obvious, debatable claim that explores gender and Consalvo's article.

Other disciplines may have a very specific, formal way to critique an academic article. I'm asking for the kind of persuasive paper you wrote towards the end of Basic Comp or STW, in which you take a clear stand (not "There are many interesting things to say about this paper," or "Some may say this paper is X, and some may say that it is Y, but I'm going to argue that it is Z.") and back it up with specific evidence (in this case, quotations from the essay we're reading).  You've already been doing this, on a small scale, when you quote from the assigned chapters on your blog. Now I'm asking you to do so on a larger scale, so that you can get my feedback on your academic writing, before we launch into the term paper.

Read this student project on Lara Croft.

Complete the brief, timed, open-book comphrehension quiz on GriffinGate. (Forthcoming.)

Sample this game in your web browser, then post your initial reactions. Then, demonstrate your ability to research and analyze; post a more detailed statement that makes a specific claim, backed up with evidence.

Choose any classic game (I'll let you define "classic"), and find a good online resources that helps you to explore a complex, debabale claim about gender.

Sample this game in your web browser, then post your initial reactions. Then, demonstrate your ability to research and analyze; post a more detailed statement that makes a specific claim, backed up with evidence.

Watch this promo, and do some research online, and venture an opinion. How informed is your opinion if you have not actually played this game? (It took me about 4 hours to finish... you are free to choose this game for your term project, but I am not actually asking you to play this game unless you want to.)

This is advanced preparation for Ex 6.

Choose two articles from the Williams and Smith textbook that are not already on the syllabus, and explain why you think the class would benefit from reading each one. I will choose four or five articles, and name students to lead an online discussion of those articles, in the empty slots that are already listed on the syllabus.

Steady as she goes... I'm continuing to see good interaction, thoughtful responses to the readings, and some candid reflections on how looking at games in a new light has led to new insights and encouraged you to make connections and ask new questions.

Koster and Laurel reading quizzes

• I have one more Koster question to write, and then I will post the final set of questions for "A Theory of Fun."
• I've posted a set for Laurel; they are in two parts, so you don't feel rushed, but the division line for the questions is not necessarily the line that divides the selections that I assigned.   I'd rather you approach the whole set with the whole book finished.

Grades

On Turnitin.com, you should see a running total of your grade so far. It takes a bit longer to mark the longer papers you've been writing, so I'm still working on some of your recent submissions, but I aim to catch up in the next day or two.

Bibliography Assignment

The upcoming bibliography assignment is your chance to check your sources with me before you commit to using them in an academic paper. 

• Using Google to search for your favorite game is NOT going to yield good results. It's much better to start with a library database that you can restrict to peer-reviewed sources, OR
• Look at the bibliography of any of the essays in our collection, and look up the individual articles cited as credible sources.  OR
• I also found a video game bibliography created by students in Zach Walen's video game course at the University of Mary Washington. If you set the "Type" to journal article, book, book chapter, conference paper, or thesis, you are very likely to find valuable scholarly materials.

If, after completing this assignment, you feel you want to change your topic, that's fine with me.  You are welcome to think of Ex 5 as your first step to starting your final project, or you can just pick an easy topic in order to get it done quickly.  Either way, you'll be demonstrating your ability to find credible sources.

New discussion topic:

My Games Research Story

What were your experiences looking for peer-reviewed academic sources on games?

What were the steps you took to complete Ex 5? What gave you the most trouble, and what tips can you share with your peers? What questions arise from your exposure to games scholarship?

How confident are you that you know when you have found peer-reviewed academic research?

What do you do when you can't find an academic article on the game you want to study?

You needn't post an answer to each prompt -- these are just an indication of the questions I hope this topic will explore.  As we begin the research process that will lead to the academic component of the final project, let's keep this discussion forum in mind, so that we have a place to go to share our successes and frustrations.  I'll do whatever I can to help, including helping you to evaluate the credibility of sources that you find, and even recommending articles, if any come to mind.

Begin by posting your initial reaction here. If you wish, you may post on your own blog as well, but rather than just posting the URL, help your peers identify the topics they'll be most interested in discussing, by adding a few lines explaining what your readers will find if they click on the link.

A note on starting conversations online