Admission requirements
This course is only available for second year students in the BA International Studies.
The number of participants is limited to 25.
Description
Information Societies
How is society shaped by information? And how is information shaped by the society in which it is produced? Balancing these two queries, this course aims to provoke students to think about the relationship between a group of individuals producing and consuming information, and the available means through which this information is offered and disseminated. Focusing on three historical periods – Pre-Print (500-1500), The Age of Print (1500-late 20th century), and Post-Print (the present) – the course shows how modern communicative means like Wikipedia, Open Access, graffiti, selfies, texting, advertising, and even Social Media have deep historical roots. While linking past and present, the course queries what we can learn about a society through its textual and visual means of communication. The course materials consist of selected articles and book chapters. Furthermore, students will collect, analyze and discuss relevant samples of current and historical communication.
Additionally, the students will work through W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Course objectives
Academic skills that are trained include:
Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using up-to-date presentation techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience;
3. to actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.
Collaboration skills:
1. to be socio-communicative in collaborative situations;
2. to provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position;
3. adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability;
3. to formulate on this basis a sound research question;
4. to design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved;
5. to formulate a substantiated conclusion.
Written presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website
Mode of instruction
Seminar and supervised research.
Course Load
Total course load for the course: 10 EC x 28 hours= 280 hours, broken down by:
Attending lectures and seminars: 24 hours
Preparing for presentation: 16
Studying compulsory literature: 60 hours
Researching and writing final paper: 120 hours
Preparing portfolio with analysed communication samples: 60
Assessment method
Assessment and Weighing
Paper (50%)
Portfolio (gathered samples of modern/historical communication + analysis) (30%)
Presentation (20%)
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
To pass the course, the weighted average has to be 5.5 at least.
Resit
In case of resubmission of the final essay (insufficient grade only) the final grade for the essay will be lowered as a consequence of the longer process of completion. The deadline for resubmission is 10 days after receiving the grade for the final essay.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
To be announced.
W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable
Contact
Remarks
The deadline for submission of the final essay is 9 June 2017.
Passing this course is an entry requirement for the thesis and thesis seminar, elective year 3, and Practising Internatonal Studies.