COURSE SYLLABUS
Santa Fe University of Art and Design
Creative Writing and Literature
Media & Storytelling: Content and Publishing Across Platforms - CWRT 2051 01
Spring, 2016
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title:
COURSE 2051-01: Media & Storytelling: Content and Publishing Across
Platforms
Course Time:
Wednesdays (2 p.m.-5:40 p.m.
Course Location:
Building/Room BEN 100/101 and ALEXIS Hall Mac lab
Course website: sfuadmediastorytelling.wordpress.com
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor:
Professor Julia Goldberg
Office Location:
BEN 219
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:30-2 or by appointment
Email: Julia.Goldberg@santafeuniversity.edu
TEXTBOOKS and MATERIALS
(Required) In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
(Required) Telling True Stories, Mark Kramer
(Required) https://serialpodcast.org/season-one
(Required) http://searchlightsandsunglasses.org/
flash drive
digital camera or camera phone
REQUIRED EVENTS
All CWL events take place at 7 p.m. in O’Shaugnessy. Please be sure to sign in to the events.
February 23: Kathleen Graber (poet):
March 29: Senior Reading
April 5: Senior Reading
April 12: James Reich and Matt Donovan book release/reading
April 19: Senior Reading
April 26: Senior Reading
May 3: Glyph reading & event
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In a 1966 interview of the now seminal true crime story In Cold Blood, writer Truman Capote
discussed his motivation to create a new type of nonfiction, noting that “it seemed to me that
Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
journalism, reportage, could be forced to yield a serious new art form: the “nonfiction novel” and
that, “on the whole, journalism is the most underestimated, the least explored of literary
mediums.” Flash forward 50 years, and Capote’s musings have never seemed more true, as
publications as diverse as the New York Times and the Virginia Quarterly Review now deliver their
stories on multiple platforms that explore and expand upon traditional linear narratives. In this
course, students will both explore the lineage of literary journalism, while also embarking on a
series of multimedia projects that will serve as best-practice trainings for using web-based
platforms and software for storytelling. Projects may include audio-visual storytelling through
Soundslides; compression storytelling via Twitter and Instagram; and blogging. Prerequisites:
ENGL 1050, ENGL 1051, and CWRT 2350.
CLASS WEBSITE:
sfuadmediastorytelling.wordpress.com
This class will be conducted in a partially paper-free environment. Much of our work will be online
only and, whenever possible, our readings will be available in a digital form. Please check the
website every week for the most up-to-date assignments and for other materials.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
a. Evaluate and discuss the impact of digital tools on narrative storytelling.
b. Effectively employ online curatorial tools, such as Storify, in line with professional
publishing standards.
c. Demonstrate visual/written compression storytelling, using online tools such as
Instagram, in line with professional publishing standards.
d. Construct online blog portfolios using the Wordpress content management .
e. Use digital software to create and publish slide shows/video essays in line with
professional publishing standards.
ASSIGNMENTS/EXAMS (Subject to Change)
Three Instagram Essay Assignments:
200 points
Individual Blog Site with additional assignments for embedding:
Video Essay or Slide Project:
200 points
Presentations, Discussion and Critiques:
200 points
Final Paper:
200 points
Total Points Possible
200 points
1,000 points
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Instagram Micro Essays: Many literary magazines have embraced the use of Instagram as a type
of multi-media compression or flash essay type. We will look at some examples of these for
discussion, and you will construct three of them from three different points of view: place, person
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Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
and one wild card topic. You will choose one of these to hashtag for Creative Nonfiction’s
#tinytruths contest.
Wordpress Blog: In this class, you will construct a Wordpress blog and become comfortable using
its content management system to host your work for this class (and perhaps continue to use it as
a portfolio site). This will include embedding your instagram essays, your Storify curation project,
one Google Maps essay as well as your video or slide essay. You will also post a short recap for
your Media Presentation (see below).
Video Essay or Slide Essay: Using the tools available in the new Mac Lab, you will be responsible
for creating, presenting and posting one video or slide essay this semester. We will also watch and
discuss other video/slide essays in class to generate ideas.
Presentations, Discussion and Critiques: Active participation in our discussions is a portion of
your grade this semester. In addition, each of you will be responsible for making one presentation
to the class of an example of alternative platform or multimedia storytelling. This presentation
should explain the piece you’re presenting; discuss the platform (how it was made) and how its
disruption of narrative or use of alternative platform for narrative) impacts the storytelling. Lastly,
we will have one or possibly more presenters this semester and you are responsible for asking
questions and participating in their talks as well. As with workshops, your individual
presentations will not be rescheduled. We will be critiquing and looking at all created work this
semester, and you will be responsible for both written and oral critique of each other’s projects.
Final Paper: Throughout the semester, you should be reading Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood,
and also work through listening to NPR’s podcast, “Serial” (the first season). We will listen to the
first episode in our first class, and the last episode in our last class. We will have a seminar
discussion about the ways in which Capote’s “nonfiction novel” and NPR’s “serial” storytelling
make use of different forms of storytelling, as well as how they diverge. Your final paper should
analyze two different aspects of creative nonfiction storytelling and discuss the different ways
these are presented depending on platform. We will, of course, discuss the final paper in greater
detail later in the semester.
GRADING SCALE
A
B
C
D
F
100% 89% 79% 69% Below
90%
80%
70%
60%
60%
(1,000 points 900 points)
(800 points – 899 points)
(700 points – 799 points)
(600 points – 699 points)
(500 points and less)
COURSE EXPECTATIONS/POLICIES
Attendance/Tardiness
100% class attendance is required and is critically important to faculty and your peers.
More than 1 absence can adversely affect a student’s grade. More than 3 absences can
result in not receiving credit for the course. Tardiness is unacceptable and will also result
in a lowering of your final grade. Bottom line: Attend every class in a timely manner.
Late Assignments/Make-Up Exams/Re-Submission of Work/Extra Credit
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Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
Assignments will be automatically docked 10 percent for each day it is late; no
assignments will be accepted that are more than three days late.
Making Appointments/Contacting the Instructor
My office hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. or by
appointment.
Typing/Format of Assignments
All written work for this course must be typed and in accordance with the MLA
stylebook or as specified for the assignment.
Laboratory Policies (if applicable)
This class will be utilizing the Mac lab in Alexis Hall. No food or drink is permitted in
the lab. All students are responsible for saving any work from the computers onto a
flash drive. The computers are cleared weekly and no work should be saved on the
computers. Lost work due to not properly backing up will not be an acceptable excuse
for missing or late assignments.
Email Usage
Please
use
your
SFUAD
email
to
communicate.
My
email
is
Julia.goldberg@santafeuniversity.edu. I will always within 24 hours to emails. If I do
not respond, I did not receive your email.
Electronic Devices
Cell phones are explicitly prohibited in this classroom, and their use during class time will
not be tolerated.
Students who own cellphones must leave their phones in the designated area at the start
of class.
Any student who fails to do so and violates this policy will receive a single cellphone
infraction warning. A second infraction will cause the student to be dismissed from the
classroom for that class session and to receive both an unexcused absence as well as a
reduction in the student's classroom participation grade.
Subsequent cellphone violations may result in a failing grades for course participation or,
if the cell phone use does not cease, the removal of a student from the class and a
resulting failing grade for the course.
Accommodating Special Needs
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Santa Fe University of Art and
Design makes every effort to provide appropriate accommodations for students with
documented disabilities. Students may receive these accommodations if they contact
their professor and register with Charlie Miu, Disability Services, at 505-473-6713
(charlie.miu@santafeuniversity.edu).
Ethics/Academic Integrity
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Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
Santa Fe University of Art and Design values academic integrity. It is the policy of our university to foster
creative and academic work that is both original and based on fundamental principles of academic integrity.
If a student’s writing or other creative projects use the work of someone else, that use must be formally
acknowledged. When taking information or quotes from other authors and incorporating that material into a
writing assignment, students must acknowledge the source and authorship of the material they borrow by
properly citing it using Modern Language Association (MLA) standards. Similarly, when students’ creative
projects incorporate other artists’ ideas, or any visual, electronic, audio, or other creative content, they must
acknowledge and give credit to those artists according to discipline-specific guidelines. It is the
responsibility of the student to understand and adhere to this university policy, follow prescribed guidelines,
and understand the consequences of violating the policy. Enrollment in this university assumes a
commitment to upholding the principles of academic integrity. The complete policy on academic integrity,
including penalties for violations of policy and processes for appeal, is available for review in the Student
Handbook and Academic Catalog.
Emergency Class Cancellation
If an emergency arises in which class must be cancelled, a note will be posted on the
classroom door informing students of the cancellation and related information. If a
cancellation notice is not posted, students are expected to remain in the classroom until
dismissed by a university representative. In the event of severe weather, students
should listen to local radio/television announcements for information or check the
Santa Fe University website: www.santafeuniversity.edu If the university is open,
students are expected to attend class.
The Writing Center
Meet one-to-one with a consultant for sound advice at ANY stage of the writing process.
We can teach you strategies to formulate and organize strong thesis statements, use
and cite evidence appropriately, master style and grammar, and overcome writing
anxiety. Additionally, the Writing Center is available to help you develop your nonacademic documents (resumes, applications, etc.), your study skills (note taking,
organization, etc.), or help you prepare for tests, presentations, and the like (we can
hold your flash cards or read lines with you!).
Visit http://santafe.mywconline.com and register a user account on our scheduling
page to reserve an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
The Writing Center located in Alexis Hall. This semester the Writing Center will resume
its services on Monday, February 8th. Our hours of operation are Monday-Thursday,
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
COURSE CALENDAR (Assignments are subject to change. Please refer to the class website for each week’s
assignments.)
January 20: : Intro to class and review of syllabus. Intro to Mac Lab. Set up Wordpress blog and
other account set-up and review of assignments for the following week. Set up Storify and
Instagram accounts. Listen to first serial podcast.
January 27: Read for class from Telling True Stories: Part 1: “Stories Matter,” “Delving into Private
Ideas” and “The Narrative Idea.” Read also “Reporting for Narrative” (p. 24) and “Interviewing:
Accelerated Intimacy” (p. 30)
Read in Searchlight and Sunglasses, Chapter 1, “A New Age of Communication
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Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
Read: Nieman Lab’s story on Virginia Quartery’s Instagram Essays:
http://www.niemanlab.org/2016/01/a-91-year-old-literary-magazine-is-hosting-a-yearlongexperiment-in-storytelling-on-instagram/
Read: VQR’s #VQRTrueStory: http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2015/12/vqrtruestory
Follow and review posts from @vqreview on Instagram for discussion
Follow @creativenonfiction on Instagram
Read and review Creative Nonfiction #TinyTruths story:
https://www.creativenonfiction.org/news/wanted-instagram-micro-essays
February 3: First Instagram Essay on “place” due. Must be posted on Instagram and embedded
onto your blog. We will read these all and discuss/critique in class.
Read: Storify’s Top Tips for Curating: https://storify.com/storify/the-key-to-ugc
• If you use Chrome, I would highly recommend getting Storify’s Chrome Extension:
https://storify.com/storify/using-the-storify-chrome-extension
 Review some examples of Storify: http://www.indeonline.com/news/20160118/storifyhonoring-kings-legacy
 https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2016/01/11/storify-state-of-the-union-address-coverage/
 https://storify.com/nmemagazine/alan-rickman-tributes
 Read Search Engine Journal’s article on Storify: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/10drop-dead-easy-ways-you-can-use-storify-to-create-compelling-content/46969/
 Read in Telling True Stories, “Part IV: Constructing a Structure” (p. 97-116)
 Read “Newsroom Curators and Independent Storytellers” by Federico Guerrini, all of Chapter
1, “Curation and Curators” and Chapter III, “Occupy Wall Street”
• In-class work on Storify projects (you should have chosen a topic prior to class; you can also
have started assembling your pieces).
February 10: Read for class, “Annotation Tuesday: Virtual Reality in the Displaced”:
http://niemanstoryboard.org/stories/annotation-tuesday-jenna-pirog-on-virtual-reality-in-thedisplaced/
“Virtual Reality Lets the Audience Step into the Story:
http://niemanstoryboard.org/stories/virtual-reality-lets-the-audience-step-into-the-story/
“Frank Sinatra Has a Cold”:
We will watch the NYT “The Displaced” in class; if you have the capability, download and check
out the NYTVR app.
* In-class Storify project critiques (details will be handed out in previous class)
• Presentation #1 for multi-media stories.
February 17:
• Multi-media Presentation #2
• Read for class: CNN Photojournalism bootcamp:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/IREPORT/09/02/capture.photo.bootcamp.irpt/
• Read Knight Foundation National Geographic story: http://knightfoundation.org/pressroom/press-release/journalist-and-pulitzer-winner-paul-salopek-test-n/
• Read Nieman Lab’s Atlantic Photo site interview: http://www.niemanlab.org/2015/01/qahow-alan-taylor-online-photography-pioneer-is-rethinking-the-atlantics-photo-site/
• Read “On Writing for the Ear”: http://bresland.com/brevity.html
• Photos due for Second Instagram Essay. In-class writing time. Review of critique sheets for
Instagram Essay #2 for the following week.
• Soundslides presentation in class
February 24: Presentation #3; Critique sheets due and in-class workshops of second Instagram
Essay.
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Professor Julia Goldberg
COURSE CWRT 2051-01 (Spring 2016)
Preliminary audio for Video Essays or Slide Essays due in class.
Guest presenter Ross Hamlin on Garage Band.
Read “Beyond the Border” from the Texas Observer: http://www.texasobserver.org/beyondborder/
March 2: Presentation #4
Guest speaker Andrew Primm on videography. You will be required to review examples of his work
prior to class and come prepared with questions. You should by now have a clear idea of what
kind of project (video or slides) you will be doing and have started generating content.
Read: “Love for My Enemies”: https://read.atavist.com/love-for-my-enemies
March 9: Midterm week Presentation #5
The rest of classtime will be devoted to working on your Video Essays or Slide Essays; all video
and photography must be ready to work with.
March 16: Spring Break/No classes
March 23: Field trip for class Google Maps project; bring notebooks/ cameras
March 30: No class
April 6: Presentations #6 and #7
• Guest Skype speaker Rani Molla from Bloomberg News on visual journalism and data
journalism. • You will have examples of Rani’s work to review prior to class and be expected to
bring questions for her.
• You will also have additional readings on data visualization and data reporting for this class.
• In-class work on Google Map project
April 13: Presentation #8
For class: Review https://storyful.com/case-studies/
Review https://www.muckrock.com/
Review https://www.propublica.org/
Review https://www.propublica.org/series/the-etan-patz-case
Read selections as specified from “Amateur Footage” report
Read from https://medium.com// sign up for Medium account
Review staff picks for Atavist.com/sign up for Atavist
Read 2015 National Magazine award winner: https://read.atavist.com/loveandruin
Bring to class one long-form piece of writing (fiction or nonfiction). Consider elements you want to
include in your story. You will be working on designing an Atavist piece of your own.
April 20: Presentation #9
Read for class in Telling True Stories: Part V: “Building Quality into the Work”
In-class time to finalize and work on your web portfolios
April 27: Web portfolio presentations to class
May 4: We will listen to the final podcast for Serial Season 1 and then have a seminar discussion
on “Serial” and In Cold Blood in advance of your final papers.
May 11: Finals Week; no class
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