ENG 1131: Writing Through Media
This course is the English department’s equivalent of ENC 1102. The purpose of this course is to
teach you basic argumentative and research skills in the context of media studies and popular
culture. Throughout the semester, we will be exploring several forms of popular culture,
including: novels, films, comics, picture books, etc. Our focus will be on popular culture in the
context of children’s literature and culture. While this means we will be exploring texts widely
accepted as being intended for children, we will also consider the adult reception of these texts,
since most children’s books and films are written for a dual audience (i.e., children and adults).
Furthermore, since the purpose of this course is also to teach you how to write through media
(and not just about it), you will learn how to use the web in order to author your own texts in
unique ways (e.g., blogs, live journals, hypertext arguments, etc.). Because I will be asking you
to create projects that are largely web-based, we will also be discussing the shift from literacy to
electracy. So, for example, when discussing popular children’s novels, we will also discuss the
“future of print,” among other things. Our trajectory for this course will thus be twofold: we will
begin with the written word (i.e., novels) and move closer to more complex media (e.g.,
animated films), and we will also slowly explore more complex issues dealing with the shift
from literacy to electracy. This course will culminate in a large final paper, where you develop
your own research project related to the course theme.
Wednesday Classes (E1-E3): This section of class will be assigned weekly. It will be used for a
combination of workshops and film screenings. When nothing is assigned for this time period,
you should use it to work on the next assignment that is due.
Note: There are several sections of ENG 1131, each with their own course theme. If you are
not interested in the course theme, then it is highly recommended that you switch sections.
This is both for your benefit (you’ll be much happier in a course whose theme interests
you), and the benefit of the class, since class discussion will be integral to the success of this
course.
Introduce 5 codes in literature section. Don’t ask students to learn them per se, but to think about
how Barthes conception of an underlying structure can be used to interpret literature.
Introduce sign, signifier, signified in comics section w/ Ch. 1 from McCloud.
Possible Texts:
Writing Space: Computers, Hypertext, and the remediation of print (available as E-book via UF
Library)
Understanding Animation by Paul Wells ($30.00)
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud ($16.00)
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak ($5.00)
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein ($4.00)
Coraline: The Graphic Novel by Neil Gaiman ($10.00)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney ($8.00)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman ($16)
Articles:
“‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’: From Stick Figures to Sweet Flick” by David Hiltbrand (available on
popmatters.com)
“Young Adult Lit Comes of Age” by Susan Carpenter (Available on popmatters.com)
Assignments:
Reading Responses (300 words each). Do as live journals. (also does blogs. Choose either live
journal or wordpress)
Literature Analysis (3 pages)-Based on our discussions of Roland Barthes, you will create a
hypertext version of a selection from The Golden Compass that includes links to your analysis of
the section. While you will not be asked to identify the 5 codes in the section, you should base
your analysis on a similar idea of an underlying structure in the text. Thus, if a character
suddenly enters a dark room, create a hyperlink to your discussion of the importance of the
darkness of the room. What is the effect on the reader? How does this element function to keep
the story moving?
Visual Analysis (2 pages)-You will analyze the visual rhetoric of a comic, graphic novel, or
picture book from a list I will provide. You may opt to write about a book of your choosing if
you would like, but it must be approved by me ahead of time. No outside sources are required for
this assignment, but you must include a close reading of the visual rhetoric in your primary text
(we will discuss what I mean by close reading). You should focus on explaining how the visuals
make an argument in and of themselves, and, furthermore, how they work with and support the
text. Create a blog entry using live journal. Students will be required to read and respond to their
classmates in comment section.
Film Analysis/Review (2 pages)-You will analyze the argument made in an animated film from a
list I will provide, as well as review (I’ll give an example). You will also need to combine a close
analysis of the film with your larger argument. You should use Paul Well’s Understanding
Animation as a guide for conducting this close analysis. You must include images in your paper.
We will discuss ways of integrating images into your argument. You will post your paper in a
blog format (again, on wordpress.org). Students, as before, will be required to respond to your
entry.
Comparison Paper Presentation (3 pages)-You will compare a children’s book, comic, or graphic
novel to its movie version. I will provide possible texts that you may write about. If you have a
text in mind that is not on the list, you must speak to me ahead of time and have your paper topic
approved before you begin writing your paper. You must also include and synthesize into your
paper a minimum of 2 outside sources. Sources should be from Peer-Reviewed Journals or other
designated sources with similar credibility. Your presentation will be accompanied by this 3 page
assignment. You must incorporate various media into your presentation (screen shots, music,
clips, powerpoint, etc.)
Final Paper Proposal (6 pages)-Proposal detailing your research topic and methodology. Must
include a short annotated bibliography of outside sources to be used in your final paper
(minimum of 3 sources). The proposal will actually be a series of 4 short responses (500 words
each), where you will have the flexibility to develop your topic as you conduct your research for
the final paper. Post proposals via live journal.
Final Paper (5 pages)-A research paper on the topic of your choosing that deals with the course
theme. Final paper must be posted via webpage. It will follow the format of our first assignment,
where you include page links and images. The hypertext in this paper should be more complex
than that of the first assignment, however. We will discuss different approaches for creating an
interactive argument.
Additional readings will be made available through a combination of E-Reserves and handouts.
All readings from E-Reserves should be printed and brought to class on assigned days.
Possible Screenings:
UP
The Princess and the Frog
Coraline
Diary of A Wimpy Kid (if available on DVD)
Peter Pan (Disney Version)
Selections from Disney on the Front Lines
Selected Episodes from The Simpsons
UNIT 1: Course Introduction (2 weeks, including drop/add week)
Week 1 (Aug. 23-Aug. 27)
Mon (8/23)-Drop/Add/Course Intro (Syllabus Review)
Wed (8/25)-Drop/Add/Discuss Reading Responses and E-Reserves
Fri (8/27)-Drop/Add/Discuss rhetorical triangle/audience appeal
Week 2 (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)
Mon (8/30) What is a text? What is art? How do we distinguish between children’s literature and
literature for adults? Diagnostic Essay Due on one of these questions.
Wed (9/1) Read/Discuss “What is Popular Culture” by John Storey
Fri (9/3) Read/Discuss “What is Pop Culture” by Marcel Danesi
UNIT 2: THE WRITTEN WORD (3 weeks)
Week 3 (Sept. 6-10)
Mon (9/6): NO CLASS (Labor Day)
Wed (9/8)
Fri (9/10)
Week 4 (Sept. 13-17)
Mon (9/13) Read/Discuss The Golden Compass
Wed (9/15) Read/Discuss The Golden Compass
Fri (9/17) Read/Discuss The Golden Compass
Week 5 (Sept. 20-24)
Mon (9/20)
Wed (9/22)
Fri (9/24)
UNIT 3: Image and Text (4 weeks)
Week 6 (Sept. 27-Oct. 1)
Mon (9/27) Read/Discuss Understanding Comics and Literature Analysis Due
Wed (9/29) Read/Discuss Understanding Comics
Fri (10/1) Read/Discuss Understanding Comics
Week 7 (Oct. 4-8)
Mon (10/4) Read/Discuss Diary of A Wimpy Kid
Wed (10/6) Read/Discuss Diary of A Wimpy Kid
Fri (10/8)
Week 8 (Oct. 11-15)
Mon (10/11) Read/Discuss Where the Wild Things Are
Wed (10/13) Read/Discuss The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Fri (10/15): NO CLASS (Homecoming)
Week 9 (Oct. 18-22)
Mon (10/18) Read/Discuss Coraline and Comic Analysis Due
Wed (10/20) Read/Discuss Coraline/Screen selections from The Simpsons and Disney on the
Front Lines
Fri (10/22) Discuss Screened Material
UNIT 5: Pictures in Motion (six weeks)
Week 10 (Oct. 25-29)
Mon (10/25)
Wed (10/27) Screen Coraline
Fri (10/29)
Week 11 (Nov. 1-5)
Mon (11/1)
Wed (11/3) Screen Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Fri (11/5)
Week 12 (Nov. 8-12)
Mon (11/8) Comparison Paper Due
Wed (11/10) Screen Peter Pan
Fri (11/12): NO CLASS (Veteran’s Day is the day before this)
Week 13 (Nov. 15-19)
Mon (11/15) Final Paper Proposal Due
Wed (11/17) Screen The Princess and the Frog
Fri (11/19)
Week 14 (Nov. 22-26)
Mon (11/22) Film Analysis Due
Wed (11/24) Screen UP (Not a day off, but probably should plan a less important day to account
for possible absences)
Fri (11/26): NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)
Week 15 (Nov. 29-Dec. 3)
Mon (11/29)
Wed (12/1)
Fri (12/3)
Week 16 (Dec. 6-8)
Mon (12/6)
Wed (12/8)
Final Paper is due electronically no later than midnight on Wednesday, December 15th. If you
would like you paper returned with comments, please indicate this in the e-mail you send me
when submitting your final paper. I will return your paper electronically with feedback no later
than one week from the submission date.
Holidays include: Sept. 6 (labor day), Oct. 15-16 (homecoming), Nov. 11 (veteran’s day), Nov.
25-27 (thanksgiving).