ENGL 348: The Internet for Humanists

Sophisticated, Informative Reading Report

There's an exciting, rapidly increasing body of material available dealing with the social and cultural aspects of the Internet. I've put a number of works on the Reserve Reading list. (Also on the list are articles I'm asking everyone to read.) For the Sophisticated, Informative Reading Report assignment, you should select a book from the Reserve Reading list. (You're not restricted to that list. If you know of another relevant work that you'd like to deal with, just be sure to get my OK ahead of time.) Tell me what book you've chosen, or ask for suggestions. Read the work carefully. If it's an anthology of essays, you may choose three, and prepare both a written and an oral report. The written report, which will probably run 3-5 typewritten, double-spaced pages, should include the following:

A summary of the book or the three essays.
How does the book or the essays relate to other works we've read this semester?
Your assessment of the book/essays. What if anything did you find most interesting? What do you see as the book's or essays' best features? What weaknesses does it/they have? Would you recommend it/them to other students in the course? Why or why not? Should it/they be required reading for the course (you don't have to address this last question unless you think the book or one or more of the essays should be added to the course).

Though you'll be submitting your written report to me, I'd like everyone in the class to benefit from your reading. Thus, I've set aside time near the end of the semester for oral presentations of these reports. Since we'll probably have to schedule two reports per day, you should not read your written paper--that will take too long. Instead, you should prepare an informal, oral version that you can deliver in 10 minutes or less. Your oral report should cover the same points as your written report, but in less detail.
I have decided to make this assignment optional. I am hoping that everyone will choose to do the assignment, but it is required only for those who hope to get an A in the course. If you choose to do it, the reading report will count for 15% of your final grade. (NOTE: Doing the assignment doesn't guarantee you an A, it simply makes an A possible. You cannot get an A unless you do the assignment. Even if you're not aiming for an A, the reading report is more likely to help than hurt, though that, too, is not guaranteed. If you have questions about the grading system or about your particular situation, please don't hesitate to speak with me.)
NOTE: Though these reports will not be due until the latter part of the course, you'd be wise to think soon about which book or essays you'd like to cover. You may find that the first book you choose doesn't appeal to you once you start reading it, and you should give yourself plenty of time to make another choice. Also, usually no more than one person can report on a given title, so for the best selection, you should choose early.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail. Here's how

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