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 What
is English 238?
"Narrative and Digital
Technology" is a course under
the English department that explores the relationship between plot
structures, character description and development, and other narrative
elements and the representations of such in virtual/video (Web)
games.
Students engage in active
learning, both self-directed and peer-supported as well as instructor-facilitated,
and their work is influenced by their personal goals and knowledge
based on their individual majors and expertise.
Underclassmen and upperclassmen
alike participate in discussion and collaboratively explore and
analyze cross-disciplinary elements such as psychological character
study, technological design, creative development, and structual
methodology.
How
does the pedagogy compare to other humanities classes?
 Dr.
Laura Mandell
Professor of English 238
"Everyone starts with an 'A' and keeps
it by writing 50 pages through Wiki>>
postings." Students are supported and encouraged to explore
and create research that is authentic and applicable to their individual
goals. They are provided both guidance and creative freedom, and
their work is interactive in a public context, as they publish their
writing to a Wiki that enables them to transcend the traditional
boundary of the classroom walls.
In
what ways does English 238 integrate contemporary trends and research?
Michael Hamus 
Sophomore, Creative Writing/Psychology
"This is an emerging new medium. It's
really cutting edge. The discussions we bring to it about mixing
the medium have a lot of applicability. It's intriguing."
Chris Feran 
Junior, Interdisciplinary Studies
"This class gives me an understanding
of the intersect between the emerging art world and cultural events."
Michelle Emelton 
Sophomore, Journalism
"Comparing game characters to real-life
characters is most interesting to me because you understand how
much designers really put into them."
Back
to DHP Home>>
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How
does English 238 prepare students for studies in their majors and
future careers?
 John
Wylie
Junior, Computer Science
"This class teaches me elements of game
design and narrative techniques, which is useful for someone creating
video games."
 Jordan
Stiver
Senior, Graphic Design
"I have a focus in Interactive Media.
I'd like to go into Graphic Design and gaming. This class is all
about gaming and communicating."
 Rob
Dolan
Junior, Interdisciplinary Studies
"I'm doing what I'd like to do--produce
video games. This is really good for character development and narrative
and form."
In
what ways does English 238 support cross-disciplinary studies?
Jason Gentile 
Senior, Psychology
"I really like it because it's a lot
different from everything I've studied because of the games. It
adds to psychology because we talk about character development and
we're able to bring in things from other classes."
Phillip Baker 
Senior, Psychology
"My game character is a young black
male, around the age of 18 years old; I'm using a picture I drew;
he has no gang affiliation but he's still a punk kid. He gets his
heroic aspirations from rescuing a girl. He's still in his adolescent
stage; he still holds his adolescent behavior and remains a bit
shy."
How
does English 238 address the gender imbalance so often found in
computer science classes?
Lisa Aniol 
Sophomore, Marketing
"It's interesting. Being one of the
only girls can sometimes be a disadvantage because girls aren't
stereotypically gamers. I bring a not-as-serious approach; Michelle
[the other girl in the class] and I added an approach the others
hadn't thought of by using Mean Girls in class discussion
in the first week."
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