On Wednesday, December 14, your final research paper and presentation will be due. Here is the order of presentations:

1 7 Idiatu
2 5 Cherishe
3 4 Alex Cruz
4 13 Isabelle
5 11 Jamika
6 6 Eli
7 1 Angeli
8 3 Melissa
9 8 Alix Joseph
10 12 Alexander Thompson-Burton
11 2 Michael
12 9 Creunis
13 10 Ethan

Remember: Bring your presentation PowerPoint on a flash drive (and email it to yourself, save it to cloud storage, etc.–essentially, have a plan B to access your PowerPoint!). Come dressed in business casual attire to give your presentation. Print a copy of your presentation script or outline. It should include your paper’s title and your name. This will be turned in after you present. Your research paper is due separately at the beginning of class on this day.

If you attend one session and write a one-page, double-spaced report on who you heard speak and what you learned from the discussion, you can earn credit for one daily writing assignment or if you have done all of the daily writing assignments, you will earn bonus credit for the daily writing assignment portion of your grade. The schedule for the symposium is here:https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/sciencefictionatcitytech/.

Research Paper Outline Suggestion

I.                           Introduction (establish a problem or an issue regarding the relationship between your selected technology and language. State your paper’s argument regarding that relationship. For example: I argue that Instagram’s reliance on visual language is detracting from our verbal literacy, because Instagram users must skill-up in visual literacy over verbal literacy. I assert that Twitter is tending to make people write more briefly, because it makes its users think more about how to write succinctly. Road map sentence. In the following paper, I describe the technology, discuss how it affects language in this way, in that way, in another way, and finally, conclude with a compelling reason why this is important.

II.                      Paragraph on the technology.

III.                 Example that supports your argument. Begins with a topic sentence about this specific example. Support your example with detailed discussion written by you and quoted material from your research. Keep each example paragraph focused on a single topic.

IV.                Another example on another topic.

V.                     Another example.

VI.                Another example.

VII.            Another example.

VIII.       Conclusion (Restate your argument and supporting evidence in a sentence or two to begin. THEN, answer this question: So what?

We’ve worked through the first half of the reading list on the syllabus. Now, you have an opportunity to show me what you have learned and remember.

Write your name on the front of the blue book that I have given you and turn off your computer monitors and put away everything except a pen/pencil and your one-sheet study guide. Make sure your name is on your study guide and turn it in with your quiz.

In essay form, tell me about what you have read and learned from the readings so far this semester. Write in complete sentences and include author’s names and essay/story titles. Each reading deserves at least 1-2 sentences, but more is certainly permissible.

When you are done, bring your blue book and one-sheet study guide to me. When everyone is done or no more than 45 minutes has passed, we will begin the second half of class, during which time we will do research on your project.

Dear all,

I have learned of a special talk by Dr. Edward Tunstel on robotics, autonomy, and collaboration that I would like us all to attend during class time on Wednesday, Sept 14. What we learn at the event will figure into our discussions later this semester, but since this is a one-time speaking event, we need to attend it now and fold it into our class when the time comes.

Let’s meet outside of Namm 119 (the special events room at the intersection of Namm and the Atrium on the first floor) at 6:30PM. If you are in the Namm building, you may wait outside Namm 119 until I get there. I will be at Vorhees 103B to meet students who did not read this email before class and bring them to Namm 119 when the event begins at 6:30PM. After the event ends at 7:30PM, meet me outside of Namm 119 to sign the attendance sheet and hand in your summary from the last class on the “What is Language” chapter.

For Monday, Sept 19, come prepared to discuss readings 3 and 4 on the syllabus. Your summary should cover what you learn in Dr. Tunstel’s talk, and you might connect his talk to the topic of language, how we communicate with machines such as computers and robots, and how we use robots as a tool for communication. If you are absent, consult with me regarding related topics.

Best, Professor Ellis

The World’s Languages in 7 Maps and Charts, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/04/23/the-worlds-languages-in-7-maps-and-charts/

Dispersal of Human Populations Map, http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2427/2486120/chap_assets/maps/atl_map1_1.html

Guess the Language, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmgpo0ZqdRU

The Gods Must be Crazy (trailer), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GorHLQ-jLRQ

“Click Language” and the San People of Africa, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c246fZ-7z1w (go to 1:00)

Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Darmok,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-wzr74d7TI

The syllabus has been posted as a downloadable DOCX file or viewable online on the Syllabus page.