This course explores what is happening to literature, and its study, in the digital age. Digital technologies are profoundly affecting how literature is produced, read, and analysed. This course explores new theoretical perspectives on literature arising from this context: from innovative conceptions of textuality, authorship, and reading, to changing understandings of the book, publishing, and the library. These theoretical paradigms provide a framework for students to read new digital literary works as well as literary works about digital technology, and to employ new digital approaches to literary studies. Students will develop analytical skills for engaging with literary documents, in and about digital forms and/or with digital methods, and for exploring a range of issues relevant to our increasingly digital textual world, including authority, originality, and reproducibility. No technical background is required.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Analyse and discuss the impact of digital technologies on literature, literary studies, and literary theory;
2. Evaluate and apply digital methods to research questions in literary studies;
3. Interpret and analyse digital literary texts and literary texts about digital technology in the context of theoretical perspectives on digital literature and digital media.

Required Resources

Critical resources

Amy E. Earhart and Andrew Jewell, eds. The American Literature Scholar in the Digital Age (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press and University of Michigan Library, 2011) – available as an e-book through the Australian National University Library

Ray Siemens and Susan Schreibman, eds. A Companion to Digital Literary Studies (Oxford: Blackwell, 2008) – available online at http://www.digitalhumanities.org/companionDLS/

Susan Schreibman, Ray Siemens and John Unsworth, eds. A Companion to Digital Humanities (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004) – available online at http://www.digitalhumanities.org/companion/

Texts required for this course (available at the ANU campus bookshop, Harry Hartog):

Oryx and Crake, by Margaret Atwood

Neuromancer, by William Gibson

Episode required for this course (available for $3.49 on iTunes):

“The Original” – Episode 1 of Westworld, Season 1 (2016)

Links to works of electronic literature and readings for each week’s lectures and tutorials will be provided on Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given individual written feedback on the methods application and analysis, essay, and curated tutorial responses.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction
2	Hypertext and Interactive Literature
3	Methods I – Hypertext and Coding (Twine)	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 2 tutorial participation
4	Neuromancer	By Wednesday 1pm submit week 3 methods tutorial
5	Neuromancer	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 4 tutorial participation
6	Methods II – Network Analysis (Cytoscape)	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 5 tutorial participation By Wednesday 1pm of the first week of the break submit week 6 methods tutorial
7	Methods III – Geospatial Analysis (Palladio)
8	Multimedia Literature	By Wednesday 1pm submit week 7 methods tutorial
9	Methods IV – Stylistic Analysis (Voyant)	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 8 tutorial participation
10	Oryx and Crake	By Wednesday 1pm submit week 9 methods tutorial
11	Oryx and Crake	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 10 tutorial participation; By Wednesday 11:59pm submit Method application and analysis
12	West World – Episode 1	By Wednesday 1pm finalize week 11 tutorial participation By Wednesday 1pm of the following week, finalize week 12 tutorial participation and by 11:59pm submit curated responses for online tutorial participation By Wednesday 11:59pm of the week after that submit Essay

Tutorial Registration

See Wattle page for instruction regarding online tutorials

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Method application and analysis	40 %	22/05/2019	05/06/2019	1,2,3
Essay	40 %	12/06/2019	01/01/2029	1,2,3
Online tutorial participation	20 %	01/01/2029	02/01/2029	1,2,3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Method application and analysis

• 40% of overall mark
• 1500 words equivalent
• Due by 11:59pm, Wednesday 22 May
• Further information including task instructions and rubric available on Wattle

Assessment Task 2

Essay

• 40% of overall mark
• 1500 words
• Due by 11:59pm, Wednesday 12 June
• Further information including task instructions and rubric available on Wattle

Assessment Task 3

Online tutorial participation

• 20% of overall mark
• At least 400 words/4 posts per week or equivalent, plus submission of selected responses via Wattle by 11:59pm on Wednesday 5 June
• Further information including task instructions, requirements, and basis for assessment available on Wattle

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Online tutorials open after the lecture (on Wednesdays at 3pm) and must be finalized and/or submitted, including your own comments/submissions and feedback on other students comments/submissions, by 1pm the following Wednesday – i.e. before the start of the following week’s lecture. 

The method application and analysis and the essay must be submitted by 11:59pm on the due date. Late submission without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students