Your final project will explore a dimension of local history or culture using a digital storytelling tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The topic is largely up to you! The primary parameters are that<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples from previous semesters include the Metro East’s light rail system in the early 20th century, music venues in St. Louis, conservation efforts at the St. Louis zoo, and the history of a local comic book convention. You have lots of options!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final project should use technology in a transformative way. That means that you’re not just writing an essay in a Word doc and pasting it into a blog post — you’re making use of a digital tool to do something that a traditional essay can’t. That might mean…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are only a few options of many, and we’ll experiment with lots of tools over the course of the semester that you can make use of for your project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don’t have to build this all at once, and there will be lots of opportunities to get feedback and support along the way. Several assignments build to this project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This blog post is just an opportunity to start thinking about what kinds of topics might interest you. You’re not committing to anything! But this helps me get a sense of where you might be headed so that I can share useful resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assignment instructions:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a look at the course schedule in the syllabus. What topics, readings, or assignments look the most intriguing? What might you want to pursue further as the semester goes on? Write a blog post on this website of about 150 words about some of your initial interests in this class. Add the tag \u201cInterest statement\u201d before you publish it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is another low-stakes blog post that focuses on the local area. What do you notice about where you live? What questions does it raise, what things do you love, or what frustrates you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assignment instructions:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflect a little about where you live. (This can be on campus, in the local area, or wherever you\u2019re from.) What questions does it spark? Think about the times you\u2019ve thought \u201cI wonder where that<\/em> comes from,\u201d \u201cI wish this<\/em> could be different,\u201d or even \u201cDamn it, why does that happen?\u201d Writing for someone who\u2019s never been to that place, your blog post should lay out 1) the question, 2) the context, and 3) why your audience should care about it. Add the tag \u201cPlace\u201d before you publish. (150-200 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now you’re starting to formulate a project idea, drawing on your early brainstorming and on things we’ve encountered in class. <\/p>\n\n\n\nPlace-based Research (Due 1\/26)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meet with Dr. Smith (Week of 2\/23)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n