ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING

Attendance and class participation will constitute 40% of your grade. The remaining 60% will be determined according to your performance in each of the following assignments.

Readings: Students will be assigned readings and creative projects to review. All students should be prepared to discuss all readings and projects, every week. Please come to class with discussion questions in-hand. Insightful discussion of these assignments is included in evaluation of participation.

Article Presentation (5% of grade): Students will be required to bring in at least on contemporary article on a surveillance- or privacy-related issue, during the semester, and to present the issues raised, in a group discussion. Because of the timeliness factor at play, these will be unscheduled presentations, so students should take initiative in looking for articles and starting discussions.

Portfolio Presentation & Response Paper (20% of grade): At the beginning of the semester, students will select one artist or group on which to lead a 20-30 minute discussion. On the day of this oral presentation, students must also turn in an 8-page (double-spaced, typed) paper written in response to the artists' work, using the vocabulary and issues raised in our reading assignments and class discussions to critique the work. The selected artist's work must relate directly to surveillance, privacy, or watch-dogging. A list of suggested artists will be available and topics should be pre-approved. If you are unsure as to whether an artist's work is appropriate, just ask.

Final project (20% of grade): Students will have the option of completing either a 20-page paper or a creative project, at the end of the semester. All topics must be pre-approved and prospectuses will be due after mid-term. Papers must involve a significant research component and should focus on an explicit thesis related to surveillance. They should demonstrate a familiarity with the semester's readings while incorporating additional outside references. Creative projects must address surveillance-related issues, but may take any number of forms, including but not limited to a performance, video, website, or software program. All projects must be complete by the end of the semester. Projects in proposal form will not meet the basic requirements for this assignment. Additional instructions for these assignments will be distributed prior to the proposal deadlines and we will hold in-class brainstorming and critique sessions throughout the semester.

Final project presentation at conference (15% of grade): Students will have the unique opportunity of presenting their final projects in a public setting, at an all-day conference to be held at The Change You Want to See, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The conference will take place on Saturday, April 26th, and attendance is mandatory. Students will be grouped into panels according to affinities in their projects and should expect to present for 15-20 minutes each, followed by a round of Q&A for the panelists.

Grading Scale:
A = Excellent. High level of engagement with assignments and sustained effort to bring insight to readings and projects.
B = Good. Engaged with the materials, with a slightly lesser level of original criticism.
C = Average/ meets minimum requirements. Completes assignments with minimal original contributions.
D = Below Average, unacceptable. Lack of regard for course goals or policies; lack of effort.
F = Complete Failure. Student does not complete all assignments, or completes very poor work. Student does not recognize course goals or policies.