Course Syllabus

 

Course: LTWR 129 – Distributing Literature Workshop

Schedule:  A00 (Seminar): MW 330 P - 450 P
Location:  Remote (Asynchronous) Learning with occasional synchronous sessions.

  

Professor Ben Doller

jdoller@ucsd.edu

 

Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11.  https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/94562325661

 

 

This is a course about the ways in which literature is coded and shared with a community of readers. Rather than focus on mainstream, corporate literary structures, we will instead observe the way that small presses, artist-editors, and collectives have united in collaborative (and often unpaid) labor in order to share their often radical, outsider visions.

 

In our class this quarter we will begin by reading and thinking about the book itself as an object, content, idea, and interface—and we will ponder the future of a more dispersed, digital means of literary distribution. We will study varying literary communities, focusing on a few specific histories, and the central role that literary journals played in those communities, while considering the concept of literature as gift. Collectively, we will produce a first editions of our own literary journals

 

I am aware that being a student during a pandemic has been a challenge, no less at this stage than any other. While I want this course to be instructive and challenging, I also want to respect different student’s varying personal situations, web-accessibility, as well as to support our mutual mental health.  Zoom fatigue is real, and I will try to find a balance in this course between occasional synchronous activities and more reading/writing based projects that you can account for asynchronously. Through the process, we will seek to build a supportive community, despite our physical distance.

 

Texts:

 

All texts provided digitally by instructor. See weekly Canvas modules. We will be reading between 30 – 50 pages a week.

 

Grading:

3 Editorial Projects, with reflections: 60%

Discussion Board Entries/Participation: 20%

Reading Quizzes: 10%

2 New Writing Series Responses: 10%

 

 

3 Projects:

 

• Micro-book: a small book (20+ pages) that contains at least 5 separate pieces of published writing, each piece written by a different writer, that you select, order, and collate. Attention to page design is required, as is the inclusion of title page and other book apparatus. Included will be a two-page reflection on the decisions you made to produce your volume.
• Literary Journal/Press Group Presentation: In small (5-6 person) groups, you will collaborate and present research on the history, vision, aesthetic, and philosophy of a current literary journal or press. I will present a list of possible choices, as well as a guide for presentation requirements. In addition, you will personally include a one-page individual reflection on your contribution to the project.
• Group Literary Journal Issue 1: In small (5-6 person) groups, you will produce a first (mini?) issue of an original literary journal, complete with an original title, masthead, philosophy, and examples of creative writing from each member of the group. This can be in the form of a web-journal or a (scan or pdf) version of the hardcopy, in the case of a print journal. In addition, you will personally include a one-page individual reflection on your contribution to the project.

 

Discussion Board Entries/Participation:

 

From week 2-10, you will be required to make one weekly entry on your group discussion board in Canvas. These will be guided by my specific prompts and will be related to our weekly reading. Your entries should be more than 250 word and should be responsive to the other entries in your group that have already been posted.

 

In addition, Participation means viewing my module video lectures, checking Canvas regularly, demonstrating that you have read the weekly work, and attending (or observing the videos of) our synchronous sessions.

 

Reading Quizzes:

I will give intermittent open-book (computer?) quizzes throughout the quarter, in order to direct our reading.

 

New Writing Series Responses

 

You will be required to attend two NWS events this quarter, and to write a one-page response to each, focusing on any details pertinent to our topic.

 

Extra Credit

 

No Extra credit will be awarded in this course.

Late or Missing Assignments

 

Late work will not be accepted.

 

Student Resources for Support and Learning

 

Library Help

Ask a Librarian

https://library.ucsd.edu/ask-us/Links to an external site.

 

Library Help: Course Reserved, Connecting from Off-Campus and Research Support

https://library.ucsd.edu/ask-us/triton-ed.htmlLinks to an external site.

 

Learning Resources

Writing and Critical Expression

https://commons.ucsd.edu/students/writing/Links to an external site.

 

Supplemental Instruction

https://commons.ucsd.edu/students/supplemental-instruction/Links to an external site.

 

Tutoring

https://commons.ucsd.edu/students/math-chemistry-tutoring/Links to an external site.

 

CAPS Student Health and Well-Being

https://wellness.ucsd.edu/Links to an external site.

 

Community Centers

Learn about the different ways UC San Diego explores, supports and celebrates the many cultures that make up our diverse community.

https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/diversity/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

Accessibility

Students requesting accommodations for this course due to a disability must provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) which is located in University Center 202 behind Center Hall.  Students are required to present their AFA letters to Faculty (please make arrangements to contact me privately) and to the OSD Liaison in the department in advance so that accommodations may be arranged. 

Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)

858.534.4382 | osd@ucsd.edu | https://disabilities.ucsd.edu/Links to an external site.

 

Inclusion

Name & Gender Pronouns

 

Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student’s legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.

 

Diversity Statement

 

I believe very strongly that the classroom is a place to expand our knowledge and experiences safely, while being respected and valued. I support the values of UC San Diego to “create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive”. I strive to uphold the values articulated by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: “We believe that true excellence is achieved through productive relationships among people of diverse perspectives. When the collective talents of our students, faculty, and staff at UC San Diego are united in an environment that is open and inclusive, creativity and innovation prospers.” I hope you will join me in creating a class that upholds these values to further enhance our learning as a community. For more information, please visit: http://diversity.ucsd.edu

 

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

858.822.3542 | diversity@ucsd.edu | https://diversity.ucsd.edu/Links to an external site. 

 

Student life: Diversity
https://students.ucsd.edu/student-life/diversity/Links to an external site.

 

Policy on University of California Diversity Statement

https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html (Links to an external site.)

 

Basic Needs

Any student who has difficulty accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in this course, is encouraged to contact:

foodpantry@.ucsd.edu |  basicneeds@ucsd.edu  | (858)246-2632

 

Technical Support

For help with accounts, network, and technical issues:

https://acms.ucsd.edu/contact/index.htmlLinks to an external site.

 

For help connecting to electronic library resources such as eReserves and e-journals:

https://library.ucsd.edu/computing-and-technology/connect-from-off-campus/Links to an external site.

 

For help installing Zoom for video conferencing, virtual office hours, synchronous lectures:

https://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/file-sharing/zoom/Links to an external site.

 

UC San Diego Academic Policies

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is expected of everyone at UC San Diego. This means that you must be honest, fair, responsible, respectful, and trustworthy in all of your actions. Lying, cheating, or any other forms of dishonesty will not be tolerated because they undermine learning and the University’s ability to certify students’ knowledge and abilities. Thus, any attempt to get, or help another get, a grade by cheating, lying or dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity Office and will result in sanctions. Sanctions can include an F in the class and suspension or dismissal from the University. So, think carefully before you act. Before you act, ask yourself the following questions: a: is my action honest, fair, respectful, responsible, and trustworthy, and b) is my action authorized by the instructor? If you are unsure, don’t ask a friend, ask your instructor, instructional assistant, or the Academic Integrity Office. You can learn more about academic integrity at academicintegrity.ucsd.eduLinks to an external site..

(Source: Bertram Gallant, T. (2017). Teaching for integrity. UC San Diego Academic Integrity Office.)

 

Classroom Behavior Policy

We will endeavor to build a community in this classroom that is respectful of our differences. Discriminatory speech will not be tolerated in this course, nor will disruptive behavior.

UCSD Student Conduct Code
https://students.ucsd.edu/_files/student-conduct/ucsandiego-student-conduct-code_interim-revisions1-16-18.pdfLinks to an external site.

 

Principles of Community
https://ucsd.edu/about/principles.htmlLinks to an external site.

 

Religious Accommodation

It is the policy of the university to make reasonable efforts to accommodate students having bona fide religious conflicts with scheduled examinations by providing alternative times or methods to take such examinations. If a student anticipates that a scheduled examination will occur at a time at which his or her religious beliefs prohibit participation in the examination, the student must submit to the instructor a statement describing the nature of the religious conflict and specifying the days and times of conflict.

If a conflict with the student’s religious beliefs does exist, the instructor will attempt to provide an alternative, equitable examination that does not create undue hardship for the instructor or for the other students in the class.

See: EPC Policies on Religious Accommodation, Final Exams, Midterm ExamsLinks to an external site.

 

Discrimination and Harassment

The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and university policies, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (including membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services). The university also prohibits harassment based on these protected categories, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in university programs and activities.

If students have questions about student-related nondiscrimination policies or concerns about possible discrimination or harassment, they should contact the Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD) at (858) 534-8298, ophd@ucsd.edu, or reportbias.ucsd.edu.

Campus policies provide for a prompt and effective response to student complaints. This response may include alternative resolution procedures or formal investigation. Students will be informed about complaint resolution options. 

A student who chooses not to report may still contact CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center for more information, emotional support, individual and group counseling, and/or assistance with obtaining a medical exam. For off-campus support services, a student may contact the Center for Community Solutions. Other confidential resources on campus include Counseling and Psychological Services, Office of the Ombuds, and Student Health Services.

 

CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center

858.534.5793 | sarc@ucsd.edu | https://care.ucsd.eduLinks to an external site.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

858.534.3755 | https://caps.ucsd.eduLinks to an external site.

See: Nondiscrimination Policy StatementLinks to an external site.