Hip-Hop Literacies -- Syllabus

Professor: Andrew J. Ryan
Contact Information: 202.841.4090 -- ajryan@gmu.edu (e-mail preferred)
Office Hour: Monday/Wednesday 4.00 to 4.30 PM or by appointment
Meeting Times: Enterprise Room 279, Monday 4.30 to 7.10PM
Course Web site: http://classweb.gmu.edu/ajryan/hiphopliteracies_su05
Collaborative Learning Space: webct38.gmu.edu

Course Description and goals: HIP-HOP LITERACIES, a four credit online (about 1/3 of the class sessions will be via the web), writing and technology intensive course, will examine the written expressions of Hip-Hop culture and deconstruct their meaning and impact. Three distinct literacies can be identified within Hip-Hop: Graffiti, rap music and spoken word poetry.

This course will indoctrinate students to Hip-Hop culture (1974-2000) and then revisit each literacy for critical inquiry. Utilizing a combination of text, multimedia (film clips, music, pictures distributed via DVD), and intellectual dialogue, we will explore each literacy in proper space and context.

Online portions of the course will employ discussion boards, live chats (based on class readings) and online literary critiques/reviews. Finally, students will be required to attend 2 Hip-Hop related events as part of experiential learning.

Grading Policy:
• Experiential Learning 20%
• Critical Essays (2 - 10/10) 20%
• Blogging Project 20%
• Online/Class Participation 20%
• Online Quizzes [4] 20%

Much of what we do in class is interactive and depends upon your regular attendance and enthusiastic participation. Your being absent not only diminishes your learning, but it keeps the class from benefiting from your experiences and ideas. Arriving late, leaving early, and being absent will hurt your participation grade.

Late work will not be accepted. Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are due, via e-mail <ajryan@gmu.edu>, at the beginning of class. Any exceptions are permissible, but require prior permission of instructor.

Final grades will be calculated using the University grading system. No curve will be used --this is to your advantage!

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any project or paper suspected of not being the original work of the author will be forwarded to the George Mason University Honor Council . When in doubt, please consult me before handing your work in.

Required Texts:
• Chang, Jeff, Can't Stop, Won't Stop : A History of the Hip-Hop Generation
• Light, Alan, ed. The Vibe Journal of Hip-Hop
• Journal of Hip-Hop, Issue 1 Spring 2005

[There may also be handouts and on-line readings.]

Experiential Learning: This course has a required experiential learning component, for which you and your group members will assess some aspect of Hip-Hop culture. You will be required to attend 2 events, each involving a different aspect of Hip-Hop, and record your findings. You must complete the EL component of this course to receive credit for the class.

Participation: You will be assigned to groups and are expected to work with group members on group projects [primarily online] and to help each other as you are learning. If a student does not actively participate in the group projects, that student's individual project grade may be downgraded accordingly. Participation in classroom and electronic class discussion [webct38.gmu.edu] is included in your participation grade. You are expected to come to class having read the material for the class and have ready any course work due for that class.

Quizzes: In reinforcing the aforementioned category, online quizzes will be given 5 times throughout the semester. These quizzes will be 5-8 questions, multiple choice or short answer. I will drop the lowest grade and take a simple average of the remaining scores.

Online Collaboration: We will primarily employ WebCT, GMU's online collaboration tool for web chats, discussion groups, quizzes and even polls and surveys. Understandably, each student will have various levels of comfort with this technology. I will dedicate time in the third class meeting to answer questions on WebCT.