English 85025 :: Spring 2008

Course Objectives:
This course examines the history and use of scripts and other means of representing and constructing shared meanings. Taking an historical perspective, the course explores the implicit "theories" of representation in the development of scripts and other graphic means of representing and constructing meaning, traces those developments through the emergence of reproduction technologies and media, with particular attention to social semiotics of and relations among verbal, graphic, non-verbal, and non-graphic representations and constructions of meaning. The seminar explores such contemporary issues as 1) the nature of text in modern societies, 2) the appropriateness of theories and rhetorics of verbal, printlinguistic texts for understanding the nature of texts that employ multiple symbol systems, 3) what it means to be able to read and write texts that employ multiple symbol systems, and 4) the need to construct a rhetorical theory of multiple representations. Seminar.

Texts:
Arnheim, R.  (1969). Visual thinking.  California. ISBN: 0520018710
Harris, R. (1995). Signs of writing. Routledge. ISBN: 0415100887
Hoffmeyer, J. (1997). Signs of meaning in the universe. Bloomington: Indiana UP. ISBN: 0253332338
Kress, G. (2003). Literacy in the new media age. Routledge. ISBN: 041525356X
Kress, G. (2001). Multimodal discourse: The modes and media of contemporary communication. Arnold. ISBN: 0340608773
Lynch & Woolgar, (1990). Representation in scientific practice. MIT. ISBN: 0262620766
Mitchell, W. J. T. (1995). Picture Theory. Chicago: U of Chicago P. ISBN: 978-0226532325
Mitchell, W. J. T.  (2006). What do pictures want?.  Chicago:  U of Chicago P.  ISBN: 978-0226532486 {yes}
Petroski, H. (1996). Invention by design: How engineers get from thought to thing. Cambridge: Harvard UP,.
Pinker, Steven. (1999). How the mind works. New York: Norton. ISBN: 978-0393318487
Schmandt-Besserat, D. (1996).  How writing came about. U Texas P. ISBN: 0292777043
Tufte, E. (2006). Beautiful Evidence. Graphics Press. ISBN: 978-0961392178

Background & Supplementary Texts:
Blonsky, M. (1985). On signs. Johns Hopkins UP. ISBN: 0801830079
Ferguson , E. (1992). Engineering and the mind’s eye. MIT. ISBN: 026256078X
Gelb, I. (1963). A Study of Writing. Chicago. 0226286061 (ch1-9)
Harris, R. (1996). Signs, Language and Communication. Routledge. ISBN: 0415100895
Harris, R. (2000). Rethinking Writing. Continuum International. ISBN: 0826457983
Kress, G. & van Leeuwen, T. (1995) Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design. Routledge. ISBN: 0415106001
Senner, (1991). The Origins of Writing. Nebraska. ISBN: 0803291671
Tufte, E. (2001). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Graphics Press, 2nd ed. ISBN: 0961392142
Tufte, E. (1990). Envisioning Information. Graphics Press. ISBN: 0961392118

Requirements:
As this is a pre-doctoral seminar, participants will conduct seminar sessions, present position papers, or responses at each seminar meeting. Student-produced Critical Summaries of additional materials will be posted in Web Vista; students will be asked to participate in threaded discussions in Web Vista as well. Each participant will complete one substantial research paper, which may be based in the participant’s current research if a portion of it is relevant to the seminar topic.

Policies:
We will discuss the expected graduate student behavior, but suffice it to summarize briefly here: professional demeanor and habits, academic integrity, a passion for the work.

University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sds for more information on registration procedures).

Office & Hours:
I will meet students before and after class for consultations. I will also be available by appointment at other times in my office (113b; see the Contact page on this site for the list of hours). I respond to simple or substantive queries and requests for appointments via email: raymond.craig@kent.edu. phone messages may be left at 2-1741.