Print versus Electronic January 17, 2002

Answers to Questions Website The website has been down as I have been trying to verify all the links on the Resources page. I promise it will be up before next class. Apart from Resources (ie. Links), the website will also contain, all assignments, marks, PowerPoints, and a copy of the corrected syllabus (my apologies)

A2Q… cont’d Reading List Only the Required readings are required for the purpose of this class (ie. Participation). All Further readings are for your own use, particularly with respect to the two papers. I have tried to collect a variety of different sources and topics within the field of Electronic Text in hopes of you being able to find something of interest. You will notice that the Readings end towards the end of the semester. This is intentional.

A2Q… cont’d Short Essay (15% - Due Feb th ) A 5 page critical response paper intended to act as a primer to an area of critical thought that interests you within the scope of electronic text. In other words, read an article closely and critically. Then, in your paper, bring out the ideas/thoughts that interest you—for whatever reason—and discuss them critically. I want to know what you think and why you think it. Do not cite other articles.

A2Q… cont’d Long Essay (25% - Due March 7 th -14 th ) A page research paper on a topic within the field that interests you. Citations, Bibliography, the whole bit. It can expand upon or be an extension of ideas brought up in your Short Essay. Submitted in HTML format, using an appropriate layout of your own design. We will cover design issues prior to the due date.

A2Q… cont’d Electronic Text Project (50% - Due April 5 th ) A conversion project taking some print material (of your choosing, e.g. an art book, a technical manual, a chapter from a novel, a small book of poetry, etc.) and encoding it as XML (not SGML) While SGML remains a standard, its use seems to be waning as more and more people invest in XML and create new applications for XML. Thus, rather than send you out with an older standard, we will focus on a new and emerging standard: XML.

A2Q… final. Electronic Text Project… cont’d Having said that, if anyone is particularly interested in working in SGML over XML, they will be free to do so. As well, I have been asked by the Director of the School to ask for volunteers for the 2002 Showcase (April 5 th ). This would involve letting others view your electronic text project and you explaining the work you did and its application to interested parties. I will not ask now, but leave that for when people have a better sense of what they are going to do for their projects.

Today’s Topic

Survivor: Library Style Two Teams: Text vs. E-text Text is the one, the only, the all-powerful, all-knowing uber-information system. It has lived on the island all its life and knows its way around the jungle. E-text is the new bad boy/girl on the island, muscling his/her way into everything, breaking conventions and undermining Text at every turn. And, at the moment, it is number one with the people. One Island: The Library

The Debate Split into two teams Your team has 45 min.s to come up with an unbeatable defense and an unstoppable attack against the other team Focus solely on your advantages and the opposing teams disadvantages, and come out fighting! Make sure that everyone on your team has a voice in the process

The Great Debate

Any Questions?