Summer 2007		Room		Time		Instructor: Howard Rosenbaum		Office: 005B@SLIS		Office Hours:
		L 036		1:00-4:00 T, Th		hrosenba@indiana.edu		Telephone: 812 855 3250		11:30-1:00 PM T, Th

		Assignments

You will be evaluated on the basis of three assignments: These assignments are described below, and will be discussed in greater detail in class.

For this class, you will:

WIKI ENTRY AND COMMENTARY

• Develop another section of the intellectual freedom wiki. This is a two part assignment. For the first part, you will collaborate with another person and write a wiki entry on a controversial intellectual freedom issue that is discussed either in class or in the readings. On Tuesday, May 15, you will find a partner and sign up for a topic. You will investigate the topic and write an entry that will be posted by May 29

  This entry should have three main sections. In the first section, clearly introduce and define the issue that you are exploring and explain its significance. In the second section, develop the main argument of the entry. Explain both sides of the issue (you explain one side and your partner explains the other). Try to offer the strongest case for your side of the issue. Make use of other resources in your entry including articles and websites, where appropriate. In the third section, take an informed position on the issue. This means giving your opinion and supporting it in some way. You will express your opinion as will your partner. You and your partner can agree, in which case you can write this section together, or you can disagree, in which case each writes his or her own third section.

  This entry will be around 1000 words in length and will be posted to the class wiki. This part of the assignment is worth 20% of the final grade.

  For the second part of the assignment, you will contribute to at least two other entries in the wiki. This will involve posting your informed opinions, clarifications, additions or suggestions for deletions to other entries. In your posting, be sure to make reference to relevant materials whether from the course or your other reading. By June 5, you will have made your first posting. By June 12 you will have made your second posting. Each posting is worth 7.5% of the final grade, for a total of 15%.

  The wiki is here: https://ella.slis.indiana.edu/g/freedom/pmwiki.php

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LEAD THE CLASS

• Lead one class discussion. You will select a topic from the syllabus in which you have interest. When this topic is covered in class, you will have the lead role in preparing and leading the discussion. If there is a topic you would like to cover that is not on the syllabus, let me know as soon as possible. If it is appropriate, I will assign you a date when you will lead the discussion.

  For the class that you will lead, you will provide me with at least two print or web-based readings that you want the class to read in advance of the discussion. No later than three days before you are scheduled to lead the discussion, , you will give me paper or digital copies of the readings. I will make copies of any readings, place them on ereserve in the SLIS Library, and alert the class that the readings are available by posting messages to the class list. If you want to use web sites, please post the URLs to the class list at least three days before the class.

  To seed the discussion, you will prepare four general discussion questions (two for each reading) that and post them to the class list hrosenba_intellect@listserv.indiana.edu no later than three days in advance of the class discussion you lead.

  When you lead the discussion, you should be prepared to talk about the topic and the readings, raising questions that will serve as the basis for our discussion. You should prepare notes or an outline, and may bring any supporting materials (such as overheads) to class with you. For the brave, you may also provide a live demonstration. If you need a computer and projector, let me know and I will arrange to have them in the class for your session.

  After the class, you will submit your written materials which will be returned to you shortly after I examine them.

  You complete this assignment by providing us with readings, preparing the discussion questions and posting them on the class list, showing up in class, leading the discussion, and turning in your materials. You will sign up for topics on May 10. This assignment is worth 20% of the final grade.

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PROJECT

Investigate an intellectual freedom topic in some depth. For the final project, you can select one of three options. The first is a conventional term paper. The second and third options will require that you investigate a complex intellectual freedom issue in the community. If you are interested in a different type of project, you must discuss it with me and not begin work on it until I have cleared your topic. You may investigate in more depth the topic you select when you lead the class.

• Option #1: Term paper

  You will select a topic that involves intellectual freedom issues or controversies and investigate it in considerable depth. The topic may be one that we have covered in class or one of your own choosing.

  For this paper, you will

  • Carefully define the problem, issue, controversy, or domain that you wish to investigate
  • Investigate relevant literature, both on and offline, that helps you understand the topic you are investigating
  • Clearly explain the ways in which intellectual freedom issues are raised by or in this topic.
  • Develop and defend an argument about this topic where you take a position on the topic.

  Two interesting possibilities:

  • Monitor a talk radio show or television talk show_

    Select a television or radio talk show and watch or listen to it for at least two weeks. If you are listening to a radio talk show, listen for an hour at a time at least three times a week. If you are watching a television show, make sure it is broadcast at least five times weekly and then watch it at least three times a week. Listen for the appearance What are the two main issues with intellectual freedom implications that are discussed during this time period? How are these issues presented? How does the host frame these issues? Describe and analyze the persuasive technique(s) used by a talk show host during the period of time you observed the show.

  • Controversial issues on the web

    Select a controversial issue that has implications for intellectual freedom. Analyze the issue and explain the two major position that divide people concerned with the issue. Find at least four advocacy web sites, two on each side of the issue. Analyze the ways in which the issue is presented on the sites. What are the strengths and weaknesses of their presentations? Whose is more convincing and why?

• Option #2: The surveillance project

  Increasingly we find that we are being observed as we move through public and private spaces. Advances in technology, particularly in miniaturization and the extension of networked communications, have led to a range of monitoring devices that are used to track our movements.

  It is a common although taken for granted experience to be video and sometimes audio recorded as we carry out routine tasks. For this project you will attempt to determine the extent to which we are being monitored in our town.

  For this project you will:

  • Document the extent to which we are under surveillance.

    There are two ways you can do this. One is with images. You can use your digital camera. If you don't own one, you can check out a digital camera from the UGL and use it for 48 hours. Go out into town and look for the cameras! The second way is through a textual description of surveillance. This is appropriate when you uncover observation technologies in use in private spaces (such as a retail space) and cannot take a photograph. Collect and organize these descriptions.

  • Describe the main policy issues involved in the problem of surveillance

    This will involve determining

    • What the main positions are with respect to the issue
    • Who the main stakeholders are
    • What is actually at stake in this issue
    • What the outcomes might be
  • Summarize the relevant existing and proposed legislation at any level of government and relevant court cases that affect the ability of organizations to observe us and our abilities to resist.
  • Take an informed position on this issue based on the research you have done
• Option #3: The access project

  Recently the Courts in the US have been a setting where an intense debate over the question of access to digital information is being played out in a succession of legal battles. Librarians and public school educators find themselves in the middle of this debate.

  For this project, you will attempt to determine the ways in which public libraries and schools in the area are coming to grips with this issue.

  For this project you will:

  • Document the positions taken in public libraries and schools towards the access to digital information.
  • Describe the main policy issues involved in the problem of providing and restricting access to digital information in these settings

    This will involve determining

    • What the main positions are with respect to the issue

    • Who the main stakeholders are
    • What is actually at stake in this issue
    • What the outcomes might be
  • Summarize the relevant existing and proposed legislation at any level of government and relevant court cases that affect the ability of these organizations to allow and prohibit access to digital information
  • Take an informed position on this issue based on the research you have done

  You will write a paper of about 10pages (~2500 words) summarizing your research. Follow the format above.

  You will select your project by May 17. You will receive confirmation of your topic by May 18. The first draft of the project will be due on June 5; the final version is due on June 14 and will be worth 40% of the final grade.

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