will cover the processes, history, and psychology behind misinformation campaigns – including ‘fake
news’, propaganda, conspiracy theories, and urban legends. We will look at how the Internet exacerbates
and ameliorates the problems and will look at the the role particular platforms play or should play (Google,
Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia). Additionally, “junk science” – or the incomplete or inaccurate reporting of
academic research – will be examined so we can all be better consumers of news and other information.
This class is an interactive exploration of data in society with a heavy emphasis on graphing and visualization as well as interpretation. We look at how data is generated and used in our society; examine various sources of data; discuss and practice incorporating data into text effectively; review how to select the most effective type of graph and how to create, label and cite graphs. The emphasis is on locating, graphing and interpreting data rather than creating or analyzing data. LIB290 is appropriate for undergraduates in any major.
This 15-week, 1.5 credit course will explore the “past, present, and future perfect tenses” of the publishing landscape. This course will introduce you to multiple aspects of book publishing as you pitch, format, design, market, and “publish” your own book idea. All students interested in the intersection of books, technology, commerce, and writing will find this course a fascinating exploration of the massive shifts currently underway in the publishing world. We’ll laugh, we’ll cry, we’ll publish some books!