Digital Mapping/Timeline Assignment:

Explanation: Throughout the semester, we will be reading, discussing, and writing about literature through a range of platforms, asking how different modes of thinking can alter and enhance our understanding of texts. Thus this class, while it does include essays and strongly emphasizes writing, also includes digital/creative assignments. In the Digital Mapping/Timeline assignment, students will have the choice of using either Timeline JS to create a literary timeline, or Tour Builder to create an interactive literary map. In both cases, you will have the chance to think differently about how events in a text are ordered and constructed, and how spaces affect characterization and plot. Students are also required to write a brief explanation of their project and their methodology, and present their project to the class.

The Templates: You will be choosing EITHER timeline JS and creating a timeline or Tour Builder and creating a tour. Timeline JS is an extremely user-friendly platform for creating timelines (you can visit the website for some timeline examples). You will use this template to build a timeline for one of the texts we’ve read in this class. Tour Builder is a creative platform for creating tours and is based out of google maps. There are examples on the site, and as you can see it is a platform for creating interactive maps that zoom in and out of locations around the globe. In the tour builder option you would create a tour for one of the texts we’ve read in class.

Due Date: October 7, Please submit your timeline or tour by email by the start of class to . You must also post your project to the blog by the end of the day Oct 7. Please submit a hardcopy of your project write-up (explained below) to class on October 7.

Text Options: Your timeline or tour must be concerned with a set of locations (in the case of tour) or events (in timeline) from ONE of the following texts:

The Odyssey; Ibn Battuta’s Travels, The Book of John Mandeville, or Marco Polo’s The Diversity of the World (everything except The Odyssey is included in the Norton)

*These texts vary in length, so you do not have to cover every event or every location (that would be a HUGE undertaking in The Odyssey!) You also may find that you need to do some supplementary research and include other events/locations that are not included in the Norton. For instance, maybe you will want to do some further research into Marco Polo’s travels and incorporate more of the locations he visited than what is included in The Norton. Closely read the text you’re looking at, be creative, and choose events / locations that are the most interesting to you. Just make sure there is some kind of logic that orders and links the locations/moments you’ve decided to include.

Requirements: You are required to create either a “tour” using tour builder OR a “timeline” using timeline JS—use whichever platform you prefer. This is a creative, digital assignment, so you should spend significant time thinking about this project and working on it. And of course, be creative! For instance, if you’re creating a tour for The Odysseyyou’ll find that many of the locations in The Odyssey are fictional and/or are no longer place-names that we use in our modern day. With a little research though you can find some ways to deal creatively with this issue—for instance, Ogyia (the island on which Calypso resides) is possibly located in the Ionian Sea. I found this with a little internet research—and yes, using Wikipedia is OK for researching this assignment. The Ionian Sea is a location I could include in my Tour.

You must include at least 15 locations (in the case of tour builder) or events (in the case of timeline). Each location/event must include an explanation (of at least 3 sentences) and an image.

How to get this done: This assignment is in no way intended to exclude students who are not digitally literate and/or do not own computers/laptops. These are very easy templates (if I can figure them out, you certainly can!), and Baruch’s library has many computers and is a great place to get this assignment done if you can’t at home. As well, I have office hours and I am also available by appointment. I am happy to walk you through this individually if, after we work together as a class, you’re still confused. In other words, leave yourself enough time to deal with all the issues that may arise and to meet with me if you need.

Written Component: Along with this project you are to submit a 1 to 2-page double spaced written component. Keep in mind this must follow MLA guidelines: it must be in Times New Roman font (12-pt) with one-inch margins all around. You should address the following questions. As this is not an essay you are welcome to number your answers. Your written response is being graded not only on content but on grammar, spelling, and punctuation as well. Questions you must address:

  1. Explain the “narrative” of your project. What events and/or locations have you included here? Why did you choose these specific events/locations from the text? Why did you choose to order them in the way that you did? What is important about these events and/or locations? (This will most likely be your longest answer)
  1. Did you run into any issues completing the assignment? If so, what? Did you find the platform easy to use? Why or why not?
  1. Think critically about mapping (in the case of tour builder) or chronology (in the case of timeline). How does thinking about location and/or time in the text you chose possibly change or enhance your critical understanding of the text? Explain.

Grading:All components of this assignment must be completed and turned in by Oct 7. Late assignments will lose 2 points per day. Your writing (both in the ‘written component’ and the writing included in the projects themselves) must be grammatically correct and coherent. Your project is being graded on effort and creativity. Students will be briefly presenting their projects in class on Oct 7 and Oct 14 – you will lose points if miss the presentations.