AP/WRIT 4720 (AP/EN 4720) 6.0 (Y) F/W 2016-17
Print Culture and the History of the Book

Class time: Tuesdays, 11:30-2:20 PM
Room: VH1016
Course Director: Dominique O’Neill
Course office hour: Tuesday, 2:30-3:30 pm or by appointment
Office: Writing Department (LAPS), room S357 Ross
Phone: (416) 736-5134 or 736-2100, ext. 77477
Email: domino@yorku.ca
Course Webpage: http://4720.info.yorku.ca

Course credit exclusion: None.

Learning Objectives
This course traces the book’s journey across chronological, geographical, historical, ideological, economic, and political phases, and fosters a multidisciplinary critical approach to its production, dissemination, consumption, and survival.

More specifically, it aims to help students to:
A) Critically examine the book as:
– an object (material, commercial, utilitarian, artistic) and a message (sent across time and space)
– thought made visible
– an inherited and shared set of codes to be deciphered in a context
– a product that each participant (author, publisher, printer, etc.) has helped shape
– an intellectual meeting place between the absent writer and the present reader
B) Become familiar with, and respond to, a variety of theoretical approaches and complex texts
C) Craft a major research paper that embodies some of these viewpoints

Mode of Instruction
This course consists of lectures, in-class discussions, student presentations, and field trips to the Fisher Rare Books Library. Weekly required readings are noted on the syllabus.

Required Texts:
Eliot, Simon, and Jonathan Rose (eds.). A Companion to the History of the Book (available as an e-book at the library)
Finkelstein, David, and Alistair McCleery (eds.). The Book History Reader. Second edition.

Evaluation
Writing exercises and quizzes 20%
Group and seminar presentations 15%
First term test (in-class) 15%
Second term test (in-class) 15%
Essay 25%
Participation & engagement 10%

Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend class every week. The class participation mark (10%) considers both attendance and participation in class discussions.

Availability of (and communication with) the Instructor
Arrangements may be made to see me outside of the stated office hour if needed. I do answer my email fairly promptly and enjoy corresponding with my students on course-related matters.

Submission of work and late policy
Writing assignments must be submitted on time, in hard copy or by e-mail. I will acknowledge the reception of e-mailed copies, but your essay will not be considered handed in until I have done so.

York University Course Information
Important Course Information for Students (Academic Honesty/Integrity, Ethics Review Process, Access/Disability, Student Conduct, Religious Observance Accommodation) is available and periodically updated on the ASCP webpage (see Documents) at: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/ascp/index-ascp.html

Important dates for adding and dropping courses, submitting work, etc. are available at https://registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/fw16

Students Requiring Accommodation
Students requiring accommodation due to a disability or a health reason should inform their professors as soon as possible. More information is available at http://www.yorku.ca/univsec/policies/document.php?document=68

Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for reading and observing York University’s policy on academic honesty (available on the York University website at http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=69. Cases of academic dishonesty will be vigorously pursued, with serious consequences.
Pay particular attention to an item in section 2.1:
Submitting the work one has done for one class or project to a second class, or as a second project, without the prior informed consent of the relevant instructors (constitutes a breach of academic honesty). In other words, students may not “recycle” their own work. Those who wish to build on previous research must discuss the matter with the instructor and justify their decision, hand in a printed copy of the work produced for the other class, and obtain permission.

Classroom Etiquette
Please note that, although our course hours straddle the lunch hour, food will not be allowed in the classroom. We will take a fifteen-minute break.
Although students are encouraged to bring their portable computers, texting, updating one’s Facebook page, and any other social networking activities are not academic tasks and are best done on one’s own time. Students who engage in these activities will be asked to leave the classroom.
Please note that the drop date for this course is February 10, 2017. Late withdrawal is now possible after that date if the student elects to receive a W, with neither mark or credit, but with the option of repeating the course at a later date. Further petitions for late withdrawal must be submitted a maximum of 30 days after the end of the course, or within a year if the student has ample evidence to give credence to his/her having been unable to file earlier.

Emergency guidelines
In the event of an emergency, click here to access York University’s guidelines:
http://www.yorku.ca/security/emergencyguides.htm