Editing Communication and Social Networks (Fall 2023) (section)

= Assignments =


There will be multiple types of assignments, designed to encourage learning in different ways.

== Participation ==

I expect you to be an active member of our class. This includes paying attention in class, participating in activities, and being actively engaged in learning, thinking about, and trying to understand the material.

To make sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate and to encourage you to do the assignments, I will randomly select students to discuss readings or to explain portions of homework assignments and labs.

== Reading Review Assignments ==

In a flipped class like this, it's really important that folks come prepared to discuss, work through misunderstandings, etc. In order to provide some accountability and space for reflection, each week you will have a review/reflection assignment about the readings and video.

I'm calling this a "3-2-1 Assignment". I'd like you to:

* Write down three concepts that you learned or connections that you made from this week's reading and lecture.
* Write down two questions you have or things that you don't quite understand.
* Share one question that you think would make for a good discussion question.

You should submit your assignment on Brightspace. 

Take the discussion question (which can be based on the concepts you learned, or the things you don't understand), and submit it (and up to one other question) that you think would be interesting to discuss on Monday by noon. <b>Post your questions on the shared Google Doc at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AK4MhWLVwDuxqvTwLomN7hu4aLpo59n5qXgEap8SBNc/edit?usp=sharing</b>; try to group similar questions together.

Questions should engage with the readings and either connect to other concepts or to the "real world". Here are some good example questions:

* The readings this week talked a lot about how network ties get created. I made a list of my closest friends and I realized that most of them only became friends after we happened to be in the same groups over and over again. What role does repetition have in forming ties?
* I was confused by the reading on social capital. What's the difference between social capital and power? And if they are the same, then why not just call it "network power"?
* Imagine you were asked to analyze the network of a big company to help them to identify people who deserve a raise. What measures would you use to identify them? What would you not use?

== Homework/Labs ==

There will be a number of homework assignments. At the beginning of the class, these will be designed to help you to grasp foundational network concepts. As the class progresses, more and more of them will be analyzing and visualizing networks in R.

== Exams ==

There will be one exam. It will assess your understanding of core communication and social networks concepts.

== Final Project ==

A Students will work on a [[/Final project|Final Project]] that uses the theories, principles, and skills learned in this class.

A number of intermediate assignments through the semester will help you to gain the skills and data necessary to be successful.