Writing

If expectations for writing are ever unclear, talk to your professor. I want to make sure you understand what is expected of you and am very happy to guide you through the process. My job is to help you!

The use of large language models (LLM), commonly referred to as AI (e.g. ChatGPT) are prohibited from use in this course, without the express permission of the professor.

In the first term, the students will be expected to write short pieces each week to practice the tools of academic writing, game analysis, and to reflect on your learning. The key to academic success is practice – especially practicing writing. Writing is hard for everyone, especially when the style, format and goals are unfamiliar. I'll try to make the expectations clear and over time the expected norms of writing will become familiar to you. Above all I just want you to get used to writing without worrying to much about being perfect at it.

In the first term, some of the first written work you will work on will be:

1. Different kinds of notes to practice the smart note method, sometimes asking you to show your ability to research, others your ability to reflect on your experience or to analyze games/ historical texts.

2. Classnotes, summarizing the readings and lecture/discussion

3. Game texts, in which you prepare a speech or write a letter in the style of a 13th century medieval persion (as part of the gameplay for the Fourth Crusade game).

In the Winter term, we will be working on a multi-stage game design project.