Writing
There is no easy way to describe the exact writing requirements of this course as it will vary from person to person, depending on the roles they embrace. Generally the writing requirements are as follows:
Students need to record links to their written work on the linked spreadsheet.
In the first half of the term, students will be expected to write various texts (about 1,200 words in total) in support of game play. What each student will write will depend on the character they have been assigned and their specific goals. Usually these are preparations for speeches (a script) or texts intended to convince/ manipulate fellow game players.
At the end of the game, students must write up a written evaluation of the game play. The goal is to highlight the best and worst parts of the game. This is intended to act as inspiration for the game design part of the course.
In the second part of the course, students will be expected to have contributed to creating a draft of a historically-informed role-playing game (along the lines of the Reacting to the Past for those who may have played them in other classes). The focus of the game will be the Council of Sens (1140/41 CE) where Bernard of Clairvaux sought to declare the writings of Peter Abelard heretical. This Council represents the meeting and conflict of several different currents/ factions within the medieval Church and thus offers a way to understand the transformation of the Church in the twelfth century.
Our goal will be to convert our research and hypotheses about medieval religious life into a playable pedagogical-style game. We will work together to brainstorm ideas, research history, plan out scenarios, and write up a rulebook. Students will write short biographies of key persons, identify and introduce (translated) primary and secondary sources which will be key to tell the story, figure out how one “wins” and the such. Students will thus work independently on different aspects of a class project that will build one big thing at the end.
Historians attempt to take very complex historical situations and view them through different interpretive lenses. They see "rules" to how history works. In creating a game, we will seek to identify key defining features of the medieval past and distill them into game mechanics.
No one is expected to have any experience in game-design, but rather we will work together to accomplish our work. It is the process, far more than the product, which is important for our learning.
The game will have successive stages after the first part of the course has ended:
Preparatory reading. Students will orient themselves to the literature on the Council of Sens, game design etc. as presented on Perusall.
Initial Brainstorming. late October-early November, 2022. In a series of meetings after Reading Week, students undertake a post-game evaluation to identify what worked and didn't in the Investiture Controversy game. This will be an initial mechanism to hash out what the Council of Sens game may look like. will be introduced to the basics of medieval Christianity before beginning their self-directed research of their individual component of the game project.
Research and Writing phase. November 2022. Students will continue research into their particular subject area, identify possible game dynamics and report back (or request) further explanation from the professor. Students will annotate readings on Perusall and produce an common annotated bibliography as the basis of their developing project.
Game Creation. Late November-early December 2022. Students will work together to write a rulebook, design accompanying artwork and produce a prototype. Students will be responsible for creating a draft version and a final draft.
Game Release. End of Term - December 9th, 2022. At the end of the school year, students will release a version (even if unfinished) for others to critique and enjoy.
Last updated