LIBR 246-12: Web 2.0 and Social Networking Tools (Fall 2008)

Description: For this assignment, you will examine some aspect of social software dynamics; basically the "how" and "why" of participation in one or more social tools. Instead of looking at the practical aspects of using social software in libraries, you will look at how these tools encourage (or discourage) participation or how social software has impacted traditional forms of communication and learning.

Topic examples include:

1. Motivations of Wikipedians

2. How community forms in the Blogosphere

3. How community forms in Flickr and YouTube

4. Effect of social software on traditional teaching and learning

5. Why YouTube was so much more successful than other video sharing sites

Please feel free to use these topics or create one of your own.

This paper will require research on the web and in quality journals or books.  You can use examples from the literature and from actual communities/tools.

Length: 10 - 15 pages (not including title page), 12 point font, double-spaced

References: The minimal number of references you should have is five. There is no maximum.

Style: You are free to use whatever style guide you are most comfortable with (APA, MLA, Chicago) for your paper, just remember to use it consistently in every aspect of your paper.

Due Date: Your paper topic must be e-mailed to me for approval by October 11, 2008.

The paper itself is due November 8, 2008, 11:59 pm PT

To Submit: Upload your paper into Google Docs and make my Google account (meredithfarkas@gmail.com) a collaborator so I can add my comments. Also, send me an email with a link to your paper (use the URL in the address bar -- I'll be able to access it as long as you made me a collaborator). Don't depend on GoogleDocs to send me an email from the sharing page because I've had it not work in the past.

Grading Criteria:

1. Quality of information - Does the information support the argument?

2. Critical thinking - Is the student reflecting on the topic or just reiterating what s/he read? Is there real insight?

3. Use of resources - Does the student reference class readings or outside readings (if applicable)?

4. Quality of writing - Is the writing clear and professional in tone? Are there no grammatical and spelling errors?

5. Successful completion - Did the student follow the instructions for the paper in terms of topic and length?