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SyllabusFall 2008Course Information: Professor Information: Purpose | Expectations | Resources Needed | Grades PurposeThis class is intended to teach you the aesthetic, cultural, and rhetorical uses of Web-design techniques—including writing—and not just the technological tools. The class is designed, however, assuming that you have no prior knowledge of Web design, and providing you with introductions and resources to master to the basic skills. In this class, you will gain practice and expertise in the following areas:
Purpose | Expectations | Resources Needed | Grades | Top ExpectationsExercises and ProjectsThis course is organized as a series of project and exercises. The projects are long-term, individual works which you will work on over a period of weeks. The exercises are activities done together in class, usually in 15 to 30 minutes. The Projects. As described on the Works Page, the projects are larger pieces of work that you'll complete individually over a period of two or three weeks using the skills you've learned from the exercises and insights from the readings and class activities. The projects are Web sites/pages, including a "Client Project" for a real-life organization, individual, business, professor, or campus unit of your own choosing. You will also have an opportunity to do a "global revision" of one of the projects. There is a three-point penalty per day for late projects, including the commentaries and printouts that are explained below. Due dates for all requirements are included in the online schedule, which will be updated throughout the semester. Exercises. We'll do the exercises together in class to learn particular skills or techniques, and you'll have 24 hours after the class meeting (if needed) to complete and post each exercise to the Web for credit. I will give you detailed directions for submitting particular, finished projects and exercises. The following, however, are some general guidelines: All Web-based projects should be:
Commentaries The commentary should explain—in at least one substantive paragraph, and no more than two pages—how your project fulfills the criteria and goals of the assignment. More than just a list of mechanical features, your commentary is a chance to make big claims for your project as you look back at it—even if you weren't aware of everything you were accomplishing at the time you were working. In the commentary, explain why you did what you did. Use terms from the readings and class discussions to put the project and the process of creating it in critical focus. These critical terms should be in bold. This explanation should also reflect the depth of your understanding of the assignment and the meaning of your work fulfilling it: that is,
Purpose | Expectations | Resources Needed | Grades | Top Other Writing and Design WorkIn addition to the design, creation, and writing of the exercises and projects themselves, you will complete:
While there is no final exam in this class, you will have assignments due by that time and date, which are specified on the schedule. Readings On days when readings are assigned, please do the following:
Attendance Since this class will function as a community of writer-designers, your regular attendance is absolutely necessary.
Participation A larger goal of this course is to establish a community or network of writer-designers—with a wide variety of backgrounds, expertise, and interests—to enhance your learning and enjoyment during the next sixteen weeks. The class is designed to provide a number of avenues for this community building, including peer workshopping and critiquing, in-class "studio sessions," support groups, and various Internet-based communications and collaborations. Your sincere and regular contributions to maintaining this collaborative environment will count in your grade and of course will greatly benefit your final products in the course. Because your work is the subject matter for this course, turning in all projects and writings on time is critical; work turned in late will be assessed a 3% penalty per day. Special Needs If you have a disability, either permanent or temporary, which might affect your performance in this class, please notify me at the beginning of the semester. Methods, material, or testing will be adapted as required for equitable participation. Incompletes Incompletes for the semester will be given only in the following very limited circumstances:
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Grades
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