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SyllabusSpring 2002, T Th 11:00 a.m.-12:15, CCtr 42 Dr. Craig Stroupe, 726-6249, Humanities 424 Purpose | Expectations
| Resources Needed | Grades PurposeIn this class, you will explore the creative, rhetorical, technical and social possibilities of designing and writing graphic projects. This course is offered through the Composition department, rather than Computer Science or Graphic Design, and draws on the methods, theory, pedagogy and philosophy of writing studies to structure and sustain our progress. At the same time, our textbooks and other resources bring together perspectives from a wide variety of professionals, including a digital artist, statistician, childrens' book illustrator, engineer, and software consultant. Since this is a university class, you are here not simply to learn the mechanics of graphic production, but to become practiced in interpreting and directing the use of visual discourses strategically and intellectually. We will therefore divide our meetings between classroom and lab formats, between theory and practice. We will especially be concerned with the contemporary challenges of preparing and presenting graphic projects online. Ultimately, however, the subject matter of the class is the work that you will do and the ways you'll discover to conceive, describe and contextualize that work in words. During this class you will gain experience and knowledge in the following:
Though you will have access to industry-standard applications to assist you in these projects, this is not a class primarily in the techniques of Photoshop or HTML, no more than other composition classes teach typing or Microsoft Word. You will be allowed to work with whatever software you choose although you will be responsible for whatever limitations or compatibility problems you may impose on yourself in your choice of software, or by not taking advantage of the necessary functions and features. Purpose | Expectations | Resources Needed | Grades | Top ExpectationsYou'll be expected to practice and develop three kinds of expertise in this course:
The Projects The assignments will follow from those using the basic, technical skills of producing and editing graphic files to larger issues of rhetoric and culture, and range in purpose from representing data to telling stories using visual discourse. All assignments must be turned in on time. Late projects will be assessed a penalty of five points a day. Each project will include a self commentary of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages (500 words), which discusses the technical, rhetorical, cultural and social issues that you considered in (or that are retrospectively raised by) your work process and final product. Writing In addition to the design and creation of the projects themselves, you will be expected to write a number of analyses, looking critically at your own work and that of your classmates. You will also be assigned occasional, analytical writings on the readings in our textbooks, on intended audiences for your projects, etc. These varied analyses will be handed in or distributed, as assigned, via paper, e-mail, the class alias (listserv), or Web pages. On days when readings are assigned, you will often write and turn in "pop" responses at the beginning or end of class. There are no make-ups on these responses. Attendance Since this class will function as a community of writer-designers, your regular attendance is absolutely necessary. Absences in excess of three (10% of the class meetings) will deduct 2 percentage points from your overall grade. These three possible absences can be spent however you wish and so there are no "excused" absences beyond the three. If you are absent, you are responsible for all material covered in class. For some in-class activities like the reading responses, there are no make-ups. 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 lab work, support groups, and various Internet-based communications and collaborations. Your sincere and regular contributions to maintaining this collaborative environment will count in your grade (see below), and of course will greatly benefit your final products in the course. Purpose | Expectations
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| Top Resources Needed
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Purpose | Expectations | Resources Needed | Grades | Top |