English 5182-090
Information Design & Digital
Publishing
Fall 2010 |
|
|
Dr. Aaron A. Toscano (atoscano) Office: Fretwell 280F Office hours:
Tues. & Wed. |
Classroom: Fretwell 219
(Computer Lab) Time: Tues. http://www.english.uncc.edu/atoscano/ |
Course
Description and Purpose
The purpose of this course is
to introduce you to the principles, vocabulary, and theories of computer-aided
document design. You will be expected to use the computer to solve a variety of
writing problems, including planning, drafting, editing, and publishing. All
students will plan, design, and complete print and electronic documents that
will be evaluated in a course portfolio. The course meets in a computer classroom
with various Adobe and Microsoft software applications students will use for
assignments. This course, however, is not a course on InDesign,
Photoshop, and even Dreamweaver. Not only is it inappropriate to consider
giving students credit for a 4000-level course based on software instruction, a
once-a-week 3-hour class is an ineffective situation for software instruction.
Any software/technology skills students come away with are secondary to the
goal of exploring the theoretical, cultural, and rhetorical frameworks implicit
and explicit concerning information design. (Satisfies
writing requirement).
Texts and Materials
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Required: |
Kimball, Miles A. and Ann
R. Hawkins. Document Design.
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2007. 978-0312436995. Williams, Robin. Non-Designer's Design Book. 3rd Ed. Peachpit Press, 2008. 978-0321534040. Access to a UNCC Internet
account (e-mail, web space, etc.) Willingness To Learn |
|
Recommended: |
Some means of portable
storage (i.e. your “h” drive, a flash drive, a floppy disk, etc.) Cohen, Sandee.
InDesign CS3 for Macintosh and Windows. 0-321-50306-6 Weinmann, Elaine and Peter Lourekas.
Photoshop CS3 for Windows and Macintosh.
Peachpit
Press, 2008. Mohler, James L. and Kyle Bowen. Exploring Dreamweaver 8. Learning,
2007. 1-4180-1610-1 Other Adobe software guides
for the programs we have in the lab |
Expectations
I expect students to be
prepared to participate in class—activities, workshops, discussions, etc.
Therefore, students should finish all reading before the class meets and expect
to be in class for the entire time. Unless otherwise stated, hand in all work
to me. Again, unless otherwise stated, hand in all work to me. Do not e-mail me
any attachments—I will not accept attachments. Please do not beg for an
exception. You are solely responsible for backing up your work and getting
hardcopies to me. The potential for computers crashing and Internet connections
failing calls for backing up your work and avoiding procrastination. If last
minute “issues” come up, you may upload your assignment to a webpage—this does
not mean e-mailing an attachment—but you must also bring a hardcopy to me on
the next class meeting. Do not expect me
to provide printing resources. Also, the computer lab printer doesn’t
always work, so, if you plan to use it, get here early and plan for alternative
means of printing. Do not print out material during class discussions.
Alternative assignments and extensions are given at my discretion. If you are
unwilling to fulfill these expectations, please reconsider your enrollment in
this course.
Prerequisites
Students must have completed ENGL 2116 Introduction
to Technical Communication or have had equivalent workplace experience
before enrolling into this class. All exceptions are based on the instructor’s
permission.
Work Requirements
Students in this course are
expected to be able to complete unified, coherent documents nearly free of
mechanical, logical, or structural errors. The ability to read advanced
college-level texts critically is also a requirement. Students will complete
documents, maintain a website, take a midterm and final exam, and do
presentations aimed at lay audiences individually and in groups. Most documents
will be portfolio assessments and are
listed below along with other assignments:
o
New Media
o
Copyright law and
electronic media
o
Typography &
History
o
Hypertext/Hypermedia
Authoring
o
Contemporary
Printing Methods
o
Page Description
Languages
o
Multimodal
Composition
o
Document Design
(many possibilities)
o
Visual Rhetoric
(many possibilities)
o Other: _____________________________________ (see me)
The above documents (1-4)
must be accompanied by a project assessment memo designed to provide me with
information about the context for and the design of the document, as well as a
rationale for and evaluation of the use of each application employed. Specific
criteria for evaluation and discussion will be assigned with each project.
Without this memo, the assignment is incomplete, so your grade will be lowered
for each day the memo is late.
The midterm and final exams
will cover our readings and class activities/discussions. All of these
assignments must be completed to receive a passing grade in the course. Just
because the assignments have percentage values below does not mean you will
pass the course if your missing assignments do not drop you below 60%.
Assignments/Grade Distribution
Portfolio
Assignments |
pts. |
Other
Assignments |
pts. |
Exams |
pts. |
Everything
Else (20%) |
% |
| Document
#1 |
100 |
website
(ongoing) |
200 |
Midterm |
100 |
Theories Pres. |
5% |
| Document
#2 |
200 |
|
|
Final |
100 |
Participation |
15% |
| Document
#3 |
300 |
|
|
Reading
Quizzes |
50 |
|
|
| Document
#4 |
200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total |
800 |
Total |
350 |
Total |
250 |
Grand
Total |
100% |
Grading Policy
Your final grade is supposed
to reflect your entire work for the semester and will be based on the
percentages below:
|
Grading Scale for Graded
Assignments and Final Grade: |
||||
|
A= 90 – 100 |
B= 80 – 89 |
C= 70 – 79 |
D= 60 – 69 |
F=Below 60 |
Definition
of A, B, C, D, and F Grades
Remember, your final grade is a combination of the four areas above in the assignment
percentage table. An ‘A’ means your work was excellent—not mediocre, average,
or just good. A ‘B’ means your work was good—not quite excellent but definitely
above average and thoughtful. A ‘C’ means your work was barely adequate enough
to satisfy the assignment—showing a lack of effort or thought for the
assignment guidelines. A ‘D’ or ‘F’ usually means assignments were late,
missing, or incomplete—often this work does not demonstrate appropriate
college-level work for a 4000/5000-level course.
Late Work
An assignment is due at the
beginning of the class for which it was assigned—printing out work at the end
of the class in which it was due means the assignment is late. All late work
will reduce the assignment by 10% for each class period it is
late. If you will not or cannot be in class on the day a paper is due, you should make
arrangements to get the paper to me via another student, putting it in my
mailbox, or uploading the paper online and e-mailing the link to me. Of course,
you must still bring in a hardcopy of the assignment on the next class meeting.
Again, you must still bring in a hardcopy of the assignment on the next class
meeting. Remember, I will not accept
assignments attached to e-mails. Please discuss any problems you may have
regarding attendance or late work before class if at all
possible. Remember, you are responsible for making up all work missed.
Something I’ve learned from past semesters is that if you don’t turn things in
on time early in the semester, you end up not turning other things in on time
(or at all). Do your best to get all your work—drafts and final documents—in to
me on time. If you are absent, get the information from another student. Do not
expect me to e-mail the class notes to you. Of course, never e-mail me and ask,
“so…like, Dr. Toscano, man…did we…like…you know…do anything the other day in
class?”
Although this course is more
of a hands-on or applied course, there are chances for discussion. Because
separating one’s theories and practices is artificial (if not impossible), we
will discuss theories behind the rhetorical strategies of document design.
However, unlike a course dominated by theory, we will not have class-wide
discussions for the entire class time. Instead, students should expect
discussions at the beginning of class and more practical endeavors in the
second half of class. Participation is expected, and you must participate thoughtfully during class discussions.
Merely showing up will not get you participation credit—you must speak. If you’re not in class, you can’t receive credit,
so your participation grade will be affected. I will note your participation
(or lack thereof) daily. Thoughtful participation means that you engage
critically in our discussions or ask engaging questions about the subject.
Simply making jokes or telling the class an irrelevant story about last night’s
American Idol does not warrant
thoughtful participation. Getting on
MySpace, FaceBook, IM, or a similarly distracting web
tool to chat with others or doing work for another class will lower your
participation grade—even to the point of falling below 15% (meaning, you can
have a negative participation grade). Please see me ASAP if you’re
concerned about your participation grade because you’re shy or if you don’t
understand these requirements. Telling me at the end of November that you
didn’t participate because you’re the quiet type or because you didn’t
understand what “thoughtful” meant will be too late. Even worse, e-mailing me after the semester is over to complain that participation isn’t a “valid” class assignment or shouldn't apply to you because you're better than the rest of us is too late. The purpose of discussions
is for students to have control over their own learning and to reinforce
critical thinking. Because this is more of a “hands-on” course than a
theory-heavy course, there won’t be as much chance for classroom-wide
discussions: Much of your class time will
be devoted to planning, creating, and revising your major assignments. I am
willing to provide a quasi-alternative to supplement
a student’s participation grade, but please note that discussion, which allows
speakers to exchange ideas, is an extremely important component of critical
thinking.
Attendance
I will take attendance each
day of class. It is very important that
you attend every class in order to keep up with the work and reading. Your
grade will be lowered after missing 2
classes. Your final grade will be lowered by a full letter grade for each day
missed beyond 2 absences.
After 4 absences you will receive a failing grade for the
course. Please make an effort to come to every class and to get here on time.
Don’t just skip class because you feel you have two “free” days. Save your
absences for emergencies. Cars break down, parking is limited, students get
sick, and traffic is brutal, but class still happens. I will ask you to request
a meeting with the Dean of Students if you have situations that you feel should
allow you an exception to missing more than 2 classes. Additionally, as of this school year, you have
two days per academic year that can be used for religious observance without
penalty. However, if you must be absent for a religious observance, you are
required to file a “Request for Religious Observance” form, and notify me at
least a week before the absence. If you are absent for any reason, you are
responsible for any missed work and any modifications to the syllabus and/or
assignments.
Important Dates and Administrative Information
The syllabus schedule on the last two
pages has important dates marked. Students are responsible for not only knowing
course deadlines but also knowing UNCC deadlines (drop/add, billing, vacation,
etc.). Please visit the following link for the registrar’s calendar: http://registrar.uncc.edu/calendars/1080_Printable_Acad_Calendar.pdf.
Academic Integrity
All UNC Charlotte students have the responsibility to be familiar with and to observe the requirements of The UNC Charlotte Code of Student Academic Integrity. This Code forbids cheating, fabrication, or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism, abuse of academic materials (such as Library books on reserve), and complicity in academic dishonesty (helping others to violate the Code). Any further specific requirements or permission regarding academic integrity in this course will be stated by the instructor, and are also binding on the students in this course. Students who violate the Code can be punished to the extent of being permanently expelled from UNC Charlotte and having this fact recorded on their official transcripts. The normal penalty is zero credit on the work involving dishonesty and further substantial reduction of the course grade. In almost all cases, the course grade is reduced to "F." If you do not have a copy of the Code, you can view it on UNC Charlotte’s Academic Integrity Web site at http://integrity.uncc.edu/. Standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Students are expected to report cases of academic dishonesty they become aware of to the course instructor who is responsible for dealing with them.
If
you try to pass off any work in full or part as your own without proper credit
being given to the original source—you will receive an ‘F’ in this course.
You will also receive an ‘F’ in the course for other academic integrity violations. Do not expect another warning—this is it. Please see me if you need further clarification regarding cheating, fabrication or falsification of information, multiple submission of academic work, plagiarism, or complicity in academic dishonesty. Again, so there’s no confusion, you will most likely fail the course if you violate any part of the academic integrity code.
A Note to Students from UNC Charlotte's English Department, Statement on Diversity (April 2009)
The English Department strives to create an academic climate that respects people of varied cultural backgrounds and life experiences. As a community of scholars and teachers who study language, literature, and writing, we are committed to nurturing intellectual and aesthetic diversity. In all our activities, we invite participation by diverse groups, including, but not limited to, those who define themselves in the following terms: race and ethnicity; gender; political orientation; sexual orientation; special health needs; age; religion; country of origin; and socio-economic status. Finally, by fostering multiple perspectives in our coursework, we can help our students prepare to participate in our increasingly diverse society, as well as in the global community.
The Department of English is committed to the centrality of writing in our curriculum.
Disabilities Modification Statement
Students who have a condition
that may impair their ability to complete assignments or otherwise satisfy
course criteria are encouraged to meet with the instructor to identify,
discuss, and document any feasible instructional modifications or
accommodations. Please inform the instructor about circumstances no later than
the second week of the semester or as soon as possible after a disability or
condition is diagnosed, whichever occurs earliest. For information and
auxiliary assistance, contact the
Statement of Academic
Freedom
I strongly encourage students
to use class as a place for free inquiry and intellectual growth. Although we
as a class will not always agree or be comfortable with the views of others,
every student has the right to his or her own tastes and convictions. As
students engaged in college-level intellectual endeavors, however, it is your
responsibility to recognize your own biases that contribute to your
construction of reality. I want to have us scrutinize our assumptions by
developing critical faculties for reflection. I promise to be fair and always
support your right to look at the world from your own position, but I encourage
all students to branch out and consider multiple perspectives. I will not
tolerate any harassment or abuse (emotional or physical) or any instance where
others adversely affect students’ learning.
Fretwell has an A/C problem. Occasionally this building gets closed and classes are canceled because it is too brutally hot to remain inside. If the A/C “issue” (or other climate related control system) cancels class, continue to keep up with the class web page, readings, and assignments. The library has lots of space and many computers. We’ll pick up where we left off on the syllabus when we return to class. This also goes for inclement weather.
(have readings and assignments done before class)
|
August 24 |
Introduction to the course |
|
August 31* |
Document Design Ch. 1 & 2 |
*September
1st: Big day for the semester:
§ Last day to
register. If you’re not registered, you
will not be allowed to continue in the course.
§
Deadline to apply for December 2010 graduation.
|
September 7 |
The Non-Designer’s Design Book Ch. 1, 2, & 8 (pp. 109-130 at least, but try
for the whole enchilada…umm, I like enchiladas, but I like burritos more) |
|
September 14 |
Document #1 DUE: Business Card and Letterhead Document Design Ch. 3 The Non-Designer’s Design Book Ch. 3 |
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September 21 |
Midterm Exam (30 min) |
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September 28 |
Document Design Ch. 4 |
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October 5 |
Document #2 DUE Document Design Ch. 5 The Non-Designer’s Design Book Ch. 5 |
Fall Break October 11 – 12
|
October 19 |
Document
Design Ch. 6 |
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October 26* |
Document #3 DUE The Non-Designer’s Design Book Ch. 9, 10, 11 |
*November 1st: Last day to withdraw from a
course with a "W" grade (and retain other courses)
|
November 2 |
Document Design Ch. 7 |
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November 9 |
Document #4 DUE Document Design Ch. 8 |
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November 16* |
5182 Projects DUE Document Design Ch. 9 |
*November 22nd: Deadline to
withdraw from all courses with
"W" grade.
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November 23 |
Workshop |
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November
24-27: No Class Thanksgiving Break |
November 30
|
Presentation discussion
5182 Project Presentations
Portfolios Due
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December 7
|
Presentations (4182 & 5182)
Web sites Finished
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December 14 |
Because no one has a conflict, we'll meet at this time, which is different from the registrar's schedule: http://registrar.uncc.edu/calendars/1080_printable_exam.pdf
|
Commencement December 18th. I'll see you there.