ENGL 419: Multimedia Writing

Time: MWF 9:30-10:20
Location: HEAV 227
Instructor: J. Tirrell
Contact: jtirrell@purdue.edu
Office: HEAV 207 & HEAV 205A
Office hours: MWF 10:30-11:30

Course Overview

This course helps students practice and understand the principles of multimedia design and implementation, with emphasis on writing in multimedia contexts. Students closely examine various multimedia products, doing oral and/or written analyses of a number of such pieces. Course readings focus on how different media communicate meaning, shape our reactions, and interact with one another. Students propose, plan, and develop a a number of individual and/or group multimedia projects, including those for the Web, using a variety of technologies that support and enhance the presentation of content in multimedia forms.

Course Goals

Responsibility

• Engage the culture and problems associated with multimedia writing
• Develop project standards through negotiation with clients

Project Management

• Use, adapt, and evaluate various writing techniques and technologies for specific rhetorical purposes
• Learn to evaluate and apply effective principles of document design in print and digital media
• Develop multiple and flexible online work strategies to make a professional portfolio
• Plan and articulate design decisions throughout the production process
• Develop strategies for planning, researching, and producing documents that effectively respond to specific professional situations, problems, or research issues

Teamwork
Learn and apply strategies for successful team work, such as:

• working online with colleagues
• determining roles and responsibilities
• managing team conflicts constructively
• responding constructively to peers' work
• using peer feedback
• achieving team goals

Course Readings

Readings will be provided online. Students are responsible for printing texts, reading them, and bringing them to class. The money that students save not purchasing a textbook will be expended on these and other course materials.

Required Technology

• access to and ability to interact with the course website
• access to word processing, visual design, and web design software
• an email address checked regularly for course-related business
• Purdue student web space (web.ics.purdue.edu/~yourlogin)

Be aware that routine work with technology is a major component of this class. Students need not be technological experts to succeed in this class; the class's purpose is education and improvement. Nevertheless, be aware that digital technology exposure is integral to the class, and computer problems are not valid excuses for incomplete work. Learn and practice the core principle of digital data work: redundant backup. Digital technology will fail you; be prepared for that eventuality.

Grading

This courses uses the plus/minus grading system. Pluses/minuses will appear on coursework feedback and final grade reports. The scoring breakdown is as follows:

• 98-100 = A+
• 92-97 = A
• 90-91 = A-
• 88-89 = B+
• 82-87 = B
• 80-81 = B-
• 78-79 = C+
• 72-77 = C
• 70-71 = C-
• 68-69 = D+
• 62-67 = D
• 60-61 = D-
• 0-59 = F

Grade Components:
project 1 = 20%
project 2 = 20%
project 3 = 20%
midterm = 20%
homework = 20%

Late Work

Late work is not accepted.

Collaborative Work

Collaborative work is a required component of the course. Your project team will be responsible for its own management and progress. A Collaborative Evaluation Form will be completed by all group members to assess the contributions of group members.

Wide Online Audience

Because of the nature of this course, student work will be accessible to a wide audience through the Web. A student's grades, of course, never will be shared. Students in this class must explicitly allow their work to be viewed by a wide audience by signing the Course Contract. If this is a problem for a student, the student should withdraw from the class.

Attendance and Punctuality

Because this is a discussion- and workshop-driven class, attendance is crucial. Role is taken shortly after class begins. If a student is not present when role is taken, that student will be counted absent. If there are extraordinary circumstances that will prevent a student from attending class, he or she must contact the instructor beforehand. There is no separate attendance component of the course grade, but any in-class work a student misses because of an absence cannot be made up. This class abides by the maxim that all members of the class should show respect to one another by meeting at designated times and places prepared to work.

Academic Integrity

Purdue students and their instructors are expected to adhere to guidelines set forth by the Dean of Students in "Academic Integrity: A Guide for Students." If you are uncertain if some element of your work constitutes plagiarism, please speak with the course instructor. The point of any class is to educate, not to punish. Nevertheless, the consequences of plagiarism are appropriately dire. Plagiarism simply should never be an option for any student.

Special Needs Statement

I and the university will make every effort to accommodate special needs students. If you require special accommodations, please see me privately within the first week of class to make arrangements. According to university policy, students must register with Adaptive Programs in the Office of the Dean of Students before classroom accommodations can be provided.