Course Information:
Title: Writing and Technology
Number: ENG 314-001
Location: MO 204
Time: MWF 1:00-1:50
Instructor: Jeremy Tirrell
Office: MO 150
Office Hours: MWF 2:00-4:00 (and by appointment)
Overview:
Students in this course will explore how digital technology shapes composing practices through critical engagement with new media formats. Students will have the opportunity to use a variety of software applications such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google Docs to analyze and produce multimedia works including interactive maps and online community advocacy networks. Much class interaction will take place through a companion website that supplements class meetings with blog, comment, and wiki features. This course includes both individual and group projects, and some student work will take place in public online formats. Most reading materials will be provided online.
All class members are expected to treat each other with appropriate courtesy and decorum, and all coursework is expected to be completed in a thorough, timely fashion. All students must read and understand the policies articulated in this syllabus and sign the course contract in oder to remain in the class.
Required Texts:
- Online readings provided on the course website
- One of several book options to be purchased later (this will be clarified in class)
Course Policies:
Technology Expectations:
- ability to interact with the course website and other websites
- access to word processing, visual design, and web design software
- a suitable email account checked regularly for course-related business
- a Flash drive or other means to backup coursework
Routine work with technology is a component of this class. Students need not be technological experts to succeed in this course, but digital technology interaction is integral, and computer problems are not valid excuses for incomplete work. Practice the core principle of digital data work: redundant backup. Digital technology will fail you; be prepared for that eventuality.
Laptops may be used in the classroom, but please do not answer cell phone calls in class or send texts. Phones should have their ringers turned off, and if a student must take a call, he or she should exit the classroom before doing so. This course takes place in a computer classroom, and because of the nature of this course, you may check Facebook and other sites during class (in fact, I'll be making you do this, which will take the fun out of it). However, all students are expected to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the course, so their primary focus should be on immediate classroom interactions.
Availability of Online Material:
Because of the nature of the course, some material posted to this website will be publicly accessible through the Web. (A student's grades and personal information will not be shared publicly, but students may opt to have their grades accessible privately online.) Additionally, any material posted to the course website may be used anonymously for teaching or published research purposes. For these reasons, students are encouraged to select usernames that are different from their real names.
Collaborative Work:
Because one of the most significant features of recent digital technology is its social aspect, teamwork and group projects are required elements of the course. Student teammates are responsible for updating each another and me about project development and progress. In addition, student teams also are responsible for negotiating all aspects of their work, including planning, drafting, revising, file managing, scheduling, and leading workshops and presentations. When a group project is assigned, students will complete activities that foster successful collaboration. After conclusion of group projects, individuals will complete forms to assess the contributions of group members and the global performance of the team.
Attendance and Punctuality:
Because this is a workshop and discussion-driven class, class attendance is crucial. Role is taken shortly after class begins. If a student is not present when role is taken, he or she 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 student that misses more than six class meetings will fail the course automatically. Additionally, any work missed because of an absence cannot be made up. This includes project assignments. The 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.
Late Work:
Late work is not accepted.
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:
- 92-100 = 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:
Engagement Assignments = 25%
Local Mapping Project = 25%
Online Community Advocacy Project = 25%
Podcast/Vodcast Project = 25%
Engagement assignments include all the work necessary for the progress of the course, such as in-class activities, out of class short assignments, reading responses, blog posts, comments, etc. Most of these assignments are worth two points each. Students must produce professional, thorough, insightful work to receive full credit on engagement assignments. The final engagement assignment grade is a cumulative score based upon how many points a student gained against how many were possible for the semester.
All projects will go through a drafting and revision process before they are turned in for a grade. I will provide extensive feedback on project drafts, but comparatively less feedback on final versions. This is because the primary purpose of feedback is to improve student work rather than to explain why it earned a particular grade. Students are always welcome to visit office hours to discuss work at any stage, including after it has been graded.
Academic Honor Code:
UNCW students and instructors are expected to adhere to the guidelines set forth in the University Academic Honor Code. Students are expected to produce original work in this course. Collaboration and incorporation of external material and ideas into original work is of course acceptable and necessary, but all writers are ethically obliged to document external sources through appropriate citation practices. If you are uncertain if some element of your work constitutes plagiarism or another honor code violation, please speak with me. The point of any class is to educate, not to punish. Nevertheless, the consequences of honor code violations are appropriately dire. Please consult the "Academic Honor Code" information in the UNCW website and the Undergraduate Catalogue for more details.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
I and the university will make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. If you require special accommodations, please feel free to see me privately during office hours to make arrangements or contact Disability Services directly. According to university policy, students must consult with Disability Services before classroom accommodations can be provided. Please make contact as soon as possible, as accommodations cannot be made retroactively.