ENGL 41900, Multimedia WritingCRN 18948MWF 10:30AM – 11:20AMStanley Coulter Hall Room G046

Instructor: Karen Kaiser LeeOffice: Heavilon Hall Room 308D Email: kkaiserl@purdue.eduOffice hours: Monday & Wednesday 11:30 - 12:30 and by appointment

TextbooksBefore & After: How to Design Cool Stuff by John McWade. Peachpit Press, 2009. ISBN 0321580125.

Other readings will be online – either linked to or posted as PDFs on the course website.

The authors of the book Multimedia: From Wagner to Virtual Reality divide the key concepts of multimedia into Integration, Interactivity, Immersion, Hypermedia, and Narrativity. We will start with these concepts as we analyze examples of multimedia documents and work finding answers to the following questions:

What abilities or ideas do we tend to find in our examination of multimedia documents that we can we add to the above list of five concepts?

What IS multimedia? Why do we (or do we?) need to define it?

What are some strategies for writing for multimedia? Must we develop new strategies for each form of multimedia, or are there some basic principles that hold for all forms of multimedia?

How is designing a website or making a video writing?

How do the rhetorical concepts like ethos, logos, and pathos, and kairos function in multimedia communication?

In addition to tackling the theory of multimedia, we will also get plenty of practice composing multimedia texts. We will use a variety of design programs and technologies, including but not limited to: digital cameras, photo editing software (Fireworks and/or Photoshop), digital video, digital video editing software (Windows MovieMaker and Adobe Premiere), audio editing software (Garage Band, Audacity), web design software (Dreamweaver) as well as working directly with html code, and animation software (Flash). We will also use Microsoft Office programs.

Some of these programs may be familiar to you; if they aren’t, that is fine. This course does not assume any prior knowledge of design software programs. There will be in-class tutorials, and we will consult other resources (both local and electronic) to help you build technology skills. On the other hand, you may be better using these programs than I am. If so, I hope you won’t mind helping fellow students (and possibly me).

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

"Music", a Creative Commons licensed image by Flickr user Ssosay.

Catalog DescriptionMultimedia writing for networked contexts. Emphasizes principles and practices of multimedia design, implementation, and publishing. Typical genres include Web sites, interactive media, digital video, visual presentations, visual argument, and user documentation. (3 credit course)

General Course DescriptionThis 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.

Note: Professional Writing majors in the Writing and Publishing concentration may use ENGL 419 as a suitable course in the category that presently asks them to take ENGL 420, Business Writing, or ENGL 421, Technical Writing. Students in other majors who presently take ENGL 420 or 421 may, with approval of their academic advisor or area, use this course to satisfy a similar requirement.

Required Materials and Technology Access to the Internet, especially our course web site and Purdue’s Online Writing Lab

( http://owl.english.purdue.edu )

Access to a digital camera, available at the DLC (http://www.dlc.purdue.edu/); if your cell phone has a camera, that will be fine for most projects

Access to your Purdue student account

A USB flash drive, for back-up copies of your work and to enable you to bring assignment drafts to class

A Tumblr account (free, sign up at www.tumblr.com)

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

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

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 teamwork, 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

Projects and Course WorkThese are brief descriptions of our work for this semester. See the project page and course calendar for detailed assignment descriptions.

Collaborative video projectIn this project, you will work in teams to create a five to ten minute long video that documents a current issue that affects students, campus, or or the greater Lafayette area. This project includes research, a written proposal and storyboard, which will function as a rough draft. The videos will be shown in class and posted to a video sharing site such as Youtube. (collaborative, 20% of grade)

Professional website and resumeWe will start with a paper-based, formulaic genre – the resume – and create an updated version for the Web. This project includes a digital resume formatted for the Internet and a basic, well-designed website. (individual, 30% of grade)

Presentation: What is multimedia?

Pulling from our readings and discussions, you will design a multimedia presentation that reflects your understanding of multimedia and what it means to write for – and with – multimedia. (individual, 30% of grade)

Class participation and writing1. class blog postsStudents will be asked to post at least one entry per week on the course blog. The course calendar will indicate how many and what type of content is required for blog posts each week. Types of content may include responses to readings, research notes, relevant websites, images, videos, and the like that demonstrate the multimedia concepts we’re discussing. You could also post tutorials or other sites helpful for learning how to use design software, or helpful sites . We will turn to our blog posts to start class discussion, so be ready to talk about your blog entry in class. We will also use the blog function on the course website to post drafts of work, peer review, and other in-class work.

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

2. Workshops, in-class projectsWe will have workshops and projects throughout the semester that explore design concepts or software. These small assignments must be completed by the end of the class session.3. QuizzesWe will have unannounced, periodic reading quizzes, but not the kind you may be used to; these quizzes will be in the form of short exercises that require you to demonstrate your comprehension of readings.(individual, 20% of grade)

Grading and EvaluationMajor course projects will be awarded letter grades which are weighted as follows: A (95); A- (90); B+ (87), B (84), B- (80), C+ (77), C (74), C- (70), D (67), F (59). Projects not submitted on time will be given a 0.

Final grades will be calculated on the standard plus-minus letter grade scale: A=100-94, A-=93-90, B+=89-87, B=86-84, B-=83-80, C+=79-77, C=76-74, C-=73-70, D+=69-67, D=66-64, D-=63-60, F=59 or below.

Students must complete all of the major projects and a majority of the in-class assignments and Tumblr/weblog posting assignments in order to pass this class. Students with questions about final grades should review university policies regarding grade appeals, which are outlined by the Dean of Students here: http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/gradeappeal.pdf. The University regulations are here: http://www.purdue.edu/univregs/pages/stu_conduct/stu_regulations.html.

As a class we will collaborate and determine criteria for evaluating each project; a typical set of criteria for a project might include effective use of multimedia components; the skill with which basic rhetorical concepts such as ethos, logos, pathos are deployed in the project; audience awareness; overall design; quality of the content; professionalism and/or creativity. Specific assignment descriptions will provide any additional grading criteria.

Class participation, reading responses, peer reviews and other written work will be evaluated based on:

• How well you implement the guidelines and best practices for posting comments and creating reading responses, as presented on our course site and discussed in the textbook.

• The degree to which your your peer reviews and responses offer insightful feedback and suggestions on your classmates' drafts.

• The degree to which your reading responses and comment posts demonstrate learning of the course content.

• The degree to which your reading responses and comment posts engage with and contribute to the learning of others in the course.

Technology ResponsibilitiesFamiliarity with certain technologies is crucial for participation and success in the course. If you need any assistance now or at any point during the semester, please do not hesitate to ask.

During the semester, you'll need regular access to the Internet and email. Because the course home page is the main locus of the class community, you are responsible for reading and keeping current with all content posted there, including what has been submitted by both the instructor and your fellow students.

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

You'll be responsible for configuring your system to access course materials, to read course email and participate in online discussions, and to submit your work. Very early in the semester, you will be asked to demonstrate that you can meet these responsibilities:

• Register for the course website and complete your profile information.• Post a message about yourself and your interests• Read the course description and calendar, then ask questions when you are uncertain about

requirements or activities.• Set up your @purdue.edu email or an alternative that you can access regularly and reliably• Become proficient sending and receiving email attachments, resolving file compatibility issues,

and following email decorum.• Check the course calendar before each class meeting.• Become proficient participating in the class Drupal space.• Become more proficient with unfamiliar computer technologies and applications, including Web

editing software, document cycling systems, desktop publishing applications, and graphics programs.

• Maintain back-up copies of all assignments via your home directory, disks, USB drives, or CDs.

If at any time you have problems accessing the Internet from home, you'll need to find a public lab or connection point. Problems with computers will not excuse you for falling behind or failing to complete required assignments. If your Internet service goes down, find another connection point. If your computer breaks, use another one. In other words, find a way to complete the assignments on time. Because computer problems are a fact of life, always work to complete your assignments early and make frequent backups of your work.

Collaborative Work

Teamwork is a required component of the course. You and your project team members are responsible for updating one another and me about assignment development and progress. In addition, you also are responsible for negotiating together all aspects of your work, including planning, drafting, revising, file managing, and scheduling of assignments.

Professionalism

Students should conduct themselves in a professional manner and avoid harassing, threatening, or belittling language at all times. All electronic devices except the classroom computers should remain off and out of sight during class time. Students are asked to create a professional environment in the classroom by actively listening, paying attention, and positively contributing to class discussions. Failure to follow these guidelines for professional behavior will result in the student being marked absent and asked to leave for the day.

Late Work

Deadlines are an important part of design work and they must be met in the workplace; as this is a professional writing course we will follow that model. Therefore I do not accept late work. I expect all work to be completed and submitted by day and time on which it is due. No exceptions are made for this due to computer problems (see the section on technology for more information). If a serious and unavoidable problem arises, however, you should contact me in writing prior to the deadline to

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

determine whether or not an extension for the work may or may not be granted. Since projects typically have peer review sessions for rough drafts, you should at least have work on the current project in progress to submit in the event of such an emergency.

Attendance

Attendance and active participation are required for the following reasons:

Writing is a social act, so for this course to be a success, everyone’s participation is necessary.

We will make the most of our class time by working on brief assignments and projects, small assignments and quizzes (see #4 and #5 under “Class Participation and Writing” above), so for this course to be meaningful to you, (and to get credit for this work) your presence is necessary.

Almost none of our classwork (the above-noted quizzes, assignments, in-class projects) can be made up at a later date, though please note that missing class does not relieve students from the learning responsibilities of this course.

Attendance and active participation are required, and attendance will be taken before all classes and conferences. For this course there is no such thing as an excused absence and I make no distinction between an absence due to illness and an absence due to sleeping in, missing the bus, being unable to find a parking spot, etc. It is highly recommended that you miss no more FOUR (4) classes during the semester. As in-class work cannot be made up except for religions holidays, university-sponsored events, or illnesses/family emergencies documented by a medical doctor / Dean of Students. The more classes you miss, the more course work you will miss, which will cause your grade to suffer. Students who miss more than a combined total of EIGHT classes will automatically fail the course.

Tardiness / early departure: If you arrive to class more than ten minutes late, I reserve the right to mark you absent. If for some reason you must leave class early, please notify me before class begins. Habitual tardiness will be penalized: three tardies = one class absence.

Excused absences may be granted for religious holidays or university-sponsored events, provided you make a written request to me no less than two weeks in advance and that you complete any required work before the due date.

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," which students are encouraged to read here:

http://www.purdue.edu/odos/osrr/academicintegritybrochure.php

The preamble of this guide states the following: "Purdue University values intellectual integrity and the highest standards of academic conduct. To be prepared to meet societal needs as leaders and role models, students must be educated in an ethical learning environment that promotes a high standard of honor in scholastic work. Academic dishonesty undermines institutional integrity and threatens the academic fabric of Purdue University. Dishonesty is not an acceptable avenue to success. It diminishes the quality of a Purdue education, which is valued because of Purdue's high academic standards."

Academic dishonesty is defined as follows: Purdue prohibits "dishonesty in connection with any

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing

University activity. Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty." [University Regulations, Part V, Section III, B, 2, a] Furthermore, the University Senate has stipulated that "the commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated. Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in committing dishonest acts is in itself dishonest." [University Senate Document 72-18, December 15, 1972]"

If you have any questions about this policy, please ask.

Accommodations for Students with Special Needs

Students with disabilities must be registered with Adaptive Programs in the Office of the Dean of Students before classroom accommodations can be provided. Students who need accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting with the instructor during the first week of classes or as soon as possible if accommodations are needed immediately.

In Case of a Campus Emergency

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances. You can acquire updated information from the course website, by emailing me or by contacting me through the English Department at 765-494-3740 or 765-494-3740.

Any changes to this document will be announced in class, via email, and posted to the course web site.

ENGL 41900 Multimedia Writing