|
Course Information |
| Course
Description: |
What are the connections among
computers, writing, and literature? That's the focus of this course--the
implications made by the Internet and computers for writing, literacy, and
uses of texts. We'll begin by examining a variety of texts available in
full or in part on the Internet; then we'll proceed to the rhetorical and
technical aspects of these texts; and we'll conclude with the production,
in HTML, of student text resources. Format and layout of documents
(whether they're prepared in HTML or as word-processed texts) are
important aspects of this course, and will be considered among the graded
activities and in the broader context of good writing.
|
| Course
Objectives: |
In this course, students will learn
to access texts, in a variety of formats, via the Internet. They will
learn how to examine those texts, evaluating their rhetorical implications
(as in traditional literary criticism) and their technical aspects (as in
technical writing for the Internet). Students will also learn to create
documents for the Internet, and may produce or edit some of these texts. |
| Prerequisites
and Corequisites: |
1) Students must have a
recent-model PC with "24/7" Internet access.
2) Students must have an established email account.
3) Students must be motivated, self-directed learners. |
| Course
Topics: |
The following is TENTATIVE:
Project I: A Sample Web Page
Project II: The Class e-Journal
Project III: A Traditional Paper using Internet Sources
Project IV: Final Presentation (A digital, multi-media text) |
| Specific
Course Requirements: |
1) Students should be familiar
with Microsoft FrontPage or other HTML-writing software (or have
sufficient knowledge of HTML to create very simple documents).
2) Students should have Microsoft Office software, or word processing
software that can "Save As" documents in MSW format.
3) Students must be reasonably familiar with either Netscape or Internet
Explorer browsing software. |
| Textbooks,
Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements |
| Required
Textbooks: |
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore
to obtain textbook information for this course:
http://rodp.bkstr.com |
| Supplementary
Materials: |
none |
| Hardware
Requirements: |
Students must have "24/7" access
to the Internet via a Pentium-class computer. |
| Software
Requirements: |
Students must have access to
Microsoft Office software (Office 97 or later -- preferably Office
2000); however, students may also use late-model software that can "Save
As" documents in MSW format. |
| Assessment
and Grading |
| Testing
Procedures: |
For this
course, students will be evaluated using modified portfolio assessment.
Students will create a series of drafts of projects; these will be
evaluated and graded individually, and the entire portfolio will receive a
"final grade." |
| Grading
Procedure: |
Students' progress through this
course will be evaluated via modified portfolio assessment. For each
project, students will receive an individually-recorded grade, measuring
each student's revision skills and acquisition of learning. The final
portfolio grade will establish (1) each student's overall progress and
(2) the quality and quantity of effort each student has put into the
course as a whole. |
| Grading
Scale: |
Grading Scale: 100-90 = A 80-89 =
B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D Below 60 = F |
| Assignments
and Participation |
| Assignments
and Projects: |
This information will be provided
via the WebCT and other web sites. |
| Class
Participation: |
Students must participate in all
interactive aspects of this course, as they are assigned and modified as
the course progresses. Failure to participate will result in point loss
relative to the degree of the lack of participation and the project at
hand. |
| Punctuality: |
Absolutely no extensions will be
allowed for deadlines for papers, discussion board entries, or other
materials. This is not negotiable. |
| Course
Ground Rules |
|
Basic Skills: I expect you to
begin this course with rudimentary typing and internet browsing
abilities. Email: ALWAYS begin the "subject line" of your email with the
identifier, ENGL3134; I get a lot of email from list-serves and
individuals, and may miss yours if you don't clearly identify yourself.
Also, first line of the "body" (or text area) of your email message must
contain your name; although many email programs allow your full name in
the "sender" area of the message, typing your name as the first line of
every email to me assures that I'll know who you are, no matter what
email program you use. Plagiarism: At this point I expect you know that
plagiarism is presenting in any way, deliberately or not, the work of
another person as your own. The penalty for plagiarism is outlined in
university policy, and I will strictly enforce it. All ETSU students
agree to the University's Honor Code; if you're not already familiar
with that code, I suggest you read it at your earliest opportunity.
Deadlines: These are NOT NEGOTIABLE. I will impose severe penalties upon
work that is submitted late - those penalties may include, but are not
limited to, assigning a failing grade to the late assignment or reducing
of final or late work grade. Appointments: In most weeks you may visit
my "virtual office" without appointment. You may also make appointments
to meet with me online at other times. I encourage you to meet with me
as often as you need to. By the way, some professors consider failure to
show up for an appointment to be evidence of a character flaw or
"controlling personality." |
| Guidelines
for Communications |
| Email: |
ALL materials you submit for this
course are public, in that many people may see them. Do not submit
materials that are of such a personal nature that you might not be
willing to share them. This is a text centered class. For most of your
assignments I will not accept audio messages or email attachments with
odd or unclear file extensions. Do not send large attachments via email
without checking with me first. All of the standard texts you submit for
this course will be in MLA format, with one-inch margins in 12-point
Times New Roman font. |
| Discussion
Groups: |
Review the discussion threads
thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker, then an active
participant. Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather
than by starting a new topic. Do not make insulting or inflammatory
statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of
other's ideas. Keep your comments "I-centered" (i.e., "I don't
understand this paragraph" rather than "This paragraph is unreadable).
Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly
before entering your remarks. Be positive and constructive in group
discussions. Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner. |
| Chat: |
See directions for discussion
board participatation. |
| Web
Resources: |
Web resources will be announced
periodically -- I expect you to examine, evaluate, and/or use these
resources |
|
Library
|
|
The
Tennessee Board of Regents Virtual Library is available
to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links
to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases,
interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps,
and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to
complete online assignments and as background reading must be included
in all courses. |
|
Students
With Disabilities
|
|
Qualified students with
disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic
accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability
services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability
accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written
verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from
the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's
responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's
disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for
having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor. |
|
Syllabus
Changes
|
|
The
instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this
syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the
instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by
individual email communication and posting both notification and nature
of change(s) on the course bulletin board. |
|
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