Any portion of this syllabus may be changed at any time at the discretion of the instructor to best meet the needs of the class.
Unit One
Web 2.0 Research Project 15%
This is a group project consisting of two parts: an annotated bibliography in the form of a blog and a group presentation. Your group will choose a web 2.0-related issue from the list I provide and set up a blog for the project. Each group member is responsible for posting a summary-analysis (an evaluative annotation) for at least four sources. After conducting the research your group will give a 15-minute presentation to the class with the purpose of informing and then arguing for a specific solution, course of action, or public policy.
Copyright Position Paper and Personal Policy Statement 10%
After extensive reading and discussion of authorship, ownership, and copyright in the digital age, you will write a paper that declares your position on what is ethical authorship in the digital age.
Unit Two
Personal Website 15%
You will design a personal website (i.e., a website about yourself). This project serves as an introduction to web design and provides you with a portfolio space to showcase all of the digital work you complete throughout the course. The assignment consists of three parts: a design plan that includes storyboards and a written rhetorical rationale; the site itself built using the web design program Dreamweaver and updated throughout the semester; and, a written rhetorical analysis of your site.
Sound Argument 10%
For this project you will compose a 1-3 minute aural argument on a topic of your choice. Detailed instructions to follow.
Unit Three
Information & Advocacy Campaign Project 20%
This is a group project. With your group from the Web 2.0 Research Project, you will design an “information and advocacy campaign” on your web 2.0 topic that includes a website and other educational and promotional materials that can be delivered online. This assignment consists of three parts: an in-depth proposal for a website and promotional materials that includes storyboards and a written rhetorical rationale; the website built using the web design program Dreamweaver and the promotional materials; and, a written rhetorical analysis of the project. Detailed instructions to follow.
Additional Projects
Blog Project 10%
Each student will maintain a blog on a topic of his/her choice and post to it weekly. Posts are due by noon each Friday.
Quizzes and Homework 20%
In order to successfully complete the above projects, it is necessary to complete smaller assignments that help you develop the necessary analytical, design, and technological skills. Quizzes will be given over the assigned readings, podcasts and videos. Homework includes, but is not limited to the following:
Poster Design
Using Robin Williams’s visual design principles, you will design a poster to raise awareness on an issue of your choosing. Detailed instructions to follow.
Website Analysis
Using Patricia Sullivan’s definition of “visual rhetoric” you will analyze a personal website.
Sound Analysis
Using the categories of sound outlined by Heidi McKee, you will analyze an audio text.
Online software tutorials
CSU has paid for student access to the Lynda.com library of software tutorials. You will be required to complete several of these tutorials and write a brief summary of what you learned. You will also complete the HTML and CSS tutorials provided by the W3Schools and write a brief summary of what you learned.
