multimedia authoring: exploring the new rhetorics
engl 355 fall 2004
instructor: dr. patricia ericsson
ericsson@wsu.edu
fall 2004
phone: 335-4820
office: avery 223
office hours: 1:00-2:00 mw and by appointment
catalog description
Writing for new computer-based media; multimedia authoring project; examination of new rhetorics of information technology.
Prereq: Engl 301 or FA 331 [or permission of instructor].detailed description
If you just want to make multimedia projects (mmps)--things that might appear on the web, or a multimedia film or cd, or something like that--then this course is not for you. We will be doing some "making" but more than that, we'll be asking important questions like--> Why make mmps?
> How do we read images in mmps?
> Do we read the texts in mmps differently?
> As authors of mmps do we think about our topics, audience, purpose, and those sorts of things differently?
> What do mmps "say" about sex, gender, consumerism, race, politics, and all kinds of other topics?
> What do mmps fail to say about the above topics and others?
> Who is making mmps (and who doesn't get to make them)?
> Who is distributing mmps (and whose mmps don't get distributed)?
> What's the history of all this mmps stuff?
> How do you make mmps (the "how to" part of this course, but a part that *must* be supported by the questions above).
> Why should I bother with this class?
course goals
Very briefly, the goals of this course are to investigate the rhetorics of new media by
> considering the socio-political implications of mmps
> considering the composer responsibilities of mmps
> considering the reader responsibilities of mmps
> creating a web site that reflected the above considerationscourse objectives
By the end of this course students will be better able to
> articulate the historical, socio-political dimensions of mmps
> understand the rhetorical elements of mmps
> illustrate this undersanding through the critique of mmps
> illustrate this understanding through the prpoduction of mmps
required Texts
Web.Studies:Rewiring Media Studies for the Digital Age ed. David Gauntlett 2nd edition
The Non-Designer’s Web Book by Robin Williams and John Tollettsuggested text
Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML and XHTML in 21 Days by Laura Lemay et al.
We’ll be doing some hard coding so this is a valuable resource. It’s also great for trouble-shooting when you’re using Dreamweaver. New cost is $25. It may be be available locally. New and used copies of this book are available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online from $6.98. Even an old copy of this book (like the 2nd edition) is great and available used for as little as $3.00 online. Older editions may also be available at local used bookstores.
computers
Since this course deals with computer-based media, computers are a vital part of it. We will meet at least once a week in the Avery Microcomputer Lab (Avery 101). No specific level of computer knowledge is required, but familiarity with basic personal computing will be assumed. We will learn the basics of some software in class, but you will be responsible for filling in the gaps in your knowledge by using online tutorials, books, collaborating with classmates, or meeting with the instructor.
attendance and assignments
To successfully complete this class, you must faithfully attend class and faithfully complete all assignments. Because we will be working collaboratively on many assignments, your regular attendance is vital. Specifically this translates to the following
>More than three absences will seriously jeopardize your grade; five absences will make it almost impossible to complete the course successfully.
> Extensive tardiness will be considered in assessing absences.
> Planned absences must be discussed and OK’d by the teacher prior to the absence.
> Acceptance of late work is unusual and must be discussed in conference with the teacher. Late work unaccompanied by a sufficient excuse (and conference) will receive a lowered grade if turned in within one week of the original due date. Work turned in later than one week past the original due date will be give an automatic grade of F.schedule
So that the course remains flexible to better meet student needs, the schedule found online is for the first eight weeks of the course. After a midterm review of the course progress, a schedule for the final seven weeks of the course will be posted.wsu accommodation policy
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in Administration Annex 206, 335-1566.academic honesty
All students are expected to act in accordance with the WSU policies on Academic Honesty found in the Student Handbook. These policies include falsification of information, fabrication of information, plagiarism, multiple submission, and various others. Information about these policies can be found in the Handbook. These policies will be discussed in class and students will be asked to acknowledge that disucssion and a basic understanding of the polcies.projects and evaluation:
Each project will include a guide for evaluation (an evaluation rubric) that is agreed upon by the teacher and students. Collaborative agreement on these evaluation rubrics will assure both the students and the teacher that the assignments are understood and that the evaluation criteria are fully clarified.
Portal Page 5% Multimedia Hypertext Argument
Web-folio 20%