Links

• Moodle
• Calendar

Course Description

WRT 232:Writing for New Media is an introduction to the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of web authoring. It examines the rhetorical roles of ethos, logos, and pathos in the construction of online identities; basic theoretical arguments around the construction of identity and community in online contexts; and ethical and stylistic issues surrounding web authorship. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement. 4 credits.

Course Policies

• Absences. Since WRT 232 is a collaborative, discussion-based course, I expect everyone to attend every class session. However, I understand that "life" happens, and I permit you to be absent from two class sessions without penalty. For each additional absence your final grade will be lowered by 0.1, and six or more absences is grounds for automatic failure. If you fail to sign the attendance sheet on a given day, if you miss roll call without notifying me, or if you fail to participate in a required online activity, it will count as an absence. If you have been absent from a class, please do not ask me what you missed; consult the online course calendar or your classmates instead.
• Autodidacticism. As with all university-level classes, I expect you to approach WRT 232 with a spirit of autodidacticism: an understanding that you are the one primarily responsible for the education you get out of this class. You will be expected to spend considerable time outside of the classroom reading, reflecting, studying major concepts, and working independently with the technology.
• Technology. Technology excuses are generally not viable in this class. You are responsible for practicing sound data management, thoroughly testing your work before and after submission, and taking all other reasonable precautions for putting up with technology.
• Communication. You are responsible for keeping up with your oakland.edu email account and regularly checking the class Moodle site for updates to the News Forum.
• Collaboration. When working collaboratively, your group is responsible for sharing the most current versions of your work with all members.
• Late work. Late work is not accepted.
• Email queries. I am always happy to answer your questions by email, but I reserve the right not respond to questions whose answers are readily available from the course webpage, on the Moodle site, in assignment descriptions, etc. (See also: autodidacticism, above).
• Plagiarism. All work in this class must meet the standards of Oakland University's Academic Conduct Regulations.
• This syllabus. I reserve the right to revise this syllabus throughout the semester.

Assignments

There will be four major assignments in this class, listed below, which are due on the dates listed in the course calendar. You must complete all of these assignments to receive a passing grade. The assignments are as follows:

1. Understanding the Web
2. Web Redesign Project
3. New Media Research Project
4. Web Presence Project

Grading

I will give grades (0.0, 1.0–4.0) for all graded assignments in this class. The final grade is determined as follows:

ADA Notice

Students with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations should contact Oakland University’s Disability Support Services office for assistance:

• Phone: (248) 370-3266
• TTY: (248) 370-3268
• Fax: (248) 370-4989
• Email: doss@oakland.edu.