ENGL 6944 Fall 2013 Dr.

Lee 1

ENGL 6944: Document Design & Production

Fall 2013 CRN 46757 Tuesday 5:10 7:50PM DeBartolo Hall 207

Instructor information
If this doesn't bother you now, it will by the end of the semester. Dr. Karen Kaiser Lee Office: DeBartolo Hall 236 Office hours, Fall 2013: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11 noon; Tuesday 3-5PM; and by appointment email: kklee@ysu.edu (dont use Blackboards message system as I will not receive your message) Office phone: 330-941-1633

Textbooks & supplies

Required texts Graphic Design Theory: Readings from the Field by Helen Armstrong; Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Design Elements: A Graphic Style Manual by Timothy Samara; Rockport Publishers, 2007. Layout Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Using Grids by Beth Tondreau; Rockport Publishers, 2011. Optional students who are less familiar with Adobe InDesign may wish to purchase an instructional text on the program, though there are many free written and video tutorials available online. Supplies Portable digital storage device (a USB flash drive and/or reliable online storage such as Dropbox or Google Drive) I cant stress enough how important it will be for you to make copies of your work this semester. Lost files or other computer problems will not excuse you from missing due dates, so please be careful to make regular copies and back-ups of your work. Folder, blank book and/or digital storage to collect and store design inspirations.

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Course description

Catalog description of ENGL 6944: Application of computer software and hardware to design and produce professional and technical documents. 3 s.h. This semester in ENGL 6944: This course will begin as a typical graduate seminar focused on theories of design and visual rhetoric. Then it will transition to a studio course with a variety of document design challenges and projects. Course work will include more traditional assignments such as leading a class discussion, reader responses, and a rhetorical analysis of a visual artifact, as well as weekly in-class design challenges and more involved document design and redesign work.

Assignments, projects, course work

Rhetorical analysis of visual artifact an academic essay. Worth 25 points. Leading class discussion each student will lead a class discussion of assigned readings. Worth 15 points. In-class design projects, homework, other course work consists of the following: reader responses one for each week there is an assigned reading. These are intended to help you do close readings and to encourage participation in class discussion.

collection of design inspirations assemble examples of good (or maybe bad) design. Bring them to class each week and be ready to share what youve found. in-class design projects youll be given a design prompt or challenge to complete during class, then well look at everyones work and discuss it. homework the occasional take-home project to complete during the week.

These will be graded pass/fail. You can miss or do poorly on one reader response; to earn full credit on the remaining work in this category, you must complete the majority of each. If you attend class and participate, you should be fine. The actual content / product of these items will be evaluated in your portfolio (see below). Worth 10 points. Document design / redesign find a real-world client who needs a document designed or redesigned. Worth 25 points. End-of-semester portfolio Youll select from your reader responses and course work and present them together with final drafts of your rhetorical analysis and

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document design / redesign project. Along with this youll write a reflection on your work in the course. Worth 25 points.

Grading

There are a total of 100 points available for the projects and course work, as noted above. Grading scale is 100 90: A 89 80: B 79 70: C 69 60: D 59 and under: F Assignment descriptions will discuss evaluation criteria.

A note about design software instruction and this class

The course will not include detailed tutorials on how to use programs like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; while some basic instruction and guidance on the use of such design software will be provided, students will be expected to put in time outside of class to learn the detailed workings of these programs. In-class weekly activities and projects will be helpful in this regard.

Attendance

Since this is a graduate-level course that meets only once a week, regular, punctual, and positively engaged attendance is quite important. If you have job or other commitments that will force you to miss more than two of our class sessions, you might want to reconsider your enrollment in 6944 this semester. Missing more than two classes will cause your final grade to be lowered by 5 points per additional absence. Missing more than four classes will likely result in a final grade of F.

Late work

This is a course designed to prepare you for the workplace, where deadlines are crucial, therefore late work is not acceptable. If you are going to be absent on a project due date, please make arrangements to turn your work in early. If a serious and unavoidable problem arises, contact me either via email or in person prior to the deadline to determine whether or not an extension for the work may be granted. Otherwise, late work will be penalized 10% per day late.

Class participation

Because it is very distracting to you (obviously), your fellow class members, and me, please refrain from texting, Facebooking, IMing, reading the paper, and the like during class meetings and in-class work sessions. This is a graduate class so I dont anticipate

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any problems in this regard, but I will say something if I see it happening. No one wants that.

Respectfulness

In this class well be sharing our design work with each other. Well talk in greater detail about critiquing the work of others in a constructive manner that takes the designers feelings into account, but in general, to create and preserve a classroom environment for optimal learning, all participants share a responsibility in creating a civil and nondisruptive forum. Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times in this classroom in a manner that does not disrupt teaching or learning. Both instructor and students should respect the rights of others seeking to learn. Differences of viewpoint or concerns should be expressed in terms which are supportive of the learning process and fellow students / co-workers. The short version of this, as Bill and Ted say, is be excellent to each other.

YSU syllabus requirements

Per YSU/YSU-OEA Agreement, Article 25.3, all syllabi must include a grading policy and an attendance policy. These policies are described in this document on pages 2 3.

YSU and Instructor Policy on Incomplete grades

A grade of Incomplete (I) is ONLY for a serious situation such as a major illness or a death in the immediate family; they are not for students who fall behind on their work. Please note that YSUs guidelines for are: 1) the problem is beyond the students control, 2) Student is earning a passing grade at the point an incomplete is requested 3) students have completed a substantial portion of the course, 4), the instructor agrees to grant an incomplete. YSU policy states that students have at maximum one semester to complete an Incomplete; instructors are permitted to require that the work be completed in a shorter amount of time.

Center for Student Progress & The YSU Writing Center

The Marion G. Resch Center for Student Progress is a resource on campus established to help students successfully complete their university experience. Please phone (330) 941-3538 or visit the Center for assistance in tutoring or for individualized assistance with social and academic success. The main Center is located in Kilcawley West below the bookstore. The goal of the YSU Writing Center is to help students become more independent, confident and successful writers. Their consultants can assist YSU students with services including: Consultations for individuals or small groups Assessment of writing strengths and weaknesses Guidance for essays and other writing projects in all disciplines Tutoring for ESL students Visit ysu.mywconline.com for more information.

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C.S.P. Disability Services

In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with the Center for Student Progress Disability Services, located at 275 Fifth Avenue, and provide a letter of accommodation to verify your eligibility. You can reach CSP Disability Services at 330941-1372. CSP Disability Services is located at 275 Fifth Ave.