Fall 2013

ENGL 106

First-Year Composition Learning Community ::

DIGITAL RHETORICS

COURSE & INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Instructor: Emily Legg
Course: ENGL 10600.R24 (CRN 57343)
Office: HEAV 301A
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11:30-12:30 and by appointment
Email: legge@purdue.edu or emilymlegg@gmail.com (email is the best way to contact me)
Course Websites: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/in/pu_mycomplab/

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

2:30-3:20
HEAV 107
Lecture

2:30-3:20
HEAV 223
Conference

2:30-3:20
BRNG B274
Lecture

2:30-3:20
HEAV 107
Lecture

2:30-3:20
HEAV 223
Conferences

COURSE DESCRIPTION & LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Welcome to English 106: First Year Composition. While this class will help you build on your knowledge
of the writing process, I hope you will find that it will also push you into new directions in composition
across a wide array of media. English 106 is designed to provide you with opportunities to write in ways
where you discover not only more about the social and cultural contexts that surrounds you, but also
view writing as a means to discover more about yourself as an individual. You should leave this class
with the confidence to create, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts integrating both verbal and visual
components.
English 106 stresses the rhetorical nature of all situations, your ability to identify and work in a variety of
rhetorical situations, the ways in with the audience constantly shapes the writers work, and the ways in
which rhetoric involves thought, the spoken work, the written work, design, and performance.
In this First-Year Composition course, you will study the academic importance of digital spaces and
technology through composition and design. More than passively consuming technology, you will be
given the opportunity to produce digital artifacts in various projects. Through examining symbols,
pictures, and other signs related to usability, you will begin to understand the complicated interactions
between print and digitality. In addition to working on your own projects such as a video essay, dynamic
posters, e-portfolio, data visualization and other media-based projects, you will also be introduced to
various technologies and software that will help in the design and composition process. Overall, you will
gain a deeper understanding of how we compose both in print as well as in digital spaces.
In addition to being a member of this class, you are all also members of the CGT learning community.
As part of this course, we will have regular extra-curricular activities that will complement this course
work in academically engaging ways, as well as encourage community building. While some of these
activities may be more academic in nature (e.g, a guest lecture or a tour of a campus resource), some will
be completely social in nature (e.g., a game night with the College of Technology or dinner out at a local
restaurant). Pat Connolly, your learning community instructor through the College of Technology, and I
Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

have worked together to create cohesive courses that will build off of each other through the semester,
and along the way, we will all just have a bit of fun in doing so. Im looking forward to a great semester
with each one of you!

REQUIRED TEXTS
You will have two required texts for this class in addition to several .pdfs, which I will be providing during
class. Please purchase these books as soon as possible as we will begin using them immediately.
University Bookstore is the only place you will find the correct texts. When purchasing, be sure that you
obtain the correct edition. Sometimes it is helpful to bring along your syllabus so that the retailer may
double check the author, edition, ISBN, etc.
Composing Yourself 2013-1014, Samantha Blackmon, et al, ISBN: 9781598717457 (only at
University Bookstore)
Writing Today Second Edition (with MyCompLab), Richard Johnson-Sheehan, ISBN: 1256975842
(available for purchase here: http://www.pearsoncustom.com/in/pu_mycomplab/)
Please Note: You have two options to purchase the text. I would encourage your to purchase the
digital copy of the textbook. Its both cheaper and comes with MyCompLab automatically. I will
provide you with a link to purchase the digital copy that has been provided to us at a reduced
priced. If you prefer a physical copy, Writing Today 2/e has been specifically packaged for this class
and includes an access code to various e-texts and tools we will be using in class. If you purchase
the book new from University Bookstore, you should have the access code as part of the package
that has been added at no cost to you. However, if you purchase the book used or through an
online retailer, such as amazon.com, you will need to also purchase the access code, which costs
more (roughly $40 more).

ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is strongly encouraged in this class. Not only will you benefit from attending class,
but you and your classmates will also benefit from regular class discussion and participation that will go
beyond the textbook readings. Attendance will be taken each class period. At the beginning of class, I
will pass around an attendance sheet that you will sign. I will allow up to five absences during this
semester. For each absence after the allowed five, I will drop your final grade one complete letter
grade. Excessive absences will lead to a failing grade in the course. Exceptions may be made for
prolonged illnesses or extenuating circumstances; however, these will need to be properly documented
before they will be considered excused.
If you know you will be absent, please send me an email so that I can let you know what you missed in
class.

TARDINESS
Please respectfully observe the start of each class period. You will be considered tardy if you arrive after
the attendance sheet has been passed around the room and returned to me. If this happens, please
make sure and tell me after class so that I will not mark you absent for the day. While I will allow a few

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

tardies, please do not make it a habit. If it becomes a problem, I will speak to you and each subsequent
late arrival will be considered an absence after that point.

CONFERENCES
A portion of English 106 will focus on individual conferences over various writing concerns that may arise
as the semester progresses. Each of you has enrolled in a section that meets on either Tuesday or
Thursday of each week. During the semester, you are responsible for attending a minimum of 8
conferences either in group conferences or individual. You will either be assigned to attend conferences
on certain dates, or I will have a sign-up sheet for you to sign up for a conference. This will typically
happen during weeks you are not assigned to a conference. Please note that you will be responsible to
sign up for a conference at least a week in advance. Since we will be focusing on specific writing issues
as well as the assignments, please think ahead and do not wait until last minute. As part of the
conferences, you are expected to fill out a pre- and post- conference worksheet found in the appendix
of Composing Yourself. Please be aware that for each conference that you have signed up for and miss
you will be counted absent. Any conferences under the eight that you do not attend by the end of the
semester will also count as an absence. Successfully participating in eight conferences in necessary for
passing the course. Please make note of this policy as it will be strictly enforced.

GRIEF ABSENCE POLICY FOR STUDENTS

Please refer to Composing Yourself, chapter 7, for the Grief Absence policy.

ASSIGNMENTS
Following is a breakdown of how each assignment will be weighted in this course. These percentages
are based on the final grade in the course for a total of 100%.
Class Participation
Peer Review
Analysis Sequence: Review & Rhetorical Analysis
Argument Sequence: Memoir & Infographic
Research Sequence: Digital Archive
Portfolio

10%
5%
25%
25%
25%
10%

Each assignment will be letter graded on a scale from A to F. Attached to the syllabus is a calendar that
outlines readings for each week as well as deadlines for assignments; this is also posted to the course
website. While we will adhere to this calendar as closely as possible, various circumstances may arise
where we will need to adjust the calendar accordingly. In addition to the listed readings, there may also
be times that I assign additional short readings based on class discussion for that week.

GRADING
Breakdown of points:
90-100 (A- to A)You did what the assignment asked at a high quality level, and your work
shows originality and creativity. Work in this range shows all the qualities listed above for a B;

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

but it also demonstrates that you took extra steps to be original or creative in developing
content, solving a problem, or developing a verbal or visual style.
80-89 (B- to B+)You did what the assignment asked of you at a high quality level. Work in this
range needs little revision, is complete in content, is organized well, and shows special attention
to style and visual design.
70-79 (C- to C+)You did what the assignment asked of you. Work in this range tends to need
some revision, but it is complete in content and the organization is logical. The style, verbal and
visual, is straightforward but unremarkable.
60-69 (D)You did what the assignment asked at a low level of quality. Work in this range tends
to need significant revision. The content is often incomplete and the organization is hard to
discern. Verbal and visual style is often non-existent or chaotic.
Below 60 (F)Dont go here. I usually reserve the F for people who dont show up or dont do
the work. If you give an assignment an honest try, I doubt you would receive an F. If you feel you
put in your best effort and still received an F, you might consider dropping from the class.
*Note on grammar and spelling: English 106 is not a grammar course. By this time in your academic
career, you should have a fairly strong grasp on the mechanics of writing. Grammar and spelling
mistakes will be counted against your grade. A portion of the writing process is revision, so please do
not overlook this. If you find that you are having problems with grammar, please feel free to ask me for
help and I can provide additional materials or direct you to a good writing manual, or we can address
these concerns during conferences.

LATE PROJECTS
Please be respectful and take notice of all project due dates. Late projects will not be tolerated. A
project is considered late when it is not turned in to the class website at the beginning of the class
period when it is due. If for any reason you are unable to turn in your project at this time, your grade will
be docked one complete letter grade for each day it is late. This includes weekend days.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND PLAGIARISM

We take your academic integrity seriously, and so should you. As a writer and student at Purdue, you are
cautioned against
submitting someone else's work as your own, even if you have paid for it or obtained the
author's permission
using, without acknowledgment, word for word phrases, sentences, or paragraphs from the
printed or electronic manuscript material of others
using the materials of another after making only slight changes
using a rewritten form of someone else's materials.
These guidelines apply to the work of fellow students as well as the published work of professional
writers, information found on the Internet, and electronic compositions such as Web sites and
PowerPoint presentations. Penalties for plagiarism are serious and are clearly stated on the Office of the
Dean of Students Web Site (http://www.purdue.edu/odos/aboutodos/academicintegrity.php).
If you knowingly plagiarize or commit academic dishonesty, I will either give you a zero for the
assignment or fail you for the course depending on the severity. We will cover plagiarism as well as
Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

other acts of academic dishonesty in class so that you will clearly understand what constitutes plagiarism
and academic dishonesty.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
While in class, you should conduct yourself professionally at all times. Please be respectful of not only
myself but of your fellow classmates. Many of us will come from different backgrounds and have very
different views and ideas about various issues. Belittling, harassing, and threatening anyone in this class
is completely uncalled for and will result in dismissal from the classroom.
In class we will often be connected to the Internet in order to view examples, write responses, or work
together, but during lectures and class discussions general surfing can be distracting. Be aware that we
are going online to work in our course, so emailing, Facebooking, Tweeting, etc. can be done before or
after class, but not during. Meanwhile, cell phones, Mp3 players, PSPs, Nintendo DS3, and the like are
not acceptable for use during class time unless it becomes a specific focus of classroom discussion (I will
let you know when this is appropriate). Should you have a smart phone that connects to the Internet, feel
free to show it off, but the same standards apply for when use is acceptable. Taking calls or continuously
texting, by the way, is never acceptable.

NON-DISCRIMINATION
Purdue University prohibits discrimination against any member of the University community on the basis
of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual
orientation, disability, or status as a veteran. The University will conduct its programs, services and
activities consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and orders and in
conformance with the procedures and limitations as set forth in Executive Memorandum No. D-1, which
provides specific contractual rights and remedies.

DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities must be registered with Adaptive Programs in the Office of the Dean of
Students before classroom accommodations can be provided. If you are eligible for academic
accommodations because you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class,
please schedule an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your needs (within the first two
weeks of class).

CAMPUS EMERGENCIES
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages
are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances
beyond the instructors control. I will e-mail you about any changes in the course due to these kinds of
emergency situations.

ADDITIONAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES

In addition to this syllabus, you are expected to read and familiarize yourself with the policies and
classroom procedures outlined in Composing Yourself. We will discuss these during the first week of
course so that I may answer any questions you have about what is expected of you as a student. You
Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

are required to sign and return the policy agreement in Composing Yourself to me by the second
week of the course.

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

Fall 2013
Engl 106

CALENDAR
W EEK 1
Aug 19-24
Unit 1:
Analyzing
Writing:
Analysis
Sequence

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Introductions+&+Syllabus+Day+
Conference+Sign+Up+
+
Using+the+Course+Site+
ICaP+Goals+

Composing!Yourself!(CY)+Ch+1,+
2,+&+7+(You+will+need+to+read+
through+these+sections+and+fill+
out+the+policy+agreement+by+
Aug+26)+
Writing!Today+(WT)+Ch+1+
Bunn,+How+to+read+like+a+
writer+.pdf+(Dropbox)+

In%class*writing*assignment*

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Exploring+Reviews+
Writing*Lab*Tour*
Developing+Writing+Processes+
Inventing+Ideas+&+Prewriting+
Thinking+about+Rhetoric+
Topic,+Angle,+Purpose+

WT+Ch+6+
CY*Ch+3+
WT*Ch+14+
CY*Ch+4+
WT+Ch+2+&+3+
Turkle,+Connected,+but+
Alone?+TED+Talk+(video)+

Due:*Signed*Policy*Statement*
Assign:*Review*
+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Labor*Day*

Crafting+better+paragraphs+&+
sentences+
Revision+Strategies++
Revision+Workshop+

WT*Ch+20+
WT*Ch+18+
+

In%class:*Writing+Better+
Sentences+
Due:*Rough*Draft*of*Review*
(Bring+hard+copy+to+class)+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Exploring+Rhetorical+Analysis+
Logos,+Pathos,+Ethos+
Serious+Games+

WT+Ch+8+

Due:*Review*
Assign:*Rhetorical*Analysis*
In%class:*Play+Games+
Blog:*Response+to+Huizinga+
*

Meet*and*Greet*Learning*
Community*
Introduction+to+genre+
Reading+like+a+writer+

W EEK 2
Aug 26-30

W EEK 3
Sept 2-6
*

Blog:*Response+to+Turkle+

+
W EEK 4
Sept 9-13

More+on+Logos,+Pathos,+Ethos+

Huizinga,+Play+.pdf+
(Dropbox)+
What+is+Rhetoric?+.pdf+
(Dropbox)+

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

W EEK 5
Sept 16-20

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

Organizing+&+Drafting+
Intros+&+Conclusions+
*

Blog:+Response+to+McGonigal+
WT+Ch+15+&+19+
McGonigal,+Gaming+can+
make+a+better+world+TED+Talk+
(video)+
+
WT*Ch+17+
*

Document+Design+
Publisher+Workshop+
Peer+Review+Workshop+

W EEK 6
Sept 26-27
Unit 2:
Visual
Writing:
Argument
Sequence

W EEK 7
Sept 30Oct 4

W EEK 8
Oct 7-11

W EEK 9
Oct 14-18

ASSIGNMENTS

Due:*Rough*Draft*of*Rhetorical*
Analysis*
(Bring+hard+copy+to+class)+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Exploring+Memoirs+

WT+Ch+4+

Using+Photoshop+

Due:*Rhetorical*Analysis*
Assign:*Narrative*
+

Visual+Rhetoric:+CRAP+

Reading:*TBA*

Blog:*TBA+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Analyzing+Narrative+
*
Descriptive+Language+
Setting+a+Scene+
Infographics+

Persepolis+excerpt+.pdf+
(Dropbox)+
WT+Ch+21+

Blog:*Response+to+Persepolis+

Assign:*+Writing*Visually+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Fall*Break*

Finding+&+Evaluating+Sources+

WT*Ch+25+

Due:*Narrative+

What+it+means+to+research+
Joining+an+ethical+research+
community,+or+how+not+to+
plagiarize+

WT*Ch+24+
CY+Ch+5+

In%class:*Defining+Plagiarism+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Using+the+Library+

http://guides.lib.purdue.edu/
content.php?pid=258728++
WT*Ch+27+
Born+Digital+.pdf+(Dropbox)+
WT*Ch+26+

In%class:+Library+Worksheet+

MLA+Day++
*
Quoting,+Citing,+Paraphrasing+

In%class:*A+Scary+Story+

Blog:+Response+to+Born+Digital+
+

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Constructing+Arguments+
*
Work+Day/Catch+up+

Babes+in+the+Woods+.pdf+
(Dropbox)+
+

Blog:*Response+to+Babes+in+the+
Woods+
+

Collaborative+Writing+

WT+Ch+23+

Due:*Writing*Visually*

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

W EEK 11
Oct 28Nov 1

Digital+Archives+as+Argument+
*

Unit 3:
Archiving
Writing:
Research
Sequence

Explore Digital Archives

Understanding Provenance &
Contextualizing in Archives+

Baron,+From+Pencils+to+Pixels:+ Assign:+Digital+Archive+
Blog:*Response+to+Baron+
The+Stages+of+Literacy+
Technologies+.pdf+(Dropbox)
WT+Ch+13+
Readings:*TBA*
+

W EEK 10
Oct 21-25

W EEK 12
Nov 4-8

W EEK 13
Nov 11-15

W EEK 14
Nov 18-22

Library+Field+Day+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Annotated+Bibliographies+
Public+vs+Private:+What+does+it+
mean+to+write+for+the+internet+
Video+as+Composition+
Movie+Maker+Workshop+
Work+Day/Catch+up+
*

WT+Ch+29+

Due:*Qualifying+Topic!

Hockney,+Secret+Knowledge+
.pdf+or+video+

Due:+Annotated+Bib+
Blog:*Response+to+Hockney+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Website+Design+

Readings:*TBA*

Building+Websites+

Visual+Rhetoric,+Pt+2+
Understanding+Color+

Ze+Frank,+My+Web+Playroom+ Due:*Research+Prospectus+
TED+Talk+(video)+
Blog:+Response+to+Ze+Frank+

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction+to+Portfolios+

WT+Ch+30+
CY*Ch+6+
Digital!Nation+video+
Readings:*TBA*

Assign:*Portfolio+
Blog:*Response+to+Digital!Nation!

Accessibility+&+Usability+
+

Readings:*TBA*

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Remix+Culture+

Thanksgiving*Break*

Thanksgiving*Break*

Creative+Commons+

W EEK 15
Nov 25-29

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013

W EEK 16
Dec 2-6

F INALS W EEK

LECTURE TOPICS

READINGS

ASSIGNMENTS

Intro+to+Technical+Writing+

Intro+to+Technical+Writing+

In%class:*Creating+Tutorials+

Usability+Testing+

Due:*Digital+Archive+
Due:*Portfolio++

NO FINAL

PLEASE NOTE: T HE SYLLABUS CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE .

C HANGES

WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN

CLASS BEFORE THEY OCCUR .

Legg :: ENGL 10600.R24 :: Fall 2013