Syllabus

Course Information

Course: ENG 3080 - Spring 2007
Time & Place: MW 11:00 - 12:20 AM, CAS 305 and 306
Professor: Dr. Charles Nelson
Office: CAS 226
Office hours: MW 12:30-2:00 & TTh 6:30-7:40 PM, and by appointment
Tel: (908) 737-0393

Course Description & Objectives

What is this place called cyberspace? And what does it mean to "write" in (for) cyberspace? This course explores how digital technologies are redefining what we mean by "writing." You will read about the new genres, composing practices, and rhetorics associated with electronic (rather than print) environments, and you will create texts within and for a range of digitial spaces.

Textbooks & Materials

For this class you will need:
Vitanza, Victor J. CyberReader: Abridged Edition. New York: Longman, 2005.

Additional Required Materials

Class Activities

Writing and reading assignments, class discussions, compositional coaching, written commentary, conferences, email correspondence, peer collaboration and review, interactive and other software, audio-visual presentations, lectures, web-site visits and RSS feeds, tutorials, blogging, publishing, library and internet research, internet chat-room discussions, and competitions.

Expect to spend 10 hours or more per week outside of class to complete all assignments.

Course Projects

There will be four projects, each of which will account for 25% of the semester grade:

  1. Personal Blog
  2. Personal web site
  3. Original entry published on Wikipedia
  4. Reflective analysis

Grading

Grading will be based upon the course's four projects with the grade for each project consisting of a weighted average of components, such as (but not limited to) critiques, rough versions, and final versions.

Attendance, Punctuality, & Class Participation

Punctuality, attendance, and participation are important elements of being professional and of learning, especially as much of this class has a workshop nature. Attendance will be taken. For each unexcused absence after 2, the semester grade will be lowered by 5 points. Excused absences are reserved for unexpected emergencies only. Three tardies count as one absence.

While in the computer classroom, computers must be used only for class-related activities, and cell phones must be turned off.

Homework is due before class begins. Class time cannot be used for doing homework unless given permission.

Late Work

Assignments

Assignments must be turned in on time. Late assignments will not be accepted. If class is cancelled or you cannot attend class when an assignment is due, post it online on your blog or wiki, and email me that you have done so. If it's posted on your wiki, give me the link to the page, and if on your blog, the title of the post. There is no makeup of in-class work. If you cannot turn an assignment in on time, let me know. If we can make an arrangement more than 24 hours ahead of the due time, and if you make the new assignment time, you'll receive full credit for the assignment. Otherwise, it will be considered late and not accepted.

Schedule

The Schedule is an overview of what we will be doing this semester: what we will do in class, what we will have read for class, what is due for class, and when we will do, read, and hand in these tasks. The Schedule is subject to change throughout the semester. All changes will be announced in class or on the class blog unless the change is made 2 or more weeks before it becomes effective. You are expected to review the schedule on a weekly basis.

Email Requirements

Checking email daily is required.

When emailing me, be sure to put your name at the bottom of your message. Sometimes students use an email address I'm not familiar with, and I can't tell who is emailing me.

In the Subject line, always begin it with ENG 3080 and follow it with the subject of your message. For example, when emailing me your observations, write the following: ENG 3080 - observations - Feb 22. (Not all assignments need the date, but observations do.)

Scholastic Honesty

Honesty

Copying from a book, sources on the internet, or other material without giving credit to the author, copying other students' work, doing other students' assignments for them, or pretending in any way that someone else's work is yours is a serious unethical act. It will result in failure in the assignment and possible failure in the course. Extensive or repeated academic dishonesty can result in dismissal from the university. For complete guidelines on academic honesty, see the Kean University Policy on Academic Honesty on page 13 of The Guide (pdf). If you wish, you can use turnitin.com to check for the originality of your work.

Questions & Complaints

Bring any questions you have about grades or policies to me. With respect to grades, you must keep at least two copies of everything you do, the original and a backup.

Students with Disabilities

If you have a disability, let me know, so I can help arrange for appropriate assistance.

Spring 2007 Semester Schedule

site info
Design by Andreas Viklund.
Electronic human being photo by Kathy Mackey, Los Angeles, California, known as auntie k on her photo website http://flickr.com/photos/auntikhaki/
Academic integrity photo by J. Nathan Mathias with the help of Hannah Scott.