WRA 210 Introduction to Web Authoring Tuesday and Thursday: 12:40-2:30 P.M.

. Ernst Bessey Hall 317 Michigan State University Spring 2012

Instructor: Office: Phone: Email: Office Hours: Course Goals:
We will approach Web authoring from a variety of perspectives. We will look historically at patterns and trends that have shaped the Internet and the web and how these patterns and trends characterize the web today. We will look rhetorically at a variety of web sites to better understand effective-and not-so-effective-web design and to identify trends in digital design and information architecture. Well learn to apply rhetorical principles as both heuristic and method for the design of websites. Well explore design as a key element of web authoring. We will then apply these principles and practices by designing our own web spaces. Most importantly, we will reflect upon the choices we make as we select among available technologies and approaches to perform web-authoring tasks. By the end of the course, you should be able to: make sound and informed rhetorical, technical, and design-related choices apply sophisticated strategies for web writing and digital content development critique, update, and troubleshoot web sites you have created continue to develop your skills in designing and creating web sites

Dr. Christie L. Daniels 251 Bessey Hall 355-2400 (messages only) cdaniels@msu.edu Wednesday 1:00 5:00 P.M. Additionally by appointment.

Required Text:
Stolley, Karl. How to Design and Write Web Pages Today. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2011.

Technological Requirements:
For this course you will need, at a minimum: A disk, USB drive, or CD with you during every class to save your work; Back up all work on disk and your individual webspace A working email address at all times that can send and receive attachments. Reliable and preferably high-speed internet access.

Policies and Procedures:

Attendance: Attendance at all class sessions is expected. You may miss one week of class (i.e. two classes) without affecting your grade. You should reserve these absences to address the observance of religious holidays not acknowledged by the University calendar, family events, serious illness,

etc. If you miss more than one week of class, your final grade for the course, at my discretion, may be lowered .3 for each additional individual absence. Coming to class late (more than 5 minutes after we begin) 3 times will equal one absence. Sleeping in class or engaging in activities not related to class will also be counted as absences. Late Assignments: Late assignments will be lowered one full letter grade for each day past the due date (the first reduction occurs at the start of the class in which the assignment is due). Major Assignments: There are three major grades in this course: the set of 10 course modules, the personal portfolio, and the final project. The schedule at the end of this syllabus outlines the progression of and due dates for these major assignments. Grade distribution occurs as follows: Course Modules (10): Personal Portfolio: Final Project: Classwork and Participation Grading Scale: 90% - 100% 85% - 89.9% 80% - 84.9% 75% - 79.9% 70% - 74.9% 65% - 69.9% 60% - 64.9% 59.9% and below Academic Honesty
Michigan State University has adopted the following statement about academic policy: GENERAL STUDENT REGULATIONS 1.00 PROTECTION OF SCHOLARSHIP AND GRADES The principles of truth and honesty are fundamental to the educational process and the academic integrity of the University; therefore, no student shall: 1.01 claim or submit the academic work of another as ones own. 1.02 procure, provide, accept or use any materials containing questions or answers to any examination or assignment without proper authorization. 1.03 complete or attempt to complete any assignment or examination for another individual without proper authorization. 1.04 allow any examination or assignment to be completed for oneself, in part or in total, by another without proper authorization.

40% 20% 30% 10%

= 4.0 = 3.5 = 3.0 = 2.5 = 2.0 = 1.5 = 1.0 = 0.0

1.05 alter, tamper with, appropriate, destroy or otherwise interfere with the research, resources, or other academic work of another person. 1.06 fabricate or falsify data or results.

Procedures for responding to cases of academic honesty and possible repercussions are outlined in Spartan Life: Student Handbook and Resource Guide. They can also be found on the web at: http://www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/honestylinks.html. Note: the new procedures require that instances of academic dishonesty be reported through the registrars office and forwarded to the Dean of the College in which the students major resides.

University Resources for Writers:

The Writing Center, the Library, The Learning Resource Center, and the English Language Center all offer support services for First-Year Writing students. You should consult these centers web sites for information about their specific resources.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884RCPD or on the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you will be issued a verified individual services accommodation ("RISA") form. Please present this form to me at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.

Course Schedule Week

1

Date
Tues 1/10 Thurs 1/12 Tues 1/17 Thurs 1/19 Tues 1/24 Thurs 1/26 Tues 1/31 Thurs 2/2 Tues 2/7 Thurs 2/9 Tues 2/14 Thurs 2/16 Tues 2/21 Thurs 2/23 Tues 2/28 Thurs 3/1 Tues 3/6 Thurs 3/8

Assignments/Activities
Introduction to Course and Module 1 Introduction to Course cont. How the Web Works, Introduce Module 2 Reading assignment due: Ch. 1-2 How the Web Works cont. Reading assignment due: Ch. 3 Module 1 due at midnight. Basic XHTML; Introduce Module 3 Reading assignment due: Ch. 4 Basic XHTML cont. Reading assignment due: Ch. 9 Module 2 due at midnight Introduction to CSS; Introduce Module 4 Reading assignment due: Ch. 5 Introduction to CSS cont. Reading assignment due: Ch. 10 Module 3 due at midnight Working with Graphics; Introduce Module 5 Reading assignment due: Ch. 11 Working with Graphics cont., Reading assignment due: Ch. 12 Module 4 due at midnight. More work with graphics; Introduce Module 6; Introduce Personal Portfolio Assignment Reading assignment due: Ch. 6 More work with graphics cont. Reading assignment due: Ch. 14 Module 5 due at midnight Finishing work with graphics; Introduce Module 7 Reading assignment due: Ch. 7 Finishing work with graphics cont., Reading assignment due: Ch. 18 Module 6 due at midnight. Working with Dreamweaver; Introduce Module 8 Reading assignment due: Ch. 8 Working with Dreamweaver cont., Reading assignment due: Ch. 15 Module 7 due at midnight. SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

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Tues 3/13 Thurs 3/15 Tues 3/20 Thurs 3/22 Tues 3/27 Thurs 3/29 Tues 4/3 Thurs 4/5 Tues 4/10 Thurs 4/12 Tues 4/17 Thurs 4/19 Tues 4/24 Tues 4/26 FINALS

Advanced CSS; Introduce Module 9 Reading assignment due: Ch. 16 Advanced CSS cont. Reading assignment due: Ch. 17 Module 8 due at midnight. Personal portfolio project due at midnight. Advanced topics; Introduce Module 10; Introduce Final Project Reading assignment due: Ch. 13 Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch. 19 Module 9 at midnight Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch. 20 Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch. 21 Module 10 due at midnight Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch. 22 Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch.23 Advanced topics and/or work on final project Reading assignment due: Ch.24 Advanced topics and/or work on final project Advanced topics and/or work on final project Advanced topics and/or work on final project Advanced topics and/or work on final project Advanced topics and/or work on final project Final Project due at the day and time of the final exam period for this course as determined by the University Registrars Official Final Exam Schedule. This classs final exam is: Wednesday, May 2 from 12:45 2:45 P.M.
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