Syllabus - Fall 2015
Welcome to ENGL 41900! This class provides you with an understanding of theory and design as it relates to creating websites. You will be given an opportunity to learn various tools concentrating on different aspects of the technology: text, graphics, etc. Specifically, you will be able to:
- Apply basic design principles for creating websites.
- Apply principles of audience/task analysis in the context of developing various Web-based projects.
- Apply evaluation criteria in the context of assessing websites.
- Use Web design software tools to create and publish websites.
Course Format
Course stresses primarily a "hands on" approach where you are strongly encouraged to put what you read about into practice.
Text and Materials
Required textbook: There are no required textbooks for this course. We will have several important readings in our online course
Other required materials: A USB Flash drive on which to save your work is very handy. These devices may be found at the Campus Bookstore for less than $20; technology and office supply stores around the region also have such items for sale at reasonable prices.
Most Microsoft and Adobe programs can be purchased at significant discounts through Purdue's software website at http://purdue.onthehub.com. In some cases, some of these titles can also be purchased at the campus bookstore as well. Microsoft Office 365 can be obtained for FREE through the university - find out more on this at http://faculty.pnc.edu/atrekles. Explore these options to get the best deals on software for all of your classes!
Other software that you may be interested in exploring during this course, such as Articulate Engage, may also be acquired through trial downloads as well, and some are also offered at different labs at the university campus.
Blackboard Learn
This course contains a SIGNIFICANT online component. While your instructors are here to help you do the best you can, it is ultimately up to you to take responsibility and initiative to completed your Web-based work. In order to be successful in this course, it is essential that you are comfortable with navigating and using the general tools within a course in Blackboard (email, discussion post, submitting an assignment, etc.). If you are new to using Blackboard Learn or need additional support, it is very important that you proceed through the “Student Help” tab from the main menu in this course. In addition, you can always access the PNC student website for support with Blackboard, Microsoft Office, and general distance education success tips at: http://www.pnc.edu/distance/student-support
Note that this course requires access to the Internet, access to Microsoft Office (or a reasonable equivalent such as Google Docs), and may also require access to other software or hardware depending on your projects as they develop in this course.
If you are unable to access your Blackboard course or have other technical issues with log-in, etc., contact the PNC helpdesk at (219)785-5511.
Lab Policies
Having our class meetings always in the lab presents a few challenges. To make for a more productive class, please observe the following policies:
- During class time, the lab is reserved for work related to this course. Consequently, e-mails, instant messages, Facebook, or work unrelated to this class are never permitted.
- Lectures and discussions are reserved for presenting information. These are times for listening and talking with your colleagues; refrain from using your computer, unless instructed to do so.
Course Assignments:
Websites: You will work on two major projects (a professional portfolio and a 3rd party website) for this course. They will be evaluated by criteria discussed in class and presented in BlackBoard. You will be evaluated as completing or not completing each segment of the project, with a point value for the final version of the project. Incompletes will reduce the point value of your final project.
Grading: Grading will be determined as follows:
| Assignment | Points |
| Writing for the Web Discussion | 25 |
| HTML Introduction Assignment | 50 |
| Major Project 1: Writing for an Audience | 25 |
| Major Project 1: Portfolio Peer Review | 25 |
| Major Project 1: Final Submission | 100 |
| Major Project 2: Client Site Selection and Audience Discussion | 25 |
| Major Project 2: Accessibility and Usability | 50 |
| Major Project 2: Social Media Implementation | 50 |
| Major Project 2: Client Site Peer Review | 25 |
| Major Project 2: Final Submission | 125 |
| TOTAL POINTS | 500 |
Please note that work is generally returned with feedback and/or a grade within a week of submission. Your final grade will be reported to you before the end of the final week of class.
This class utilizes a Plus/Minus grading scale, which relates to overall GPA calculations in the following manner: A+, A 4.0; A- 3.7; B+ 3.3; B 3.0; B- 2.7; C+ 2.3; C 2.0; C- 1.7; D+ 1.3; D 1.0; D- 0.7; E,F,WF,EF,IF 0.0 P,N,I,PI,SI,W Not included in GPA calculation; WN,WU,IN,IU Not included in GPA calculation.
| Grade | Minimum Points Necessary (out of 500) |
| 98%+ - A+ | 490 |
| 97%-93% - A | 465 |
| 92%-90% - A- | 450 |
| 89%-88% - B+ | 440 |
| 87%-83% - B | 415 |
| 82% - 80% - B- | 400 |
| 79%-78% - C+ | 390 |
| 77%-73% - C | 365 |
| 72% - 70% - C- | 350 |
| 69%-68% - D+ | 340 |
| 67%-63% - D | 315 |
| 62% - 60% - D- | 300 |
| F | Below 300 |
Attendance
Attendance is a necessity to successfully completing the course. Failure to attend will affect your ability to perform well in the course. Officially, missing more than TWO required classes will result in a one-letter grade reduction. As per university guidelines, missing two consecutive required weeks of class will result in administrative withdrawal from the class. If you are having difficulties attending a class session or have special extenuating circumstances, you are advised to contact the instructor via email or by phone as soon as possible.
Note that this class is a hybrid course, and as such all learning materials necessary to complete the course are located in BlackBoard Learn. There will be several days during the semester, as indicated on the course calendar, that as designated as Work Days. "Work Days" are days where there will not be in-class discussion, and instead will be times when students can use the lab to get projects completed. Attendance on work days is OPTIONAL and will not count against you - however, you are still reponsible for completing and submitting any assigned work for that week regardless. The instructor will be available to help any student who chooses to come in during a work day (unless otherwise noted).
Late Assignments, Extensions, and Revisions
All assignments must be turned in by the due date to be considered for full credit. Late assignments will be accepted up to one week after the due date. Late assignments will be worth 50% of the original grade. Assignments turned in more than a week after the due date will NOT be accepted and a grade of "0" will be assigned. If an assignment is due during the final week of the semester, no late work will be accepted, and absolutely no late work can be accepted after the last day of class. In addition, any assignment submitted with more than THREE major spelling/grammatical mistakes will NOT be graded and will be returned to the student for editing. The re-submission of that assignment will be worth 50% of the original grade.
Special circumstances: Provisions for extensions on assignments may be given in the event of extraordinary circumstances. If a student encounters such circumstances it is up to the student to speak with the instructor BEFORE the due date, if possible. Extensions under these circumstances will be given on a case-by-case basis only, at the discretion of the instructor.
Counseling Services:
Short term confidential counseling is available to enrolled students free of charge through the Student Counseling Services office located in LSF 103. The phone number is 219-785-5230 or 1-800-872-1231 ext. 5230. Call or stop in to make an appointment Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Course Evaluations:
Students are highly encouraged to complete the online evaluation for the course at the end of the semester. These survey results provide valuable information to the professor. You may also be asked to provide feedback throughout the semester as well, in order to better serve you and future students. Please feel free to share your feelings about the course at any time.
ADA Accommodations and Tutoring Services:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please inform the instructor. For additional information, refer to: http://www.pnc.edu/sa/disability-services/
The Disability Services Coordinator, in LSF-103A, extension 5374, provides information and resources to all students with disabilities, faculty and staff, ensuring equal access to educational opportunities. The office will provide guidance regarding appropriate accommodations. Academic accommodations and other services are provided on an individual basis determined by documented need. Documentation of the disability completed by a physician or qualified health care professional must be on file in the office.
Any student may also benefit from assistance through the Student Success Center (http://www.pnc.edu/ssc/). This center provides tutoring and other services geared toward improving your academic success. You are encouraged to visit the Student Success Center at any time to investigate tutoring and other options available to you.
Emergencies
Please review http://www.pnc.edu/pd/emergency-guide/ for information about handling emergency situations on campus.
Academic Integrity:
All students should aspire to high standards of academic honesty. This class encourages cooperation and the exchange of ideas. However, students are expected to do original work, to do their own work except for group projects, and to properly reference sources when using information from others. Any instance of academic dishonesty will result in failure of the assignment in question. More than one instance will result in failure of the course. Please see http://www.pnc.edu/Policy/conduct.
English Proficiency
You WILL lose points for misspelled words and obvious grammatical errors! The Education profession requires that educators be familiar with and be able to cite research properly in APA (American Psychological Association) Style, and you will lose points if APA citations are not properly utilized within any written work requiring research. So, proofread your work thoroughly before turning it in -- even the best of us make mistakes. If you feel you need help with writing, feel free to visit the Writing Center (learn more at http://www.pnc.edu/engl/writingcenter/faq/). Having another person - even a fellow classmate or friend - read your writing is often helpful, as they may see things you have missed. Another excellent resource for writing help is the Purdue West Lafayette Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu.
PNC code of conduct statement
“Dishonesty in connection with any University activity; cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty.
The commitment of the acts of cheating, lying, stealing, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of ghost-written papers, the use of substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated.
Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in committing dishonest acts is in itself dishonest” (University Senate Document 72-18, December 15, 1972).