Home |
Writing for New Media David Hudson Purpose: This course will examine,
from practical and theoretical perspectives, some of the new directions that
professional writing has taken in recent years. Evolving technologies and
cultural changes have spawned media like the web and desktop publishing, as well
as altered the appearance and purpose of more traditional forms like the
newsletter and the résumé. Graphics, document design, and publishing itself
have been decentralized and democratized, not always with the most desirable
results! All of this presents new opportunities and new challenges to writers
of this century. We'll try to take stock of what has been happening, and
speculate on where things are going, while keeping a firm grip on things that
do not change. Required materials: Elizabeth Castro, HTML,
XHTML & CSS, 6th ed.
Major Assignments: I. Newsletter.
As a member of a production team you will research, design, write, and publish
a prototype newsletter for an organization. Detailed examination and definition
of audience and purpose will be required. You will submit a written proposal to
your communications director or client (me) in letter or memo form. After
completion, you will present the newsletter to the class who will act as a
review committee to approve or disapprove full production. II. Web
page. Taking full advantage of the possibilities and limitations of
hypertext, you will create a website. Like the newsletter, the site will
address an organizational "problem" or "opportunity," and
will have a well-designed purpose and audience which goes well beyond mere
"self-expression." The emphasis will be on the user rather than the
author. III. Teaching
presentation. One of the core skills of this century will be to
self-learn new skills, procedures, etc. and teach them to others. Our often
passive education styles have not prepared us well for this. During this course
we will be introduced to some complex materials (design concepts, page layout
and HTML software, etc.) which involve too many aspects for us to achieve full
proficiency. Working in a group, you will design a mini-workshop that will
teach us a useful technical skill. Teaching sessions will be approximately 30
minutes in length and will involve all group members. Choose something you know
well, or, better yet, teach yourselves something that you need, or would like,
to know about, and then teach us. Examples would be graphic scanning and
importing techniques, simple java scripts, use of color in design, etc. (See
previous teaching
presentation schedule for more ideas. We will schedule these during the
latter part of the course. You will have to give me written notice of your
topic and desired presentation date ahead of time. Short assignments: We'll be doing writing exercises in and out of class on a
regular basis. I will also assign readings from time to time for discussion.
You'll be expected to keep up with both. No makeups for late or missed
assignments. Short exercises are as
follows; details will be explained in class. ˇ
ˇ
Website
comparison ˇ
HTML
exercise Participation: A healthy slice of the
grade will be awarded for participation in class discussions, peer conference
groups, and general industriousness. You get points for involvement and lose
them for repeated absences and lateness. Note for four-week session: It is particularly
important that you attend every day, since each class is equivalent to a week
in the regular session. I start
you at 10 out of 15, add points for constructive participation and deduct
points for absence (2) or lateness (1). Grade breakdown:
Winter 2009 Tentative Class Schedule |