ATEC 3320 Introduction to Writing & Editing for the World Wide Web Fall 2011 Course Syllabus

ATEC 3320.00110:0011:15am in JO 4.502 ATEC 3320.00211:30am12:45pm in JO 4.502 ATEC 3320.0031:002:15pm in JO 4.502 ATEC 3320.0042:303:45pm in JO 4.502

Professor Information Carie S. Lambert, MA, ABD Office: JO 3.548 Office phone: 972.883.2790 Office hours: Friday, 9amnoon; Virtual office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9amnoon Email: carie.lambert@utdallas.edu Skype: CSLambs (by appointment) Website: http://www.utdallas.edu/~carie.lambert Twitter: CSLambs Class Wiki: TBD Course Prerequisites RHET 1302 Proficiency in English grammar and basic writing skills Knowledge of how to effectively use technology Course Description ATEC students are required to gain competency in four areas: Art and design, Computer programming, Business/marketing, and Writing and communication. (www.utdallas.edu/ah/atec/about/atec-brochure-031008print-version2.pdf) This class provides ATEC students with the opportunity to improve their writing and communication skills and focuses on writing for the Internet. ATEC 3320 (3 semester hours) is an introduction to web-content writing and editing and the theory and practice of writing online, interactive, multimedia text. This course is a reading- and writing-intensive course in which students must complete both individual and collaborative projects to learn to produce well-written, accurate, well-organized, easy-to-find, and audienceappropriate content. Students focus to improve their writing and editing skills so they can apply those skills in creating effective Web content.

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Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes To succeed in this class, students will Evaluate and apply the rhetorical situation to create appropriate content; Research, analyze, and interpret complex topics; Improve writing and editing skills as applied to hypertext; Understand the characteristics and nature of hypertext; Apply basic theory for design, communication, and rhetorical strategies to help students effectively communicate online messages; and Collaborate in multidisciplinary teams. Required Textbooks and Materials (In addition to reading the texts, you will complete outside reading through the semester according to the class calendar. You can access those resources through UTDs online library resources.) Required Texts Barr, C., & Senior Editors of Yahoo! (2010). The Yahoo! style guide. New York, NY: St. Martins Griffin. Redish, J. G. (2007). Letting go of the words: Writing Web content that works. Atlanta, GA: Elsevier Science. Porter, A. J. (2010). Wiki: Grow your own for fun and profit. Fort Collins, CO: XML Press. Recommended Texts American Psychological Association (APA) Style Guide, 6th ed. Dictionary (Merriam Webster) A grammar guide Grammar Girls Blog and Podcasts Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) Other Resources Internet access UTD user ID and password and access to UTD email Access to digital recorder, camera, and video camera USB thumb drive Blog space (WordPress, Blogger, etc.) If necessary, time at the GEMS Writing Center to work with a writing tutor (The tutors will not proofread documents but will work individually with you to improve your writing. The services are free to UTD students, and you can find more information at http://www.utdallas.edu/GEMS/writing/index.html)

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Assignment Values Assignment Style and Mechanics Exam Collaborative Wiki Project Proposal for Blog Topic Style Guide Blog Posts (15 total) Web Page Analysis Participation in Class Total Value for Grade 100 pts 200 pts 50 pts 50 pts 400 pts 100 pts 100 pts 1000 pts

Grading Criteria Grades will not be rounded up. Course assignments together are worth 1000 points, and students will receive grades according to the following scale: 9301000 = A 900929 = A 870899 = B+ 830869 = B 800829 = B 770799 = C+ 730769 = C 700729 = C 670699 = D+ 630669 = D 600629 = D 0599 = F Grades in this class reflect whether you Fulfill objectives for the class and particular assignments; Support your ideas and arguments with analysis and evidence from credible sources, focusing on a thesis or main idea; Create accessible sites and materials (i.e., links are active and correct); Format usable sites with appropriate design (which we will briefly discuss but will not cover in depth); Analyze and apply the rhetorical situation for each document or presentation; Use correct mechanics, strong style, and appropriate organization; Edit and proofread all work before you submit assignments; Ethically present information in assignment documents and correctly cite resources; and Present yourself professionally.

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A reflects that the students work shows excellence and meets all objectives with strength, originality, and creativity. B reflects that the students work is satisfactorily but does not reflect excellence. This work is strong but contains minor issues that detract from your message. C reflects that the students work fulfills course requirements but does not satisfy the audiences needs and contains issues that decrease the effectiveness of the document. D reflects that the students work contains numerous issues and therefore does not fulfill the audiences needs or address the rhetorical situation. F reflects that the students work is unacceptable. Course & Instructor Policies In addition to all UTD policies that students must know and follow (available at http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies), the following policies apply. Preparation for Class The UTD Office of Undergraduate Education FAQs (www.utdallas.edu/dept/ugraddean/faqb.html) states that Students are expected to study 23 hours per week outside of class for every class credit hour in which they are enrolled. Therefore, you should plan to study 69 hours a week for this class. The writing process takes time, and you must integrate that time into your work and school schedule. Make-up and Late Work In this class, you are scholars as well as professionals in training. Professionals who miss deadlines present poor work ethics and damage their reputations as well as lose contracts, increase costs, delay results, decrease profits, and lose their jobs. For these reasons, you may not submit late or incomplete work or makeup exams unless you are hospitalized and provide a valid physician excuse. Without exception, missed work results in a zero (0) on the assignment. Extra Credit Extra credit is not an option. Do not ask if you can earn extra credit. Instead, strive for excellence in the assigned work. References, Copyright, and Plagiarism UTD has a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism, and I support and enforce that policy in my classes. If you do not cite your sources, you will visit the Office of Judicial Affairs for investigation. Use your Yahoo Style Guide for all references and documents. Attendance If you attend class or meetings but conduct nonrelated work, you will be considered absent. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for class, you will be considered absent. You may miss up to two classes without penalty; after two absences, you lose 10 points of your grade for each absence. Students with more than 5 absences fail the class. Treat this class as you would a job: Attend class and be punctual. (Note: If you have a job other than being a student, you may not use that job as an excuse to skip class.) UTD does excuse absences for religious holidays; however, the student is responsible to inform the instructor before the holiday and to submit missed work before the absence.

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Classroom Citizenship Each student receives a grade for participation. You should prepare for class, and during class, you should cooperate, listen, and respect others opinions. Turn off your cell phones and other electronic equipment during class, and use your laptop for class work or you will lose professionalism points and receive an absence (see Attendance). If your cell phone rings during class, I reserve the right to answer it. Email Each student has a UTDallas.edu email account. The university provides this for all official communication, and students in this class will abide by that policy: to ensure security of your and my communication. Therefore, all official email correspondence must go to and come from official UTD emails. Please note that I strive to answer emails within 24 hours Monday through Thursday and within 48 hours on the weekends. Communication outside the Classroom I recommend that my students communicate with me; however, I consider communication as part of coursework and therefore expect you to Identify yourself in all communication (e.g., email, texting, phone calls); Use correct mechanics and style in all correspondence; Communicate clearly and professionally; and Respect that this is my profession, but I have other commitments, as do you. Please do not expect an immediate response to an email (see Email above) and do not call me between 8pm and 8am. This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the professor.

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ATEC 3320 Introduction to Writing & Editing for the World Wide Web Fall 2011 Course Syllabus Contract

I have read the Fall 2011 Syllabus for ATEC3320 and the university policies (http://coursebook.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies). I understand that I am expected to abide by university policies, attend class, and submit quality, unique work by all deadlines to fulfill requirements for this class. ________________________________________________ Signature ________________________________________________ Printed Name ________________________________________________ Student ID Number ________________________________________________ Mobile Telephone Number ________________ Date