Writing, Research & Technology

Spring 2013

Instructor: Laura Mangini E-Mail: reynoldsl@rowan.edu Office: 213 Hawthorn Hall Office Hours: T/Th from 12:00-1:30 in Hawthorn Hall 213 AND T/Th: 3:15-4:30 (second level, common area in James Hall) (and by appointment)

manginiwrt.weebly.com
Overview:
From course catalog

Office Hours
My office hours provide an opportunity for you to meet one on one with me. You may drop in during these times or make an appointment with me to talk about any questions or comments you have about your progress in the course.

This course presents the rhetorical, social, and practical dimensions of writing and researching in networked contexts. Students focus both on the roles an individual creates and maintains when writing for different cybermedia formats and the kinds of conventions that exist in systems like the World Wide Web, listservs, e-mail, and hypertext. A web-based research project in a concentrated area of writing for a particular electronic community demonstrates students' ability to communicate on line. 3.0 Credit hours

Materials
Compose, Design, Advocate 2nd edition,
ISBN 978-0-205-69306-1 You must bring the following items to every class. There are no exceptions.

Goals:
Writing, Research, and Technology is a course that explores how writers interact, create, and are affected by computer-based technology. The Internet, the World Wide Web, electronic databases, and computers themselves have expanded our ability to access and disseminate information. They are affecting how we find information and how we communicate, and in doing so they are affecting how we construct and view our society and ourselves. This expansion of ability, however, is not without new problems, and this is why a course such as this is beneficial. In this course we will explore the practical and the theoretical. While the greater emphasis of the course will be hands-on experience with a variety of electronic mediums, as well as the production of a research-based web site, you will also engage in analysis and self reflection about the potential of this technology and when and how its power needs to be controlled. To this latter end, you will be reading the ideas of technology theorists as well as participating in critical self-reflection and analysis.

A means to store your work (flash drive, network, cloud drive, etc.) An account on http://twitter.com/ and http://twitpic.com/ (to be used for the Food Twitterive) A website through http://weebly.com/ -information for this will be provided in class

Major Course Requirements:

Online Portfolio: You will submit a final portfolio through your Weebly Web site that will include the following: 1) a reflective letter (completed at the end of the semester, 2) all major projects (group projects included), 3) your blog with approximately two assigned blog entries/week. Blog: Please post at least two entries per week to reflect and explore concepts covered in class as well as during your research, writing, reading, and use of multiple technologies. Oftentimes we will base class discussions from your responses. Specific due dates will be given; you do not HAVE to blog if a blog entry has not been assigned.

Key Dates for Spring Semester:

Semester Classes Begin: Tuesday, 1/22 Prof. Mangini out of town for conference: 3/12- 3/15 (no classes) Spring Break (no classes): 3/18-3/22 Classes Conclude Monday 5/6 Finals week: 5/7- 5/11

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Reflective Letter: Please submit a reflective piece that builds from your classroom experiences, tweets, blog entries, and major writing projects. This piece will help you think critically about your writing this semester and will provide me with a suitable lens for my evaluation of your work. Readings: Critical reading and responding to readings is a key component of this course. Therefore, it is vital that you complete all of the assigned readings so you can participate in class discussions and write meaningful responses in your essays.

Classroom Etiquette:
The following actions will not be tolerated and will be documented to affect your participation grade. Continued misbehavior as outlined below could result in removal from the classroom: Disruptive outbursts, foul or sexually explicit language, irrelevant personal comments. Chronic tardiness Leaving for unnecessarily long bathroom or smoke breaks during class/workshop time Degrading ethnic, racial, sexist, or homophobic remarks. Use of cell phones/text messaging, iPods, or other electronic devices. Taking cell phone calls/texts during class

Specific Requirements for Blogging:

Your blog entries provide the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the assigned readings and key concepts explored in the class. From time to time, I will ask you to reflect, return to previous ideas, or to respond in various creative ways in regards to the reading or discussion in class. Be certain that each blog entry is substantial. Refer to specific passages in the text or ideas discussed in class. Entries on readings that ramble about personal experiences ONLY often demonstrate that you did not read the text. Feel free to ask questions, mention passages that confused, angered, or enlightened you. Interact with readings and ideas rather than regurgitate them. Blog entries offer you the chance to work through what you are learning, so take advantage of this online space. No blog entry completed out of class should be less than 250 words. See specific blog assignments for word requirements.

Your Responsibilities:
YOU are responsible for understanding and abiding by the policies set forth in this syllabus and in the grading contract. You are expected to come to class on time, to be prepared for class, to come to conferences as scheduled, to be familiar with the course requirements explained on this syllabus, to have materials when required, and in general to conduct yourself as a responsible student, learner, and adult. Sometimes we may not discuss all the assigned reading material in the next class, but you will still be held accountable for the concepts you read about. You should become familiar with the vocabulary, and to ask questions if you are confused. Feel free to e-mail me or stop by my office with questions; I will respond as quickly as I can, but Im not online or available 24-7, so allow a reasonable amount of time for me to get back to you. That being said

Note: This course is taught in a computer classroom; however, use of computers during lecture or use of computers for activities other than those set forth in class WILL affect your grade.

Special Needs:
If you have a university-recognized disability that requires an accommodation, please make an appointment with me to discuss your needs. It is your responsibility to contact me, as I will not be aware of your needed accommodations otherwise.

Evaluation
Please view the course agreement for what is expected of you to earn an A. In addition to the course agreement, your work will be evaluated through an online portfolio page on Weebly that showcases your work. The online portfolio page must contain the following sub-pages: Main page: Linked Table of Contents Your Blog Project 1: ________________________ Project 2: ________________________ Project 3: ________________________

Late work:
I expect assignments to be turned in on the day they are due (blog and online assignments should be posted before class startsnot during class). You may turn in late assignments for partial credit ONLY if you make arrangements with me prior to the due date (i.e. late blog entries will not be acknowledged unless arrangements are made ahead of time). For each class day a major assignment is late, one letter grade will be deducted. If you are too ill to attend class, have someone bring your paper to

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Reflective Narrative

I CHOOSE TO EVALUATE YOUR WRITING USING A HOLISTIC METHOD. Holistic scoring goes beyond mechanical correctness to focus on the overall effect of the writing. It measures the effectiveness of the communication. Readers are not to focus on any one aspect of the writing but to look at the entire essay. There will not be a final examination for this course.

class for you or contact me BEFORE the due date; late papers due to illness will only be accepted for full credit accompanied by a doctors excuse. I will only accept e-mailed papers if you have contacted me in advance.

Formatting Procedures:
Since most of your work will be completed online, you have freedom with formatting to a certain extent. Please make sure all fonts used are readable and free of distracting, overly fancy or difficult-to-read fonts.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend every class. However, circumstances may arise that are beyond your control and result in a missed class. If you miss class, it is YOUR responsibility to find out what material you missedthis includes getting access to class notes and reading/writing assignments. You cannot pass this class if you miss more than the maximum number of permissible absences; this included unexcused AND excused absences. If you already anticipate this being an issue, please drop the course and retake it when you are able to attend class regularly. In a computer-based learning environment, being present in class and completing the hands-on activities set forth are paramount for your success in Writing, Research, & Technology. The maximum number of permissible absences for a 15-week course is as follows: Class meets: Two times per week Maximum number of permissible absences: Six (6)

Policy on the Recycling of Papers:

The Department of Writing Arts does not allow students to turn in the same writing assignment for more than one class. Students must receive express permission of their instructor to submit writing (or a substantial part of a written text) previously submitted in another class. Not doing so is considered academic dishonesty and, following the policies laid out by Rowan, may result in an F for that assignment and possibly an F for the course grade.

You will be permitted to make up missed work for excused absences only. These include: religious observances official University activities illness death of a family member or loved one severe inclement weather

Policy on Authorized & Unauthorized Assistance:

The Department of Writing Arts makes a clear distinction between authorized assistancewhen students receive extra help with an assignmentand unauthorized assistancewhen students have someone else write a paper or sections of a paper for them. A tutor or a second reader may help you develop your ideas, better organize your thoughts, and locate grammar and mechanical errors, but should not do your writing for you. All of the writing someone elses work as your own. Doing so will be considered a violation of Rowans Academic Integrity Policy and may result in an F for that assignment and possibly an F for the course grade.

For an absence to be considered excused, you must provide official or verifiable documentation. Remember that the total number of unexcused and excused absences must not exceed six (6) for this 15-week semester or you will have to withdrawal from the course. If you exceed the maximum absence limit, even for reasons that are excused, you must withdrawal from the course. Normally, you will receive a grade of WF (Withdrawal Failing) on your transcript, but the Dean of Students, in consultation with your instructor, may change this to a simple W. Is it also important that you arrive to class on time and stay until the class ends. Three (3) late arrivals or early departures will equal one (1) unexcused absence. A late arrival is considered arriving any more than five (5) minutes after the scheduled starting time of class. An early departure is considered leaving any time before your instructor ends class. If you are more than twenty (20) minutes late to class, you will be marked absent.

that you submit in class must be your own work. Do not attempt to represent

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Finally, in addition to attending class and arriving on time, it is also required that you actively participate in classroom discussions and activities. Throughout this semester, you will come to learn that skillful academic writing is actually a result of a social process that includes discussion and feedback among yourself, your peers and your instructor. It is essential to your success in this course that you are an active participant in this learning community.

Changes to Our Syllabus:

A syllabus is always a work in progress, so changes to our syllabus canand probably willoccur as the term progresses. I will always announce changes to our syllabus in class, and also via email or on the course Weebly. If you miss class, be sure to check with a classmate (or me) to see if there are any changes in assignments. I will also announce changes over email, using Blackboards email function. If you have multiple email accounts, be sure to check your Rowan account regularly.

Academic Integrity Policy:

All students at Rowan are responsible for understanding what constitutes academic dishonesty and knowing all the procedures, rights and obligations involved in the Universitys Academic Integrity Policy. The complete policy can be found at www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/infoguide/ Early in this semester we will discuss Rowans Academic Integrity Policy in depth, but until then you should basically know that academic dishonesty, in any form, will not be tolerated. Students who commit an act of academic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion from the University. Academic dishonesty includes submitting a paper with plagiarized material, fabricating research, and representing someone elses work as your own.

Staying on Track:
My absences: ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ My Tardiness: ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ Early Departures?

___________ ___________

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Copy of Course Agreement for Writing, Research, and Technology, Spring 2013 Prof. Laura Mangini
Your final grade for this course will be based on two things: your participation in class according to the contract outlined below, and the quality of the writing you include in your final portfolio. If you follow the contract for the entire semester, you will receive a B for the course. If the writing you include in your final portfolio is exceptionally strong, your final grade may be higher. Contract grading is intended to shift your focus productively: it assures you that, if you work hard and complete the contract, you will receive a grade that is above the average for this course. As such, you are guaranteed a B if you: 1. attend class regularlynot missing more than a weeks worth of classes; 2. meet due dates and writing criteria for all major assignments; 3. participate in all in-class exercises and activities; 4. complete all informal, low-stakes writing assignments on time (e.g. blogging or homework assignments); 5. give thoughtful peer feedback during class workshops and work faithfully with your group on other collaborative tasks (e.g., sharing papers, commenting on drafts, peer editing, etc.); 6. sustain effort and investment on each draft of all papers; 7. make substantive revisions when the assignment is to reviseextending or changing the thinking or organizationnot just editing or touching up; 8. copyedit all final revisions of main assignments until they conform to the conventions of edited, revised English; 9. attend all scheduled conferences with me to discuss and revise drafts (if I indicate on a draft or that I would like you to schedule an appointment to talk with me, do so within a week); 10. adhere to the Rowan University academic integrity policyavoiding plagiarism, paper recycling, or disguising anothers work as your own, etcdescribed at www.rowan.edu/studentaffairs/infoguide/; 11. maintain a functional and updated website with active blog and navigable pages and links; 12. submit a fully revised final portfolio that meets all requirements by the due date.

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If you break the contract, your contracted grade for the course will be lowered as follows: You are responsible for being aware of and following the contract stipulations. If you breach the contract, your grade will be lowered. Throughout the semester, I will help you remain aware by notifying you that you have breached the contract and how much your grade has been lowered. These lowered grades can be still be improved by an exceptionally strong portfolio; however, please dont depend on your final portfolio being exceptional enough to make up for excessive breaches of contractbecause this occurrence is unlikely to happen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------By signing below, I indicate that I have read and understood the course policies and contract requirements. I agree to abide by these policies and requirements. Student Name: ___________________________________________ Student Signature: ___________________________________________

Instructor Signature: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________________________________

- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Works Cited

Danielewicz, Jane, & Elbow, Peter. A Unilateral Grading Contract to Improve Learning and Teaching. College Composition and Communication 61 (December 2009): 244-268.

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