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Course Description

An intermediate course in the rhetorical, ethical, stylistic, and technical principles of web design. Applies the rhetorical principles and research methods learned in the prerequisite courses to the effective production of web documents. Satisfies the university general education requirement for a writing intensive course in general education. Prerequisite: completion of the university writing foundation requirement. 4 credits.

University Learning Outcomes

Effective Communication

Effective communicators analyze rhetorical situations, adapt their discourse to diverse genres and media, treat their sources and source material ethically, and meet the expectations of a variety of discourse communities in the academy and beyond. You will learn how to:

• Convey ideas, arguments, or analyses clearly and cogently in oral, written, or visual form and
• Apply effective communication skills as appropriate to your context and intended audiences.

Course Goals and Expectations

Although WRT 3072 will extensively cover the digital tools required for web design work, it is fundamentally not a technology class. Rather, this class will focus on developing your ability to combine a broad range of visual, textual, technological, and informational literacies to develop rhetorically effective websites. In addition to practicing good web design, this will also require producing self-conscious, critical reflection on your own work.

As with all university-level classes, I expect you to approach WRT 3072 with a spirit of autodidacticism: an understanding that you are the one primarily responsible for the education you get out of this class. You will be expected to spend considerable time outside of the classroom reading, reflecting, studying major concepts, and working independently with the technology.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Develop their ability to combine a broad range of visual, textual, technological, and informational literacies to develop rhetorically effective web documents.
• Apply rhetorical theory to the composition of web documents for a variety of professional and personal contexts.
• Understand how page/interface design, organization, and language choices impact the communicative effectiveness of web documents.
• Compose web documents that are accessible and embody the best practices of user-centered design.
• Identify the ethical and social responsibilities of the web designer as rhetor.
• Be able to use a variety of digital and communication technologies.

Textbooks

• Robbins, Jennifer Niederst. Learning Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Web Graphics. Sebastpool, CA: O'Reilly, 2012. ISBN: 9781449319274. Errata.
• Barr, Chris, et al. The Yahoo! Style Guide: The Ultimate Sourcebook for Writing, Editing, and Creating Content for the Digital World. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2010. ISBN: 9780312569846. Errata.
• Williams, Robin. The Non-Designer's Design and Type Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice. San Fransisco: Peach Pit, 2008. ISBN: 9780321534057.
• Other readings and resources will be provided as necessary.

Course Policies

• Absences. For absences not covered by the university excused absences policy, you may be absent from up to three class sessions without penalty. For each absence beyond three, your final grade will be lowered by 1/10 of a letter grade. Twelve or more absences is grounds for automatic failure. If you fail to sign the attendance sheet on a given day or if you fail to participate in a required online activity, it will count as an absence. If you have been absent from a class, please do not ask me what you missed; consult the online course calendar or your classmates instead.
• Technology. Technology excuses are generally not viable in this class. You are responsible for practicing sound data management, thoroughly testing your work before and after submission, and taking all other reasonable precautions for putting up with technology.
• Communication. You are responsible for keeping up with your oakland.edu email account and regularly checking the class Moodle site for updates to the News forum.
• Public use of your work. The grades you earn in WRT 3072 are confidential. However, the texts you produce in this class may be shared with your classmates as a part of our regular peer review process. You should always assume that the work you compose in this class is public, not private.
• Preferred names and pronouns. If you do not identify with the name that is listed with the registrar or prefer a certain pronoun, please notify me.
• Email queries. I am always happy to answer your questions by email, but I reserve the right not respond to questions whose answers are readily available from the course webpage, on the Moodle site, in assignment descriptions, etc.
• Public use of your work. The grades you earn in WRT 3020 are confidential. However, the texts you produce in this class may be shared with your classmates as a part of our regular peer review process. You should always assume that the work you compose in this class is public, not private.

• The writing center. The Oakland University writing center is open to OU students, faculty, and staff in all disciplines. The center offers consultants to help you develop your drafts during any stage of the writing process. Appointments may be scheduled online.
• Add/drop policy. The University add/drop policy will be explicitly followed. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the University deadline dates for dropping the course.
• Plagiarism. All work in this class must meet the standards of Oakland University's Academic Conduct Regulations. Cheating on examinations, plagiarism, falsifying reports/records, and unauthorized collaboration, access, or modifying of computer programs are considered serious breaches of academic conduct. The Oakland University policy on academic conduct will be strictly followed with no exceptions.

Assignments

There will be five major assignments in this class:

1. “Up and Running” Assignment
2. CSS Layout Assignment
3. Client Site Redesign Project
4. Client Documentation Project
5. Web Presence Project

Grading

I will give letter grades (A–F) for all major graded assignments in this class. Your final grade is determined as follows:

ADA Notice

Students with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations should contact Oakland University’s Disability Support Services office for assistance:

• Phone: (248) 370-3266
• TTY: (248) 370-3268
• Fax: (248) 370-4989
• Email: doss@oakland.edu.