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ENGL 4100 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

ENGL 4100 - Writing for Internet and Electronic Media

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:
Your opinions and ideas are your worth to the world, and now is your chance to make your worth known via the Internet. In this course you will learn the basics of writing for the Internet and electronic media by choosing and developing a project--be it an organization/business that you already have and want to learn to promote or by developing a project from the ground up--that you will ultimately promote through electronic media. 
 
Throughout the course, you will build upon your knowledge of sources regarding your project, then write a proposal and construct a PowerPoint (or similar) presentation to provide background information, and, finally, develop a page/site/blog to promote your project. Along the way, we will discuss various issues and topics related to the impact of the Internet on the way we communicate with one another.
 
The course is subdivided into five modules.
 
Module I: Cover Letter/Resume or Linkedin account, where you promote yourself on the world wide wed.
 
Module II: Annotated Bibliography and Review of Literature, a research project to see what sources are available on the web and relative print sources in relation to your project, then writing an assessment of the types of sources you found. 
 
Module III: Proposal, where you make a pitch to a funding entity or interested outlet to gain funding or promote your project. 
 
Module IV: PowerPoint (or similar) presentation, which should work in tandem with your Proposal and be developed for promotion on the web. 
 
Module V: Social Media Project, in which you develop a webpage, blog, social media account, to make your project available on the Internet. 
Course Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to write efficient, effective text for a variety of digital and electronic media
  • Students will understand the process of promotion in a digital environment
  • Students will improve their ability to compose audience-based documents
  • Students will consider assignments as "real world" writing tasks
  • Students will appreciate the influence of the Internet on their ability to communicate with the world
Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

ENGL 1010 and 1020. These prerequisites ensure that the student has the proper writing experience to be successful in the class.

Course Topics:
Specific Course Requirements:

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

Web Resources:

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

No proctored exams are included in this course. You will be assessed on your writing submissions, primarily, and on your course participation.

Grading Procedures:
For each module, your instructor will post an "overview" in the Assignments section. The overview will include the elements determining your grade for that particular module. READ EACH OVERVIEW CAREFULLY. You must perform well in each area of the learning outcomes for each module, to succeed in this course. The following is a brief description of the performance rubric for the modules. 
Each module will be assessed on a five-layer scale. The point values for each assignment will be distributed among these five layers (the percent values I've given are based on a 100% scale). 
Level V. Superior: (90%-100%) This is a document that exceeds the requirements for the assignment. The document meets professional requirements: worthwhile content; sensible organization; readable style; and appropriate design, visuals, and mechanics. 
Level IV. Acceptable: (80%-89%) A document that satisfies most of the requirements for level V, above, or one that satisfies all these requirements but contains a reasonable number of mechanical errors that can be corrected easily. 
Level III. Marginal: (70%-79%) A document that satisfies some of the requirements for level V work, or one that satisfies all the requirements but contains numerous errors that will require extensive correction. 
Level II. Possible/Provisional: (60%-69%) A document that is barely acceptable, but that contains material your instructor feel could be developed–with a lot of work–into a higher level document. 
Level I. Unacceptable: (Less than 60%) A document that needs extensive revision to meet all the requirements of acceptable work, or that has the type or amount of mechanical, rhetorical, or design errors that would distract readers. 
Grading Scale:
90-100---A
80-89---B
70-79---C
60-69---D
Below 60-F
 
Module I: 100 points
Module II: 100 points
Module III: 100 points
Module IV: 100 points
Module V: 100 points
Assignments and Projects:

Due Dates: Refer to your overview for each module for the dates that discussion area postings and other work are due. The modules must be submitted by the deadlines listed in your course calendar (refer to the course calendar for these important dates).  You will also find information regarding due dates on the course calendar found on the course home page.  

Class Participation:

You must participate in all interactive aspects of the course. For example, you must communicate with other students in the discussion area, and you are expected to provide feedback to your classmates in a timely manner. You are expected to communicate with the instructor as a learning resource, and you must check the course home page and calendar frequently. Above all, you must actively participate in discussion events.

Late Policy:

Late submissions are not acceptable. Please check your calendar frequently for due dates (and times) -- and meet those deadlines. 

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on July 12, 2021