Assignments
The assignments for the class include the following four products/activities. Dues dates are listed on the class schedule. Additional details for each assignment will be provided.
Assignments must be turned in by the deadline to receive credit. Note that due dates can change; vital instructions on assignments will be given in class. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed if you are absent. Missing instructions for an exercise does not exempt you from having to meet the same standards as everyone else.
Points will be deducted for sloppy work, writing errors, broken links, and failure to follow instructions. If you have a question about an assignment, please ask questions before it is due.
A personal online portfolio (50 points)
You will start the portfolio the first week of class and add to it all semester. The first draft is worth 20 points; the final version is worth 30 points.
Course exercises (Seven assignments, 15 points each, for a total of 105 points)
You will be asked to demonstrate your mastery of various tools and techniques learned in class by applying them in various ways to your portfolio and projects.
Project (200 points)
You will propose, develop, and produce a Web site about a public issue that includes both accurate and timely information as well as interactivity with an identified community. These projects can by done by individuals or teams. They must be started by the fourth week of the semester and be regularly updated throughout the rest of the semester. Four progress reports about your project are due before the final presentation of your work on May 5. The proposal is worth 20 points; each progress report is worth 10 points; the final product is worth 140 points.
Final reflective paper (45 points)
A three-page paper describing your project, its outcome and your reflection about the experience is due during the finals period on May 7.
Grades
Grades are assigned based on a percentage of points earned. The total class is worth 400 points. Each assignment will be graded based on published criteria and the points earned on each assignment added up for a final grade. Grades will be allocated on the following scale, using a plus and minus system:A 93-100%
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
Course Policies
Professional work habits
Students who arrive early and stay until the work is completed, who attend all formal and informal class meetings and/or do additional work to contribute to team projects, who share their knowledge and celebrate the success of others, who are organized and meet deadlines without fail and who take responsibility for their own performance exhibit excellent work habits.
These qualities are appreciated, rewarded and will lead to much success in this class and in your future.
Attendance
You are expected on time at all class sessions. Missing more than two class sessions during the semester will reduce your grade. If you have to miss, please notify me before class if at all possible.
Professionalism
Students in this course are working for a professional online publication available to anyone with an Internet connection. You are expected to act in a professional and polite manner to other students working on the publication, to your sources, and to others you come in contact with during your work. The quality and professionalism of your work reflects directly on you and on the journalism school.
Academic dishonesty
I take this seriously. Any cheating, copying, plagiarism or other academic dishonesty in the work done for this class will result in an F in your final grade.
Cheating, plagiarism or otherwise obtaining grades under false pretenses constitutes academic dishonesty according to the code of the university. You signed a form regarding academic dishonesty when you were admitted as a major to the journalism school. If you have any questions whatsoever about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please ask. Turning in material that has been copied from another source without proper attribution, fabricating quotes or sources, or taking images or graphics and presenting them as your own, will result in failing the class.
No matter how pressed for time, how inadequate you feel in your technical skills, how worthless you may think an assignment is, it is not worth the risk of failing the class and jeopardizing your college career.
Disability
Any student with a disability needing academic accommodations is requested to speak with me or contact the Disability Resource Center (Thompson Building, Suite 101), as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations.