Section Four: Sample Syllabi

Sample Syllabus 2 for Connections:

Computers and Writing Class

 

Week One: Introductions

· Read Chapter One (including Internet Nuts and Bolts) as introduction to the book and the Internet

· Assign e-mail accounts

· Read Chapter Twelve as an introduction to e-mail logistics

 


Week Two: Researching the Net

· Read Chapters Six and Seven to stress the process of research and Web search strategies

· Project One assigned

· Research and take a stand on an Internet communications issue

· Read Chapter Five to stress critical reading


 

Week Three: Focusing the topic

· MU*, IRC, or local chat sessions for brainstorming

· Read Chapter Eleven for real-time skills

· Read transcripts of real-time sessions

· Read and discuss Chapters Two and Three as an introduction to audience and argument


 

Week Four: Joining the debate

· Read Chapter Eight as an introduction to newsgroups

· Developmental Assignment: Find a newsgroup or list appropriate for topics and characterize its membership and conventions then post a research query to the group

· Read Chapter Thirteen as an extension to newsgroup skills


 

Week Five

· Draft of Project One due

· Peer Review

· Workshop, Supplementary Internet research

Week Six: Introduction to HTML

· Revision of Project One due

· Read Chapters Fifteen and Seventeen as an introduction to HTML

· Project Two assigned: Create a Web site devoted to the issue treated in Project One

· HTML workshops


 

Week Seven

· Modified Exercise 17.1. Create and Index page and pages for various facets of the issue

· HTML workshop

· Read Appendix Three for information about copyright issues


 

Week Eight

· Draft of Project Two due

· Read Chapters Eighteen and Nineteen as an extension of HTML skills

· Workshop/ Peer Review


 

Week Nine: Issues of Communication

· Project Two due

· Extended postings to class lists/forums concerning hypertext composition and non traditional forms of writing

· Read Chapter Sixteen as an introduction to MU*s

· Project Three assigned: Critically read a MU* space


 

Week Ten: MU*s as writing spaces

· Class Meeting in MU*s to discuss and analyze spaces

· Supplemental readings concerning MU*s

· Draft of Project Three due


Week Eleven

· Workshop / Peer review

· Revisit MU* spaces and revise analyses


 

Week Twelve: Creating Digital Compositions

· Revision of Project Three due

· Read Chapters Fourteen and Twenty for information on Net communications

· Project Four assigned: In small groups, create an argumentative MU* space or Web site


 

Week Thirteen: Mapping an on-line composition

· Real-time brainstorming

· Workshop

· Supplemental readings on hypertext


 

Week Fourteen: Navigation and standardization

· Group workshop sessions

· Draft of Project Four due


 

Week Fifteen: Posting and Polishing

· Workshop / Peer review

· Final version of Project Four due for reposting