Advanced Composition is a ”workshop intended to develop a flexible use of traditional and modern forms of discourse: critical, research, and stylistic skills” (UC Course Catalogue). In this class you will work on a single research project for the duration of the semester. To facilitate your extended research project, the course itself will function as a writing and research-intensive workshop. You will be required to meet specific deadlines in order to produce an approximately 5000-word research paper by the end of the semester. You will also share your writing and research with the class through a wide variety of genres, media, and technologies. These will include:
Blog/YouTube writing reflections and research updates
An Xtranormal.com writing proposal
Plasq Comic Life homework assignments
A final Prezi presentation
A Sophie 2.0 exercise
In addition to operating as a research and writing workshop, the class will also function as a seminar on some of the most exciting issues in contemporary composition studies. As your own course work in this class will soon demonstrate, composition in the era of the digital is becoming increasingly multimodal. But what is the significance of multimodal composing? To find out more we will read contemporary scholarship in composition and literacy studies while also discovering answers in our own writing and research experiences.
Learning Goals
To achieve reflective awareness of your own writing process, particularly through the creating reflective videos and writing
To experience writing as an extended, iterative process over the course of ten weeks
To gain enhanced facility with multiple media and genres, we will focus on issues of style and delivery
To develop a greater awareness of audience especially as it changes when we compose in more public digital spaces
To increase familiarity key issues in composition and literacy studies through our readings
Required course materials
1) Regular computer and Internet access: the ability to play audio and video, as well as download and install Windows and/or OS X programs.
2) Your UC network login and e-mail address.
Course requirements
The major project: 50%
The topic for the major project is up to you. You will have until the fourth class to decide on a research topic. Ideally, the topic will be of some utility for your own work and/or life. I will also provide some optional research trajectories and topics. At the end of the semester you will hand in a 5,000-word research project. However, the final format and medium is up to you. We will talk more about what this means in class.
Homework assignments: 30%
You are required to complete homework assignments throughout the semester. These include remix assignments (Comic Life, Prezi, Xtranormal), as well as reading responses.
Class Presentations: 10%
You will present the status of your research to the class. These presentations will be brief, between three and five minutes each. Before each round of presentations I will hand out evaluation criteria. If you are unprepared to share your work with the class on a given day, you will receive a zero for the day’s presentation. At the end of the semester I will average your presentations into a single grade. [how many will they do?]
YouTube v-log or writing blog in which you will keep a research journal: 20%
You will keep either a weekly video/audio journal or a blog of your research progress. Posts may address anything related to your research. You are required to produce a total of ten entries for the duration of the semester (2 points each). This number does not include any assigned homework entries/reading responses.
Course Policies
Attendance
You are permitted two unexcused absences. If you are absent three times you will automatically lose two points off your final grade, as well as an additional two points for each additional unexcused absence. Seven or more unexcused absences will automatically result in a failing grade. {I faily mine after 6 in a semester long course, you may want to reduce this number}
Tardiness
Excessive and/or disruptive tardiness will be treated as absences at the discretion of the instructor. Do not test this policy.
Late work
You are permitted to turn in one assignment late. Any additional late work will be penalized at the discretion of the instructor.
Early Withdrawal
Withdrawal forms will be signed only up to the end of the fifth week of the quarter.
Conferences and Office Hours
I’d like to meet with every student at least twice. This is an expectation and not a grading requirement. It’s your responsibility to meet regularly with me and discuss your research. I am available during my regular office hours and by appointment.
Academic Integrity Policy
The University Rules, including the Student Code of Conduct, and other documented policies of the department, college, and university related to academic integrity will be enforced. Any violation of these regulations, including acts of plagiarism or cheating, will be dealt with on an individual basis according to the severity of the misconduct.
Special Needs Policy
If you have any special needs related to your participation in this course, including identified visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical impairment, communication disorder, and/or specific learning disability that may influence your performance in this course, you should meet with the instructor to arrange for reasonable provisions to ensure an equitable opportunity to meet all the requirements of this course. At the discretion of the instructor, some accommodations may require prior approval by Disability Services.