Writing and Digital Media – English 3844 @ Virginia Tech

by Traci on 2016-04-06

Revising Best Practices Citations

This is the post for the Wednesday, April 6, 2016 class meeting.

Extra Credit Activities

Participate in the #SeeVT contest, adding the hashtag #Engl3844s16 to your post. See details from last class. Here are the #SeeVT examples so far.
Take a Sober Selfie during Alcohol Awareness Month. You can win gift cards. If you win, I’ll give you two excused absences, or negotiate an alternative if you have perfect attendance. Add #Engl3844s16.

Reviewing the Best Practices Assignment

We’ll create an answer to the assignment as a class, using the following resources:

The Instructions (Revised)

List all of the ways you can use the resource, any restrictions, and any related advice, using the examples from class to get started.
Make citations and explanations for each resource your group examines using the Best Practices for Attribution sections 1.1 to 1.5 as your model.
Email the word processor documents to me, or share Google Docs with me. Send just one copy and include the names of the people you worked with.
I will collect all of the examples of how to cite the sources in one document that you use in Project 4.
Your group will present the details on your sources on Friday.

The Resources to Evaluate

Homework

For Friday, do the following before class:

Review the information on “Designing Your Citations” in Writer/Designer, on pp. 70-75. You will design citations for a variety of project genres on Friday.

Last updated on 6th April, 2016, 9:11 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: bibliography, citations, creative commons, documentation, works cited

by Traci on 2016-04-04

Asset Use and Documentation

This is the post for the Monday, April 4, 2016 class meeting. Snape with the caption, No Documentation? 10 Points from Gryffindor

#SeeVT: Pic – Post – Win

Prove that you are a smart user of digital media. Participate in the #SeeVT contest, adding the hashtag #Engl3844s16 to your post. We will bring up the photos in class. If you win a prize, you win two excused absences. If you have perfect attendance, we will negotiate an alternative.

NOTE: You will have to give me your Instagram name if you win. Don’t worry; however, I won’t follow you or stroll through your old messages.

Finding Assets

Intellectual property rights for your assets (the things you use to make a project) fall into three categories, all of which require documentation:

Protected by Copyright—You will have to prove Fair Use or get permission. Use the Copyright Genie.
In the Public Domain—You can use these freely, without seeking additional permission.
Protected by Creative Commons—You need to follow the license. See p. 68 of Writer/Designer.

Use the Where can I find graphics that I can use in my projects? FAQ for links to public domain and creative commons assets.

Documenting Your Asset Sources

The point of documentation is to give credit to the author/maker and to show your audience where to find the original version.

No matter what kind of assets, you need to cite your sources. Here’s a little flowchart that tells you everything you need to know:

Yes, that is a little reductive, but generally, if you didn’t make it, you need to say who did. Use the flowchart on the blog post Can I Use that Picture? The Terms, Laws, and Ethics for Using Copyrighted Images, by Curtis Newbold, to decide what you need to cite and whether the use of the resource falls under fair use.

Here are some other important tips:

Google is not a source. It’s a search engine. Citing Google is like citing the library for a book.
"Linking to it" isn’t documentation. You can link to it as part of your documentation, but you need more than just a link.
Use these Best Practices for Attribution to guide the information you include in your citations.

What Can You Use? How Would You Cite It?

We will brainstorm a list of ways to use resources to get started.
As a group, decide if you can use the resources you have been assigned in a project and make a table in your word processor that indicates all of the ways you could use it, any restrictions, and any related advice.
Create example citations for each resource your group examines using the Best Practices for Attribution sections 1.1 to 1.5 as your model.
You can work in your word processor.
Email your document(s) to me. Send just one copy and include the names of the people you worked with.
I will share the Best Practices pages with the class so that you will have examples of how to cite the sources you use in Project 4.
Your group will present the details on your sources on Wednesday.

The Resources to Evaluate

Homework

For Wednesday, do the following before class:

Review your work from today so that you are ready to present what your findings.

Last updated on 4th April, 2016, 2:14 PM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: attribution, citation, credits, documentation

by Traci on 2016-04-01

Submission of 4 Modes Project

This is the post for the Friday, April 1, 2016 class meeting.

Project Submission

You (and your group) will use the class session to finalize and submit your project. Submission instructions are included in the post from Wednesday, March 30.

Class will not meet in the classroom (as I am on a research trip to NOVA).

If you need more time to work on your project, use the Grace Period, which ends at 11:59 PM on Friday, 4/8. If you turn in your work, I assume it is ready to be graded. Remember that there are no rewrites or revisions after work is graded.

Work Schedule

M, 4/4

We’ll talk about documentation and permissions for graphics, sound clips, video clips, and even words. Read all of the following:

Chapter 4 of Writer/Designer
Best Practices for Attribution from Creative Commons
Copyright Fair Use and How it Works for Online Images, from Social Media Examiner

Last updated on 30th March, 2016, 9:47 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: P3b, submission

by Traci on 2016-03-30

Project 3b Peer Review

This is the post for the Wednesday, March 30, 2016 class meeting.

Peer Review Process

We will complete an informal peer review activity today, following these instructions:

Review the Rubric for 4 Modes of Virginia Tech as a class and answer any questions.
Arrange the class into partner pairs or groups.
Use the Rubric for 4 Modes of Virginia Tech to work through your partner’s work.
Provide advice and support verbally. You will not turn in any written work.
Do any remaining revisions on your project once you have exchanged feedback.

Project Submission on Friday

Class will work online. There will be no class meeting in Shanks and no office hours.

Finish up work on your portfolio, and submit by 11:59 on Friday, 4/1:

Go to the 4 Modes of Virginia Tech quiz in Canvas. While we are using the Quiz tool, your work is still a major project in the course.
Work through the questions to ensure you include all of the required elements on the Rubric. If you are in a group, each group member needs to answer the questions.
Submit it when you are done.

Work Schedule

M, 4/4

We’ll talk about documentation and permissions for graphics, sound clips, video clips, and even words. Read all of the following:

Chapter 4 of Writer/Designer
Best Practices for Attribution from Creative Commons
Copyright Fair Use and How it Works for Online Images, from Social Media Examiner

Last updated on 30th March, 2016, 11:29 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes

by Traci on 2016-03-28

In-Class Work Day

This is the post for the Monday, March 28, 2016 class meeting.

More Work Time

You (and your group) will use today’s class session to continue work on your project. Remember the requirements for the activity:

Use at least 4 modes.
Well-designed (Uses design to make the project visually appealing and easy to read).
Take a risk. Try something new.

Documentation

Remember to include documentation for any images, photos, audio clips, videos, or text that you did not make yourself. You can include the citation as a caption or in end credits. Use whatever method makes sense for the tools you used to create your project. See the information in Writer/Designer (p. 70) for additional help.

Finished?

If you are done (or close to done), I’d like you to identify at least 3 things you could do to improve the project. Rank them, and then implement as many of the changes as you can.

Work Schedule

W, 3/30	Prepare to have a complete draft on Wednesday, when we will do informal peer reviews. We’ll go over the submission instructions.
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Class will not meet (I’ll be in NOVA). In lieu of class, you will finalize your work and turn it in. The grace period will end at 11:59 PM on Friday, April 8.

Last updated on 28th March, 2016, 12:18 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes

by Traci on 2016-03-25

Independent Work Day

This is the post for the Friday, March 25, 2016 class meeting.

Time to Work!

You (and your group) will use the class session to research, gather materials (assets), and generally work on your project.

Class will not meet (I will be presenting in a TLOS workshop, Jumpstart on Digital Storytelling), but you will need to complete the Selfie Quiz to show me that you were working for about 50 minutes.

Be prepared to work in the classroom on Monday.

Work Schedule

M, 3/28, and W, 3/30	You (and your group) will work on your project in class. During these two days, I will ask each of you (or your group) to report to me on what you are doing and how it’s going.
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Depending upon the progress on the project, it will either be due this day, OR this will be another day for you (and your group) to work independently on the project. Class will not meet (I’ll be in NOVA), but you will have work to complete.

Last updated on 25th March, 2016, 1:38 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes

by Traci on 2016-03-23

Pitch Please!

This is the post for the Wednesday, March 23, 2016 class meeting.

Pitch Plan

Today, you will pitch your project. There are no makeups for missed presentations. There are two goals:

Share what you are doing with the class
Give me the details about your project so I know you’re on the right track

The notes for what you need to include in your pitch will be on the screen, so you don’t have to worry about leaving anything out. You can pull them up on your computer screen as well if you want.

While you are pitching, I will be using a Canvas grading tool on my phone to give you credit for sharing the details. I may have follow-up questions or comments. So yes, it will look like I am fiddling with my phone, but I’m not playing Clash Royale. I promise.

If I think anything needs to be tweaked, I will email you. I won’t call you (or your group) out in front of the class. That’s just mean.

Quiz for Friday

Remember that class will not meet in the classroom on Friday. You will have the class session to work independently or with your group. Be sure to complete the Selfie Quiz.

Work Schedule

F, 3/25	You (and your group) will use the class session to research, gather materials (assets), and generally work on your project. Class will not meet (I will be presenting in a TLOS workshop, Jumpstart on Digital Storytelling), but you will need to complete the Selfie Quiz to show me that you were working for about 50 minutes.
M, 3/28, and W, 3/30	You (and your group) will work on your project in class. During these two days, I will ask each of you (or your group) to report to me on what you are doing and how it’s going.
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Depending upon the progress on the project, it will either be due this day, OR this will be another day for you (and your group) to work independently on the project. Class will not meet (I’ll be in NOVA), but you will have work to complete.

Last updated on 23rd March, 2016, 12:50 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: P3b, pitches

by Traci on 2016-03-21

Prepping for Project 3b Pitches

This is the post for the Monday, March 21, 2016 class meeting.

The New Project 3b

If you missed class on Friday, read back over the post from the session and check with a classmate to learn about the new requirements for the project formerly known as the Archive Project.

Prepare Your Pitch

You will pitch your project to the class on Wednesday, March 23. As Writer/Designer defines it, “A pitch is a short presentation that explains how the what and the how of your idea might come together in the final project. . . . Pitches are sometimes called elevator speeches, drawing on the idea of a writer who is on an elevator with a publisher and has only four floors to convince the publisher to accept his or her book proposal” (55).

You will have about 90 seconds to tell the class about your project. See the Work Schedule below for the details on what you need to cover and where to find help in the textbook.

Quiz for Friday

Remember that class will not meet in the classroom on Friday. You will have the class session to work independently or with your group. Take a look at the Selfie Quiz, and let me know if you have any questions today.

Work Schedule

M, 3/21	You will work in class to decide on your topic and how you are going to present it. The textbook has details on the tasks listed below, and the slideshow also has the basic definitions. You need to determine the following (W/D = Writer/Designer): What you will focus on The rhetorical situation for your project (W/D, pp. 22–27) The four modes of communication you will include (W/D, pp. 3–13) How you will take advantage of any affordances and work around any constraints (W/D, pp. 14–18) How your design choices will support your rhetorical situation (W/D, pp. 31–39) Prepare a pitch for your project that covers all the details above (W/D, pp. 51–56, note the questions on p. 56)
W, 3/23	You will give a pitch in class. You will have about 90 seconds each.
F, 3/25	You (and your group) will use the class session to research, gather materials (assets), and generally work on your project. Class will not meet (I will be presenting in a TLOS workshop, Jumpstart on Digital Storytelling), but you will need to complete the Selfie Quiz to show me that you were working for about 50 minutes.
M, 3/28, and W, 3/30	You (and your group) will work on your project in class. During these two days, I will ask each of you (or your group) to report to me on what you are doing and how it’s going.
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Depending upon the progress on the project, it will either be due this day, OR this will be another day for you (and your group) to work independently on the project. Class will not meet (I’ll be in NOVA), but you will have work to complete.

Last updated on 20th March, 2016, 7:22 PM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: P3b, pitch

by Traci on 2016-03-18

Changing the Archive Project

This is the post for the Friday, March 18, 2016 class meeting.

The Best Laid Plans

Fun group work
Extending the kinds of digital projects
Create a resource as a class

Work Schedule

F, 3/18	End of Portfolio Grace Period at 11:59 PM
F, 3/18, and M, 3/21	You will work in class to decide on your topic and how you are going to present it. The textbook has details on the tasks listed below, and the slideshow also has the basic definitions. You need to determine the following: What you will focus on The rhetorical situation for your project (W/D, pp. 22–27) The four modes of communication you will include (W/D, pp. 3–13) How you will take advantage of any affordances and work around any constraints (W/D, pp. 14–18) How your design choices will support your rhetorical situation (W/D, pp. 31–39) Prepare a pitch for your project that covers all the details above (W/D, pp. 51–56, note the questions on p. 56)
W, 3/23	You will give a pitch in class. You will have about 90 seconds each.
F, 3/25	You (and your group) will use the class session to research, gather materials (assets), and generally work on your project. Class will not meet (I will be presenting in a TLOS workshop, Jumpstart on Digital Storytelling), but you will need to turn in notes on what you accomplished.
M, 3/28, and W, 3/30	You (and your group) will work on your project in class. During these two days, I will ask each of you (or your group) to report to me on what you are doing and how it’s going.
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Depending upon the progress on the project, it will either be due this day, OR this will be another day for you (and your group) to work independently on the project. Class will not meet (I’ll be in NOVA), but you will have work to complete.

Last updated on 18th March, 2016, 10:11 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes

by Traci on 2016-03-16

Archive Project Research

This is the post for the Wednesday, March 16, 2016 class meeting.

Choosing Your Archive Item

Please take care of this activity while I am taking attendance.

If you were in class last time:
You should already have an item chosen. I noticed that some people are signed up for multiple items however. Go to the Class Planning Doc and remove your name from all the items you are NOT doing. You can do only one.

If you were NOT in class last time:
You need to go to the Class Planning Doc and choose the place, thing, or event that you will contribute to our VT archive. You can take any item on the list that is not claimed, and you can add new items. Only one person (or group) can do each item, and groups have to be comprised of people in the same section.

What Is An Archive?

Let’s ask Wikipedia. Skim through the entry on Archive and look for definitions and key characteristics. You can also use Google search to find some example archives.

As you find relevant information, add them to the class document. Do not copy and paste however. Put the ideas into your own words

If you’re taking the Editing class this term (or you already have), here’s your chance to show off. Use your skills to add some useful design and unity to the document.

Note that the link to each class document will be removed immediately after class. All the links will be restored in the afternoon.

Preparing for a Multimodal Dig

Think about the five modes of communication. What artifacts can you gather to ensure you cover all five modes?
Consider the affordances and constraints of different kinds of artifacts. Remember the slideshow has the definitions.
Create a Dig List. Decide on the things you want to collect. Think through the modes, affordances and constraints for each one.
If you are working with a group, create shared location for your work and make sure everyone in your group has access. Also be sure that you have shared contact information and agreed upon when and how to contact one another.

Homework & Schedule Details

F, 3/18	Before class, read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer, and be ready to apply the ideas of rhetorical situation and design choices to your archive project. End of Portfolio Grace Period at 11:59 PM
M, 3/21	Something exciting I’m sure
W, 3/23	Which means I don’t know yet
F, 3/25	You (and your group) are free to use the class session to research and gather your artifacts. Class will not meet, but you will need to turn in notes on what you accomplished.
M, 3/28	Something exciting I’m sure
W, 3/30	Which means I don’t know yet
F, 4/1	April Fools Day! Class will not meet (No foolin, I’ll be in NOVA), but you will have work to complete.

Last updated on 17th March, 2016, 1:04 AM

Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: archive

June 2017
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Extra Credit Activities

Reviewing the Best Practices Assignment

The Instructions (Revised)

The Resources to Evaluate

Homework

#SeeVT: Pic – Post – Win

Finding Assets

Documenting Your Asset Sources

What Can You Use? How Would You Cite It?

The Resources to Evaluate

Homework

Project Submission

Work Schedule

Peer Review Process

Project Submission on Friday

Work Schedule

More Work Time

Documentation

Finished?

Work Schedule

Time to Work!

Work Schedule

Pitch Plan

Quiz for Friday

Work Schedule

The New Project 3b

Prepare Your Pitch

Quiz for Friday

Work Schedule

The Best Laid Plans

Suggested Solutions

Topic

Form

Tools

Audiences

Requirements

Work Schedule

Choosing Your Archive Item

What Is An Archive?

Preparing for a Multimodal Dig

Homework & Schedule Details

Archival Site

This is an archived website that connects to my teaching portfolio. The site is not maintained, beyond updating the site software. If you have any questions, email me.

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