ENG 367C01: Virtual Culture

Course Policies

Description

English 367C01 is a computer-enhanced intermediate composition course designed to extend and refine your skills in writing, oral communication, critical reading and critical thinking. This course is also intended to deepen your understanding of the American experience in its cultural diversity, as we examine the different ways in which people identify themselves and are identified by others. In this section, we will approach these goals by examining the concept of "virtual culture": American culture as it exists in the virtual environment of computers and the Internet. Through readings in a variety of media, we will examine how both personal identity and social structures are transformed in these environments, and we will consider the idea of Virtual Reality as a supplement or alternative to our traditional concept of reality.

In this course, we will experience virtual culture not just as consumers but also as producers. In addition to producing traditional writing assignments, we will also write and communicate via email, the web, and on OSU's virtual campus, CowTown MOO. Throughout the quarter, we will emphasize writing as a collaborative and on-going process, so group work, peer response and revision will be recurring components of the class.

Required Texts & Materials

(All texts available at the University Bookstore, SBX, and CollegeTown.)

Required:

Victor Vitanza, CyberReader, Second Edition (Allyn & Bacon, 1999).
William Gibson, Neuromancer (Ace, 1995).

Other Materials:

One (preferably two) floppy or Zip disks for saving writing assignments. (You should backup all work frequently. Disk failure will not be considered an acceptable excuse for missing assignments).
An active OSU email account. (If you prefer to use a commercial email service, you should still activate your OSU account and arrange to have mail forwarded from it to your preferred address. See me for details.)
Regular access to a computer with word processing and Internet capabilities. (See Resources below for information on on-campus computer facilities).

Assignments & Grading

In order to pass this course, you must complete all of the following assignments:

Writing Portfolio (60%): The largest single component of your grade will be based on a portfolio of writing done during the course of the quarter and submitted on the last day of class. This portfolio must contain: final drafts of three formal writing assignments (1000-1500 words each), copies of previously submitted drafts of each assignment, and a cover letter presenting your portfolio, describing your final essays, and discussing your development as a writer over the quarter. Portfolios will be graded holistically on the basis of the quality of the final essays and evidence of development during the quarter. Drafts of individual essays will be submitted for peer evaluation and instructor feedback during the quarter according to the deadlines in the daily schedule. You may revise your drafts repeatedly up to the submission of the final portfolio. I will provide written comments on drafts but will only assign a letter grade to the completed portfolio. Prompts and guidelines for the individual writing assignments will be forthcoming. We will also spend time during the quarter discussing the compostion of the portfolio and the standards by which it will be evaluated. The portfolio will be collected in lieu of a final exam.
Contributions to Web-Based Discussion (15%): Over the course of the quarter, you will be required to participate in an online, web-based discussion forum (a kind of electronic bulletin board). Here you will respond to readings, pose questions and generally engage in discussion with each other. Specific guidelines and instructions for accessing the discussion site will be distributed in class.
Oral Presentation (15%): Once during the quarter you must make a brief oral presentation to the rest of the class in the form of a review of a website (of your choosing) for credibility, content, and/or design. Group presentations are acceptable. Specific expectations and scheduling of presentations will be discussed in class.
Class Participation (10%): This course will rely heavily on your in-class participation. Class time will be spent discussing the process of writing, analyzing readings, and workshopping each other's papers, and all of these activities require everyone's active involvement. The frequency and quality of your involvement will determine the participation grade.

Policies

Attendance: In-class writing and discussion are integral to this course. Consequently, it is not advisable to be absent at all during the quarter. If you are absent from class, for whatever reason, you are responsible for making up missed work, obtaining notes, and/or turning in assignments on time. You are permitted two unexcused absences in the quarter. More than two unexcused absences will result in a grade of E for the participation part of your grade. It is university policy that five unexcused absences will automatically result in failure for the course. An absence may only be excused for a family or medical emergency, religious observance, or intercollegiate athletic event and only with proper documentation.
Late assignments: Failing to complete writing assignments on time, especially drafts for peer response sessions, deprives both you and your classmates of a valuable opportunity to share ideas and get feedback. Your participation grade will be dropped by a full letter grade each time you do not have a draft for peer response sessions. Late WBD postings will receive reduced credit. Final portfolios will not be accepted late under any circumstances.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism, defined as using another's words, sentences, or even ideas as your own and without explicit acknowledgement, is a serious academic offense. Students suspected of plagiarism will be asked to meet with the Ombud (see below) and may have their cases referred to the University Committee on Academic Misconduct. We will spend time in class on proper methods for incorporating and documenting sources, but if you are ever unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, contact me immediately.
Student Work: You may pick up turned in work from my office after grades have been submitted. I will save student work for two quarters (i.e., through Fall 2001) and then discard it.

Resources

Ombud: The Writing Programs Ombud serves as an intermediary who works to resolve conflicts between students and instructors. If you have concerns about this class that you cannot discuss comfortably with me, please consult the Ombud. All consultations are kept confidential. The Ombud this quarter is Keith Manecke (manecke.2@osu.edu). His office hours are Monday 12-4, Tuesday 8-1, Wednesday 8-11, and Friday 9-1 in Denney Hall 363 (phone 292-5778).
Disability Services: If you have a disability that will affect your work in this class, please let me know and I will make any reasonable accommodation. You should also register with the Office of Disability Services, in 250 Pomerene Hall (292-3307). For more information, see the ODS website: http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.
Writing Center: The University Writing Center offers consulting and tutoring services for all university classes. Writers of all levels and abilities can benefit from this resource. Besides giving feedback, the Writing Center can help with topic development, organization, coherence, clarity, and self-editing. To make an appointment, call 292-5607 or stop by 485 Mendenhall Labs. You can also check out their online services at http://cstw.ohio-state.edu/writingcenter.html.
Computers: This class will require frequent out-of-class access to a computer with Internert and word-prrocessing capability. For those of you who do not have your own computer, the Office of Information Technology maintains an extensive network of Student Computer Centers on campus. In particular, our classroom is open for public hours Sunday through Thursday evenings, 5:30-10:00 PM. For other locations and hours, consult a current edition of OIT's Guide to Services or the OIT Student Computer Centers web page: http://www.oit.ohio-state.edu/scc.html.

Back to Course Homepage | Virtual William Cole