Please purchase your own copies of

• Hayles, Katherine. Writing Machines. Cambridge: MIT P, 2002.
• McCloud, Scott, Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: HarperPerennial, 1994.
• Vandome, Nick. Flash MX in Easy Steps. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003.

Other reading materials will be available online as .pdf or .html files. These are also required.

I also expect you to own or have access to a writers' handbook. Except for in-class writings and weblog entries, all writing that you turn in for this class should meet MLA standards for form and Edited American English standards of correctness. Two excellent handbooks are Diane Hacker's A Writers' Reference and Lester Faigley's Brief Penguin Handbook.

We will work in a computer classroom (O-239) every day and you will need to save your work. Although you will have your own secure folder on your computer to do this, I strongly urge you to purchase a USB flash drive or multiple CD-R or CD-RW disks to archive and back up your work. This is responsible, professional behavior. In a 500-level class, "The computer ate my homework (or my file or my movie)" is not an acceptable excuse.

You must attend class regularly. If you don't, it will affect your performance and your final grade. Class participation includes coming to class prepared, keeping up with the readings, participating in class discussions and group discussion (oral and written), and completing assignments on time. If you miss three class meetings, your grade will be lowered one full letter; if you miss four classes, you cannot pass the class.

Please, please come to see me if you are having problems. Extensions will be given, but only if requested long before the due date; extensions will not be given the day an assignment is due. This applies to all presentations, papers, quizzes, tests, and the final exam. If you find that you must miss a class or a scheduled conference with me, you must notify me in time to make other arrangements.

The Writing Center (O-230-251) promotes writing as a way of learning both within and beyond the university. Its services are free to all students, staff and faculty. Tutors offer feedback on your work at any stage of the writing process, so please take advantage of their helpful responses on your drafts and revisions.

If you have a disability and need particular accommodations, please feel free to discuss the issue with me during office hours. Students with disabilities who need accommodations should also contact Michelle McLane in the Conard Learning Center (755-4304) to arrange for documentation and a variety of other services.

Here is how your course grade will be determined:

• Participation in class 10%
• New media profile 10%
• Weblog responses 10%
• Documentary proposal 20%
• Documentary and Presentation 50%

Because I will try to reward your best work, the percentages above are only guidelines.