objectives | resources | attendance | grading | cheating | special needs

Welcome to Journalism 242, Web Writing & Design.

Class: 2:35-3:50 T, Th in 302 Coppee Hall

Instructor: Dr. Kathy Olson kko2@lehigh.edu 758-5825 (office) 610-433-5339 (home)

Office hours: T, Th 1:30-2:30 and 4-5:30 and other times by appointment

This class combines a thorough background in essential concepts with lots of hands-on learning about the Web. We’ll explore everything from hexadecimal codes to “shovelware” and you’ll have the chance to put these concepts to work creating online journalism projects.

Course objectives

By the end of the semester, you should have a better understanding of:

(1) Basic HTML and the way Web sites work;

(2) The difference between writing for print and for the Web;

(3) How to use the unique features of the Web to present the news in a new way online while maintaining legal and ethical standards;

(4) How to use Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash to translate your ideas to the Web.

Resources and supplies

We will be using The Non-Designer's Web Book (3rd ed.), by Robin Williams and John Tollett. There will also be occasional handouts on HTML and other topics.

You will be working primarily on the Multi-01 drive in the lab.  You will have your own class folder and will also be able to access your H drive to save your files.

Attendance

Because the skills in this class build on one another, attendance is extremely important.  You will fall behind if you are not in class every session, and poor attendance and tardiness will hurt your final grade.   We will generally have time to work on projects in class and you should take advantage of this time.  Unavoidable absences may be excused if you contact me by phone or e-mail before class with a valid reason and provide documentation afterward.  You may not be able to make up in-class assignments and you are responsible for learning the material you miss.

NOTE: Please help me start class on time by logging out of your e-mail or other programs when class begins. On most days we will have time left in the class period to work on assignments, and you are free to check your e-mail during those free times.

Grading

You will be working on three major projects this semester: a personal Web site, a news or feature package on a topic you choose and a Flash project.  There will be other assignments both in and out of class that will count toward your final grade and a midterm exam on the material covered in class and in the reading assignments.

Assignments will be graded for accuracy, substance, quality of writing, quality of presentation, originality, usability and style (all assignments must conform to AP style).  Assignments are due at the start of class, unless instructed otherwise.

Your course grade will be calculated as follows:

Midterm exam Personal Web site News or feature package Flash assignment Other assignments, attendance and   participation

15% 15% 25% 20% 25%

Academic integrity

Learning requires an environment of trust and mutual respect and everyone has certain responsibilities to make this a successful class. My responsibilities include respecting your integrity and honesty while at the same time taking steps to create an atmosphere that prevents others from taking advantage of that trust and respect by cheating. Your responsibilities are to hold yourself and your fellow students to those same high standards. In this class, this includes:

• Creating your Web sites using only the appropriate tools and without outside help;
  
  
• Not taking someone else's page design or graphics and passing them off as your own;
  
  
• Doing your own work on the exam and doing your own original work in reporting and writing your group project news package (this means you do not re-use research or writing you've done for another class, or make up facts or quotes);
  
  
• Otherwise upholding the Lehigh University Code of Conduct, as outlined in your Student Handbook.

Students with special needs

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please contact both your instructor and the Office of Academic Support Services, University Center 212 (610-758-4152) as early as possible in the semester. You must have documentation from the Academic Support Services office before accommodations can be granted.


-- Kathy Olson