View source for Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments, Spring 2019

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! 21482 || NMAC 5801.01 || Online || Spring, 2019
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[[File:Nmac5108-sp19.jpg|thumb]]
NMAC 5108 expands the definition of writing through the theory and practice of digital writing. It examines the ongoing evolution of writing and publishing in digital environments and its impact on personal, professional, and community-based projects. It prepares graduate students to analyze and solve design problems related to rhetorical delivery and content management in digital and online contexts. Individual and collaborative projects will require students to work flexibly across various digital platforms.

This particular section of NMAC 5108 will concentrate on writing and publishing on Wikipedia and emphasize the best practices for that platform. 

==Introduction==
[[File:2019-5108-Intro.ogg|thumb|Audio course introduction.]]
Welcome to NMAC 5108, Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments. The document you’re reading is your syllabus. Everything you need for this class is on this page or linked off of it. Bookmark it now and return here if you get lost or confused.

Please read this document and those it links to carefully at the beginning of the semester. There is much information to process, and it can be somewhat daunting — especially if you read cursorily. If you are confused, do your best to work through it by (re)reading this document carefully and completely, searching this site, or consulting the [[Student FAQ|FAQ]]. I promise, there is an answer to your question. If all else fails, you may [[Contact|contact me]]. Trust yourself to follow directions and find the answers. Be careful and deliberate.

{{Quote box|For a head start on how to approach all work in this course, see “[[How to Do Well in My Class]]” and “[[Research & Response]].”|align=right|width=25%}}

Since you are graduate students, I expect that you are all veteran users of new media. I’m assuming, since you’re taking this course, that you are comfortable with working by yourself and have a basic Internet fluency. Much of what we do in this course will involve using digital media, but also challenging our conventional uses and attitudes toward them. Please enter with an open mind. NMAC 5108 is also designed to let you — the students — discover and create your own knowledge using the powerful digital devices we all have access to. You will learn more about my approach shortly. If you’re curious to know more right now, you might want to read my [[Teaching Philosophy|teaching philosophy]] and peruse the articles under [[:Category:Hack.Edu|HackEdu]].

Again, read this syllabus through carefully before beginning. You might want to take notes as you go, jotting down questions you have. I bet they are answered by the time you’re ready to begin the first lesson. If you end up still having questions, post them in the [[w:User:Grlucas/NMAC 5108 Help|help forum]] when you’ve made your Wikipedia account.

{{notice|This course does '''not''' use D2L/Brightspace. Everything you need is posted on this site, WikiEdu.org, or Wikipedia. You will sign up for a Wikipedia account and join the class on WikiEdu in your first lesson {{crossreference|(see [[#Schedule|Schedule]])}}.}}

==Course Information==
{{NMAC 5108}}

Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments supports the Graduate Certificate in Technical Writing and Digital Communication Program at Middle Georgia State University. Before attempting this course — especially if you've never taken one fully online — you might [[Considerations for Online Courses|consider the implications]].

{{notice|Links below generally lead to three web sites: this site, WikiEdu.org, and [[pm:Project Mailer|Project Mailer]]. Please do not let off-site links confuse you.}}

{{In_Info}}

==Student Learning Outcomes==
* Develop rhetorically appropriate writing, organization, and design skills for publishing in electronic environments;
* Apply best-use writing conventions in differing digital environments; and
* Practice collaboration as an integral practice for publishing in electronic environments.

==Materials==
[[File:Carroll.jpg|thumb]]
===Required Texts===
* {{cite book |last=Carroll |first=Brian |date=2017 |title=Writing and Editing for Digital Media |url=https://amzn.to/2MqI6nV |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |edition=3rd |isbn= |author-link= }}
* Various Links and PDFs.<ref>Mostly on the Wiki Education site.</ref>

==Requirements==
===Wikipedia===
{{main|Wiki Requirement}}
{{see also|Writing on a Wiki}}
Assignments leading to writing a new article from scratch or making significant contributions to one or more Wikipedia articles — work equivalent to a graduate-level research paper. This requirement is the major emphasis of the course, and one your should work on regularly and consistently throughout the semester.

{{Quote box|title=Spring 2019: Project Mailer » ''AAD'' Expanded|This semester, we will be working on a project on [[pm:Main page|Project Mailer]] centered around [[pm:Norman Mailer|Norman Mailer]]’s 1965 novel ''[[pm:An American Dream|An American Dream]]''. I have a box of artifacts, including letters, reviews, essays, clippings, and other miscellany, that we will organize, digitize, and use to construct a logical and unified Digital Humanities project. <s>I recommend that we meet at least once to discuss our plan and review the materials.</s> I’ve begun outlining the project over on [[pm:Talk:An American Dream Expanded|Project Mailer »]] |width=100%|fontsize=100%}}
<div style="clear:both;"></div>

===Journal===
{{main|Journal Requirement}}
A daily process journal will help you document your progress in the class at the same time allowing you to practice your writing regularly. Your journal will be housed on Wikipedia and also assist in community building.

====Student Journals====
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[w:User:Roger C. Byrd/NMAC 5108 Journal|Roger C. Byrd]]
* [[w:User:Dillbug/NMAC 5108 Journal|Sandy Callaway]]
* [[w:User:JenniferMGA/NMAC 5108 Journal|Jennifer Huynh]]
* [[w:User:Dmcgonagill/NMAC 5108 Journal|Dana McGonagill]]
* [[w:User:Mango_Masala/NMAC_5108_Journal|Miriam Qureshi]]
* [[w:User:Ssimsjones/NMAC 5108 Journal|Sherita Sims-Jones]]
* [[w:User:Namir Riptide/NMAC 5108 Journal|Matthew Smith]]
* [[w:User:JVbird/NMAC 5108 Journal|Josef Vice]]
* [[w:User:Waebo/NMAC 5108 Journal|Rian Williams]]
{{div col end}}
{{Participation}}

==Policies==
Students are held accountable for knowing and practicing each of the following course policies. Consider them like the law: the excuse “I didn’t know” will carry no weight. In addition, students are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to all Middle Georgia State University student policies, including those linked on the Syllabus Policy page.<ref>See the MGA website's [https://www.mga.edu/faculty-affairs/syllabus-policy.php Syllabus Policy Page] the policies linked thereon.</ref>

{{Quote box|title=Drop Date|align=right|quote=April 5, 2019}}
Students may withdraw from the course and earn a grade of “W” up to and including the midterm date. After midterm, students who withdraw will receive a grade of “WF.” Students are encouraged to read the withdrawal policy before dropping/withdrawing from class.

{{Assignments}}
{{Attendance Online}}
{{Communication}}
{{Evaluation}}
{{Plagiarism}}
{{Research}}
{{Technology Online}}

{{Schedule}}

{{notice|By creating your Wikipedia account, signing up for the class on Wiki Education, and creating your journal (see Introduction below), you have officially begun the course. Failing to take these crucial steps before the end of the first week will result in your being reported as a “no-show” to the Registrar.}}

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
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| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 1 
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 03/06–03/10 
| style="background-color:#FFCDD2;" | Introduction
| {{Anchor|Week 1}}At the end of this lesson, everyone should have a Wikipedia account, a journal, and get the basics of editing Wikipedia and writing for the screen.<ref>You might want to take some time and go through “[[w:Wikipedia:Contributing to Wikipedia|Contributing to Wikipedia]],” especially if you are entirely new to editing on the platform. I also have written a wiki primer “[[Writing on a Wiki]]” that could also be of assistance.</ref>
* '''Read''': “[[Writing Top Ten]]”; Carroll, chapters 1 and 2; Introduction to the Wikipedia Project: [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Editing_Wikipedia_brochure_%28Wiki_Education_Foundation%29_%282017%29.pdf Editing Wikipedia] (pp. 1-5); [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Evaluating_Wikipedia_brochure_%28Wiki_Education_Foundation%29.pdf Evaluating Wikipedia]. 
* '''Do''': Get Started on Wikipedia: [[w:Wikipedia:Why create an account?|Create an account on Wikipedia]]<ref>You might want to have a read-through of [[w:Help:Wikipedia: The Missing Manual/Editing, creating, and maintaining articles/Setting up your account and personal workspace|Setting up your account and personal workspace]] before just jumping to account creation.</ref> and [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/courses/Middle_Georgia_State_University/Writing_in_Digital_Environments_(Spring_2019)?enroll=rlpekhyx join the course page]; Wikipedia Training: [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/wikipedia-essentials Wikipedia Policies] and [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/sandboxes-talk-watchlists Sandboxes, Talk Pages, and Watchlists]; [[Journal Requirement|Create your journal]] and let me know where it is on [[w:User talk:Grlucas|my talk page]].
* '''Write''': First journal posts.<ref>Carroll supplies questions and exercises at the end of his chapters; these could be good fodder for journal posts.</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 2
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 03/11–03/17 
| style="background-color:#E1BEE7;" | Evaluate Wikipedia
| {{Anchor|Week 2}}This week, Carroll discusses strategies for writing and editing, and training addresses evaluating Wikipedia articles and making your first edits.
* '''Read''': Carroll, chs. 3 and 4; review [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Evaluating_Wikipedia_brochure_%28Wiki_Education_Foundation%29.pdf Evaluating Wikipedia]; Goeke, "[https://betterhumans.coach.me/how-to-edit-your-writing-in-3-passes-c7876a52f4e9 How to Edit Your Writing in Three Passes]."
* '''Do''': Wikipedia Training: [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/evaluating-articles Evaluating Articles and Sources]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/how-to-edit How to Edit].
* '''Discuss'''<ref>For discussions, see “[[Academic Forum Posts]]” and follow the guidelines for [[w:Help:Talk pages#Replying to an existing thread|talk page discussions]]. This is done essentially like your comments and responses on your journals.</ref>: [[w:User:Grlucas/Discussion: Sourcing|Thinking about Sources and Plagiarism]]
* '''Write''': Evaluate the entry for [[w:Norris Church Mailer|Norris Church Mailer]]<ref>Use “[https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/evaluate-wikipedia-exercise Evaluate an Article]” as a guide for evaluation.</ref> as one of your journal posts.<ref>We will be rewriting this entry — see week 4. You may want to begin now. More source documents are available in our shared Google Drive.</ref> Select an '''essay''' from the Essay directory of the shared drive and email me your choice.<ref>See the outline of the [[:pm:Talk:An American Dream Expanded|project assignment on PM]] for instructions on accessing the shared drive.</ref> Write to the author, explain what we’re doing, and ask permission to post his or her essay;<ref>See more about this process on the [[Talk:Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments, Spring 2019#March 14, 2019|March 14 update]].</ref> work on posting it using [[pm:Existentialism, Violent Liberation, and Racialized Masculinities: Norman Mailer’s “The White Negro” and An American Dream|this essay]] as a model.<ref>This will be due on week 6; see below. To begin working on it, you should post it to your sandbox on PM.</ref>
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 3
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 03/18–03/24 
| style="background-color:#BBDEFB;" | Spring Break
| No Class
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 4
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 03/25–03/31 
| style="background-color:#B2DFDB;" | Topics and Sources
| {{Anchor|Week 4}}Understanding the importance of establishing and maintaining credibility and supporting your work.
* '''Read''': Carroll, ch. 5; “[https://wikiedu.org/editingwikipedia#page=6 Editing Wikipedia],” p. 6.
* '''Do''': [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/finding-your-article Finding Your Article] and [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/choose-topic-exercise Choose a Topic];<ref>Read through these articles for the information they contain. Remember that your project will involve adding to [[pm:AAD Expanded|''AAD'' Expanded]] and ''not'' choosing an article on Wikipedia.</ref> Finalize your [[pm:Talk:An American Dream Expanded|contribution to Project Mailer]] and post it on your journal entry this week.<ref>You also might claim your part of the project on [[pm:Talk:Norman Mailer’s Letters on An American Dream, 1963–1969|the to-do list]].</ref>
* '''Discuss''': [[w:User:Grlucas/Discussion: Content Gap|What Is a Content Gap?]]
* '''Write''': Rewrite / revise / edit [[w:Norris Church Mailer|Norris Church Mailer]] being sure to add new references (some in our shared drive). Journal posts (see '''Do''' above) and responses. Write your own brief bio on your user page on your new Project Mailer account.<ref>Add <code><nowiki>[[Category:Student Editors]]</nowiki></code> at the bottom of your User page. You are welcome to add a photo, too, if you’d like.</ref>
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 5
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 04/01–04/07 
| style="background-color:#DCEDC8;" | Draft, Review, Evaluate
| {{Anchor|Week 5}}This week, everyone should have chosen a topic on PM and begun writing and editing [[pm:AAD Expanded|''AAD'' Expanded]].
* '''Read''': Carroll, ch. 6; “[https://wikiedu.org/editingwikipedia#page=7 Editing Wikipedia],” pp. 7–9.
* '''Do''': Add to an Article: [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/sources Citation Training] and [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/add-to-article-exercise Add a Citation Exercise]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/finalize-topic-exercise Finalize Your Topic]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/plagiarism Plagiarism]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/drafting-in-sandbox Drafting in the Sandbox]
* '''Write''': Collaborate on a concise bio of [[pm:Norris Church Mailer|Norris Church Mailer]].<ref>Everyone should help, i.e., edit and add to the entry.</ref> Journal posts and responses. Begin making your contributions to [[pm:AAD Expanded|''AAD'' Expanded]].<ref>You should be working on this regularly for this point on if you have not already. Do ''not'' wait until the last minute. 🙂</ref>
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 6
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 04/08–04/14
| style="background-color:#FFF9C4;" | Make It Real
| {{Anchor|Week 6}}Consider your colleagues’ edits so far on PM and write peer reviews. Respond to your own reviews and revise.<ref>Read more on [[Talk:Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments, Spring 2019#April 8, 2019|the announcements page]].</ref>
* '''Read''': Carroll, chs. 7 and 8; “[https://wikiedu.org/editingwikipedia#page=12 Editing Wikipedia],” pp. 12 and 14.
* '''Do''': [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/peer-review Peer Review Two Articles]
* '''Discuss''': [[w:User:Grlucas/Discussion: Thinking about Wikipedia|Thinking about Wikipedia]]
* '''Write''': Journal: Respond to your peer review.<ref>You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. Consider their suggestions, decide whether it makes your work more accurate and complete, and edit your draft to make those changes.</ref> Post essay — see week 2 — to PM.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 7
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 04/15–04/21
| style="background-color:#FFE0B2;" | Revise
| {{Anchor|Week 7}}Now's the time to revisit your text and refine your work. You may do more research and find missing information; rewrite the lead section to represent all major points; reorganize the text to communicate the information better; or add images and other media. Be sure everyone has taken a similar approach and the project is beginning to look cohesive.
* '''Read''': Carroll, chs. 9 and 10
* '''Do''': [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/moving-to-mainspace Moving to Mainspace Training]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/did-you-know-exercise/nominating Did You Know Nomination]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/images-and-media Contributing Images and Media Training]; [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/continue-improving-exercise/link-articles Add Links]<ref>Again, some of these might have little to do with your PM work, but glean any pertinent information that you can from them.</ref>
* '''Write''': Contribution revisions and polish. Journal entries and comments.
|-
|-
| style="background-color:#CCD1D1; text-align: center; font-weight:bold;" | 8
| style="background-color:#F2F4F4; text-align: center;" | 04/22–04/24 
| style="background-color:#FFCCBC;" | Submit and Reflect
| {{Anchor|Week 8}}It's the final week to develop your contributions. All project edits are complete and submitted. Final posts to your journals.
* '''Read''': “[https://wikiedu.org/editingwikipedia#page=12 Editing Wikipedia],” p. 15.
* '''Write''': [https://dashboard.wikiedu.org/training/students/reflective-essay-exercise/essay-questions Reflective Essay] as your last journal post.
* '''Submit''': Final posts and edits to Project Mailer.
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:NMAC 5108]]
[[Category:Spring 2019]]
[[Category:Online]]
[[Category:Graduate]]
[[Category:MGA]]