E N G 3 5 3
Electronic Publishing
fall 2007 course materialsOffice Hours (425 Cullimore) Thursday 3-5 and by appointments y l l a b u s
Catalog description for ENG 353: Explores information structuring via print and digital media; how computer technology has influenced the ways in which information is presented in modern culture. Focuses on the optimal ways to prepare and present information for technical and commercial use. Important concepts such as visual literacy and effective design are discussed and addressed.
* Exploring the Elements of Design (Second Edition), Poppy Evans & Mark A. Thomas, eds. ISBN-10: 1-4180-3855-5. http://www.delmarlearning.com. Text is available at the NJIT Bookstore.
*In order to successfully complete certain assignments, you may need to purchase construction paper and coverstock paper, posterboard, or matte-board (preferably dark). You should be able to get materials at any store that sells school or art supplies (i.e., Staples, Office Max, Kinkos). Please note: several of these assignments are not generated using software (although you will use a word processing or graphics program to generate typeface in Assignments 2, 4, 5).
* Access to a computer with basic hardware and software. To create work in part II of this course, students may need to access a scanner and graphics program; all assignments can be completed in NJIT labs.
* Office hours are 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Cullimore 425; (973) 596-6335 (office phone).
* You are required to complete the course evaluation at the end of the semester.
Required Work / Assignments: 1. Students must complete all Assignments listed on the syllabus, which will be marked on a scale of 1-10.
2. Students will produce a course project, an edition of your own magazine or newsletter (in print).
Grades will be determined by using the following formula:
All work will be evaluated on a scale of 1.0 to 10.0
*unexcused abscences will not be tolerated and will lower a student's final grade
part I: conceptual
September 6 (through 12):
Course Introduction; student introductions.
Obtain a copy of Exploring the Elements of Design (Second Edition), Poppy Evans & Mark A. Thomas, eds.; Copies of the book are available at the NJIT bookstore.
Read the Preface AND Chapter 1, "Defining the Language of Design"
September 13 (through 19):
Discussion of Ch. 1; form & meet in groups
Assignment 1: Complete project "Line, Letter, and Leaf," p. 35. Due 9/20.
Notes: use a real leaf in carrying out the assignment! Use physical materials to create the design. Do not forget to include the border in assignments that call for such. Also, please use a straight line (as opposed to a curved one) in this assignment. Although the book specifies using a grey background, you may also use black or white.
September 20 (through 26):
Assignment 1 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: course materials
Read Chapter 2, "Typography in Design"
Assignment 2: "Letter Form Grid," p. 34. Due 9/27.
September 27 (through October 3):
Assignment 2 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Chapter 2 and Assignment 2
Assignment 3: "Type Collage ," pp. 69-70. Due 10/11.
Note: Do not use software to produce the "Type Collage."
October 4 (through 10):
OCTOBER 4 CLASS IS CANCELLED
Read Chapter 3, "Imagery in Design"
Assignment 4: "Word/Type Mix and Match ," p. 67. Due 10/11.
October 11 (through 17):
Assignments 3 & 4 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Typography, issues regarding language and image
Read Chapter 4, "Color and Design"
Assignment 5: "Name Logo " pp. 102-103. Due 10/18.
October 18 (through 24):
Assignment 5 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Chapter 4 and Assignments
Read Chapter 5, "Managing Effective Design"
Assignment 6: "Photo Crop" pp. 103-104. Due 10/25.
Note: do not use software to do this assignment.
October 25 (through October 31):
Assignment 6 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Chapter 5
Read Chapter 6, "Research and Visual Communication"
Assignment 7: "Color and Season," pp. 151-152. Due 11/1.
part II: practical
November 1 (through 7):
Assignment 7 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Ch. 6; graphics software tutorials; layout and output issues
Assignment 8: Create a poster (8.5 x 11", 8.5 x 14", or other) for a fictitious or real event using any software you know how to use. Due 11/8, along with a note describing rationale and process in designing the poster including the software you used to create it.
Read Chapter 7, "Media for Communication Artists"
November 8 (through 14):
Assignment 8 due; students will present their work in class.
Discussion: Ch. 7; layout issues; layout software demonstration
For the rest of the semester students will focus on completing the Course Project. We will, as a group and on an individual basis, engage in considerable dialog about these projects.
Decide the topic of newsletter you are planning to produce for the Course Project. What is the purpose? As a way of writing a proposal for your work, draft a detailed Press Release for the newsletter, due via email before 11/20.
Note: If you decide to use MS Publisher to create your newsletter you may benefit by visiting this URL:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/results.aspx?Scope=TC&Query=newsletter
November 15 (through 21):
Discussion: layout issues and questions; problem solving
Collect materials for, and work on, Final Project.
November 20 (through 28):
Discussion: proposal review and project dialog
NO CLASS NOV. 22 THANKSGIVING
Collect materials for, and work on, Final Project.
November 29 (through December 5):
Discussion: layout issues and questions; problem solving
Collect materials for, and work on, Final Project.
December 6 (through 12):
Final Project Demonstrations
Completed Assignments and final projects are due December 12.
Incomplete grades (IN) will not assigned under any circumstance. Final grades will be based on works completed.
The NJIT Honor
Code will be upheld in this course, and that any violations will be brought
to the immediate attention of the Dean of Students.
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Course
Project: Using Microsoft Publisher, or any other program available to
him or her, each student will prepare an edition of an 8-page printed newsletter
(double-sided format and appropriately bound). Students will determine
the subject matter of their publication, which should contain text and images,
and reflect use of the design principles we've explored during the term. Hard-copy
of the Final Project must be delivered to Prof. Funkhouser at NJIT (c/o Humanities
Dept., 4th floor Cullimore Hall) by December 12.