GCOM 313-Sec 01: Graphic Illustration
Spring 2012 1-2:50pm Monday/Wednesday – Room: B51
Engineering Technology Department • College of Business & Technology • Western Illinois University
135 Knoblauch Hall, 1 University Circle - Macomb, IL 61455-1390
Instructor: Ms Pam Daniel
Knoblauch B39
Office phone: 309-298-1252
PE-Daniel@wiu.edu
Office Hours: Posted on Western Online and on the last page of this document.
Course Description: GCOM 313 Graphic Illustration (3 credits)
A study of illustration software with emphasis upon operational skills and techniques used in creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional illustrations. 2 hours lecture; 2 hours lab.
All labs are structured and instructor supervised.
Course Prerequisite: GCOM211 and basic typing skills.
Course Objectives: (Stated as Student Learning Outcomes)
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.
Discuss a variety of illustration tools and technologies and how those technologies interact and impact society.
2.
Experience conventional forms of technical illustration as foundation to electronic graphic illustration.
3.
Analyze digital technology products and how to produce projects with an emphasis on preparation for publication and packaging.
4.
List and explain the available illustration technologies and terms and their uses and meanings.
5.
Compare and contrast digital and analog illustration technologies giving advantages and disadvantages of each.
6.
Demonstrate skills and knowledge required use and discuss illustration and publishing technologies.
7.
Identify careers available in developing illustrations.
8.
Effectively work independently and in groups as required.
By graduation, Engineering Technology students should be able to:
9.
Think critically and creatively;
10.
Understand the theoretical principles of the profession;
11.
Understand and apply relevant technology in the solution of technical problems;
12.
Organize, manage, and maintain projects;
13.
Develop an appreciation for ethical and professional practices;
14.
Develop and refine oral, written, and visual communication skills; and
15.
Demonstrate an overall competency in the program objectives.
Department of Engineering Technology Goals for Student Learning
Engineering Technology (Construction Management, Graphic Communication, Manufacturing
Engineering Technology) is a field of study designed to provide students educational programs that allow them to communicate effectively, design and apply technical solutions, use technology effectively, and respond to project management tasks in an environment with continually changing and sophisticated technology in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

By graduation, Engineering Technology students should be able to:
1. Think critically and creatively;
2. Understand the theoretical principles of the profession;
3. Understand and apply relevant technology in the solution of technical problems;
4. Organize, manage, and maintain projects;
5. Develop an appreciation for ethical and professional practices;
6. Develop and refine oral, written, and visual communication skills; and
7. Demonstrate an overall competency in the program objectives.
Required Text :
Exploring Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Design Exploration) by Annesa Hartman.
ISBN-13: 978-1111130367 ; ISBN-10: 1111130361 .
You may share the purchase of a textbook/CD with a fellow student, but understand there will be weekly assignments from the book/CD that will be required to do as part of your overall grade.
Class Website:
Every student enrolled in this class will be required to log in and use the university Western Online system. Quizzes and tests may be administered through this online course delivery system, and the site will also be the location for course materials, handouts, and links to helpful information. Students will also be required to log in to check for announcements. The Web site can be accessed through the following link. https://westernonline.wiu.edu/
Log in using your “ecom” information and password. Please note this is the same as your e-mail log in and password. I will assist you in logging in if you have problems. I cannot assign you an “ecom” account, and I do not have access to your info or passwords. You will have to contact UCSS directly if you are having problems logging into the system. For questions concerning access to Western Online you can call 298-2704 .
If you miss a class for some reason, check the Western Online site to find out what you may have missed. Often times I will post assignments directly on the course Web site. I will also try to update the weekly announcements so that you will know of upcoming deadlines.
Additional Suggested Readings
A listing of suggested readings related to the course content will be provided within
“ Western Online ” or provided within the library reference of resources for this course.
Required Technologies:
At least a 1GB external flash drive to say or backup your files.
Do not save digital documents on the computers. Lost work due to technology failure is not an excuse.
It is important to backup your files for redundancy. If you are using software outside of class, remember that it is best if you have the same CS5 suite on your personal computer.
Required Lab Fee:
Students of this course are required to pay a special course charge of $25 for each lab-related course in the Engineering Technology Department. This money is used to support the consumable items used during the course.
Payment of the course cost is a required portion of the class and must be paid after the second week of the semester but prior to your final exam. If you fail to pay your course cost, you will receive a grade of "I" for the course until the lab fee is paid or the university automatically changes the grade from "I" to

"F" according to the University Policy. If the grade is changed to an "F", the grade will remain an F on your permanent transcript, regardless of payment.
Payments can be made to the Engineering Technology department office (Knoblauch Hall 135) any time after the beginning of the third week of classes. Also, for the convenience of the students, the instructor will announce one date that a staff member will visit the classroom to collect course charges en masse.
It is recommended that students’ pay by check made out to "WIU." Likewise, the student should expect a receipt to serve as proof of payment. If you have questions or concerns, please direct them to the staff in Knoblauch Hall 135 or call 309/298-1091.
Topic Outline & Schedule:
Access the Western Online course site (https://westernonline.wiu.edu/webct/) for specific assignment details, including due dates. Once the due date has passed, the assignments (and your ability to submit) will no longer be available on Western Online so do not wait until the last minute.
Week
1.
1/16: Martin Luther King Jr Day – No class
1/17: Course overview and introductions
Adobe Illustrator Exploration - Assignment #1 (10pts)
2.
1/23: Illustrator Interface and Navigation
1/25: Using Illustrator tools - Assignment #2 (10pts)
3.
1/30: Bitmaps & Vectors
2/1: Drawing with Pen Tool – Assignment #3 (10pts)
4.
2/6: Drawing Lines and Shapes
5.
2/13: Lincoln’s Birthday – No Classes
2/8: Image Design with Paths and Text – Assignment #4 (20pts)
2/15: Color Models/Tools/Options
Color Scheme Motifs – Assignment #5 (20pts)
6.
2/20: Constructing a Comic Book
2/22: Combined Character Comic Book Page – Assignment #6 (20pts)
7.
8.
2/27: Stroke and Fill Attributes
3/5: Creating & Formatting Type
3/7: Lab: Assignment #8 - Recipe Card (10pts)
2/29: Create a graphic using variety of fills – Assignment #7 (10pts)
Midterm Exam
9.
3/12 & 3/14 Spring Break
10.
3/19: Typography
3/21: Graphic Design with Type - Assignment #9 (10pts)
Read:
Ch.1
Ch.2
Ch.3
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 7

11.
3/26: Designing a Professional Poster
3/28: Lab: Assignment #10 – IGAEA Poster (20pts)
12.
4/2: Combining Paths and Shapes
4/4: Clipping Masks – Assignment #11 (10 pts)
13.
4/9: Spatial Illusions
4/11: Create a 3D Object – Assignment #12 (20 pts)
14.
4/16: Print Publishing
4/18: Packaging Design - Assignment #13 (10 pts)
15.
4/23: Publishing for the Web
4/25: Using Adobe Acrobat to create a Portfolio
Ch. 8
Ch. 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
16.
4/30: Review for Final Exam
5/2: Portfolio* due – Assignment #14 (20 points)
17.
5/7: Explore Careers in developing illustrations
5/9: Final Exam** 1pm
* Portfolio includes all Illustrator project assigned during semester. Accompanying each project is a
1-2 paragraph describing the tools, skills and concepts acquired in its execution.
** Any exceptions to the final exam schedule must be approved by department chair and the Dean of the
College of Business and Technology in writing including student’s name, ID# and signatures.
Last Day to Drop Course: April 1, 2012
Course Requirements:
Your grade will be determined on successfully achieving the requirements of this course. The course requirements and percent of your grade are as follows:
 10 class projects: 75%
 Participation (in-class quizzes): 5%
 Midterm and Final Exams: 20%
Grading:
All points will be cumulative and be totaled, ranked and graded according to the following scale:
A = 92-100
A- = 90-91
B+ = 88-89
B = 82-87
B- = 80-81
C+ = 78-79
C = 72-77
C- = 70-71
D+ = 68-69
D = 62-67
D- = 60-61
F = 59 and below.

Method(s) of Evaluation/Assessment: a. Project based assessments b. Group and single work projects c. Course portfolio d. Participation (In-class quizzes) e. Final Examination – Time and date prescribed on university final exam schedule.
Any exceptions to the final exam schedule must be approved by department chair and the
Dean of the College of Business and Technology in writing including student’s name,
ID# and signatures.
Rules for Giving an Incomplete
WIU policy – A temporary symbol of I (Incomplete) for a course may be given only when a student, due to circumstances beyond his or her control, has been unable to complete the course requirements within the official limits of the term. The circumstances must be documented to the instructor’s satisfaction.
Class Attendance:
In a class such as this, the only way to learn as a student is to be present. Therefore, students are required to attend class. I will be taking roll through out the semester, and it is required that you be in class on a regular basis…. If you are not in class, you will not be learning with the other students, and you WILL fall behind. In the case of unexcused absences, I am under no obligation to aid you, the student, in making up missed assignments or missed lectures.
Excused absences are those that you tell me about before hand, or those that happen under unexpected consequences such as a death or illness. Unexpected consequences do not include hangovers, naps, or sunny afternoons.
Excused absences must be supported with written documentation.
Further, it is the responsibility of the student to provide documentation if an excused absence is to be granted. In this course, three unexcused absences are permitted without a reduction in grade. After three unexcused absences, each unexcused absence will result in a letter grade reduction.
In all cases of absences, it is your responsibility to get the lecture material you missed, or find out what projects we may have started or finished. In addition, arriving late and leaving early will be not be acceptable, unless you have a good reason to do so. Each student is expected to stay to the end of the scheduled class period and aid classmates with learning opportunities. Absences, late arrivals, and early departures will have a direct effect on your grade. If you decide to take a week or two off, I can guarantee that your grade will be directly affected and you will have a hard time passing the course.
Someone is paying for you to be in this class, so take advantage of my knowledge and desire to teach, and be in class on a regular basis.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Cell phones are prohibited in the classroom and the laboratory. The first time it goes off in class you will automatically lose 5 points from your final exam grade, the second time you will lose an additional 10 points (15 points total), the third time you might as well not take the final… you should also refrain from texting during class. Put your phone away!
H
EADPHONES
/M
USIC
: I love music and often will play music during the lab times. I know some of you feel the same way. So, feel free to bring in your Ipod and your headphones. During normal lab times you are welcome to listen to it at a reasonable volume level. You will not be allowed to wear headphones during any type of examination.

I NTERNET /EMAIL : you are welcome to surf and check your e-mail before or after class, or during lab time. I do not want you surfing, chatting, or e-mailing as I am lecturing or during times in which you are supposed to be doing something class related. You really can live for a little while without checking your friend’s updates.
R ESPECT : When working in the computer lab or listening to a lecture make sure you respect you classmates and your instructor. I find it very rude for you to be checking your Facebook pages while
I am lecturing. I find it even ruder for you to be doing so when one of your classmates is making a presentation. When you are in this class, you should be focused on this class.
A
SSIGNMENTS
: Specific assignments will be made throughout the semester. These assignments will change depending upon the class. Assignments must be turned in by assigned date, no exceptions.
Disability Support Services
For students with special needs, please review this website
[ http://www.wiu.edu/student_services/disability_resource_center/students/ ] for more information.
Western Illinois University is committed to justice, equity, and diversity. Providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities is a campus-wide responsibility and commitment in which Disability
Support Services (DSS) plays a primary role.
Access & Disabilities
“In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Resource Center (DRC) and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor's attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students.
Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact
Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512 for additional services.”
If you have emergency medical information to share with me, if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course because of a disability, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. My office location and hours are listed in this syllabus. If you plan to request disability accommodations, you are expected to register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 298-2512.
Counseling Services
The University Counseling Center (UCC) provides free personal, academic, and career counseling services to all WIU undergraduates and graduates. Individual, couple, and group counseling is available and all counseling sessions are confidential
[ http://www.student.services.wiu.edu/ucc/ ].
Academic Integrity:
Review this website [ http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
] for definitions and examples are not meant to be exhaustive. The University reserves the right to determine, in a given instance, what action constitutes a violation of academic integrity.
Preamble: Western Illinois University, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Students have rights and responsibilities
( http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students/ ) and students should realize that deception for individual gain is an offense against the members of the entire community, and it is the student's responsibility to be

informed and to abide by all University regulations and policies on Academic Integrity.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious violation of
University conduct regulations. Students who engage in dishonesty in any form shall be charged with academic dishonesty. It is a duty of faculty members to take measures to preserve and transmit the values of the academic community in the learning environment that they create for their students and in their own academic pursuits. To this end, they are expected to instill in their students a respect for integrity and a desire to behave honestly. They are also expected to take measures to discourage student academic dishonesty, to adjust grades appropriately if academic dishonesty is encountered, and, when warranted, to recommend that additional administrative sanctions be considered. Grading policies are the exclusive prerogative of the faculty; administrative sanctions are under the authority of the Director of Student Judicial Programs. This document provides policies and procedures to be followed when academic dishonesty is encountered.
Definitions of Academic Dishonesty
The following definitions and examples are not meant to be exhaustive. The University reserves the right to determine, in a given instance, what action constitutes a violation of academic integrity. (See www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php for complete descriptions of the following topics:
 Plagiarism,
 Fabrication and Falsification,
 Cheating,
 Complicity in Academic Dishonesty,
 Abuse of Academic Materials,
 Multiple Submissions
Reporting Academic Dishonesty
All members of the University community share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known acts of apparent academic dishonesty. Any student, faculty member, or staff person who has witnessed an apparent act of student academic dishonesty, or has information that reasonably leads to the conclusion that such an act has occurred or has been attempted, has an ethical responsibility for reporting said act(s).
Confronting and reporting academic dishonesty can be done in a variety of ways, and people should choose the manner most appropriate for the circumstances. Acts of apparent academic dishonesty that occur in the classroom should be reported directly to the course instructor, and/or the course instructor's
Department Chair, and/or the instructor's College Dean. The Council on Admission, Graduation, and
Academic Standards (CAGAS) or the Graduate Council will not accept or act upon anonymous reports, but will hold in strict confidence the identity of any person reporting a suspected instance of academic dishonesty, unless that person consents to having his/her identity revealed.
Resolution of Problems
Should a problem occur, students should speak to their instructor first. If the problem is not resolved, meet with the chair of the department. If the problem continues to be unresolved, go to the College of
Business and Technology’s Dean. Students should observe the following sequence for the resolution of problems: Student --- Instructor --- Chairperson --- Dean
Office Hours: Appointments outside of scheduled office hours may be made by calling, emailing or talking in person with the instructor at least 24 hours prior to meeting time.
Monday:
Tuesday
2:50 – 4:00pm
11:50 – 12:00pm
1:50 – 2:00pm

3:50 – 4:30pm
Wednesday 2:50 – 4:30pm
Thursday 11:50 – 12:00pm
1:50 – 2:00pm
3:50 – 4:00pm

Upon reading your syllabus, please sign the following form. This form will act as a contract between you (the student) and me (the professor). By signing the form you acknowledge reading the syllabus and understanding such things as; what might happen if you break the honor code (you fail the project, fail the course, and are reported to the University honor code office), what might happen if you do not turn in a project on time, what might happen if you miss more than one class (your grade will suffer). This “contract” allows me to know you have read the syllabus and understand the consequences. On a different note, by reading the syllabus and signing this form, you also understand how it is easy to pass this course, and get a good grade; show up to class everyday, complete your projects on time, do a little more than the assignment asks for, and clean up after yourself.
Please print your name and sign the line below, and turn this into me at the end of class.
Thanks!
Print your name here: ________________________________________________
Print your preferred e-mail address here __________________________________________
Sign your name here: ________________________________________________