Engineering Technology Department
College of Business & Technology
Western Illinois University
Knoblauch 135
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455-1390
Graphic Communications 211-1: Introduction to Graphic Communication
Spring 2011
Meets at 12:00-1:50 PM on Monday and Wednesday.
The class meets in Knoblauch Hall, Room 34B.
3 semester hours
Catalogue Description:
GCOM 211 - Introduction to Graphic Communication. A study of the graphic
communication industries including composition, photoconversion, press work, and finishing
operations.
2 hours.lecture; 2 hrs.lab.
.
Instructor Information:
Joyce A. Runquist
Knoblauch Hall B33
Office/Voicemail: 298-1860
Online Course Content: http://westernonline.wiu.edu/
Website: http://www.wiu.edu/users/mujah14/students
E-mail: Ja-Runquist@wiu.edu
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10:00 AM -11:00 AM; Tuesday: 10:00 AM 12:00 PM; other times by appointment.
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
Monday
GCOM 217-01
GCOM 217-01
Office Hour
GCOM 211-01
GCOM 211-01
Tuesday
GCOM 217-02
GCOM 217-02
Office Hour
Office Hour
GCOM 211-02
GCOM 211-02
Wednesday
GCOM 217-01
GCOM 217-01
Office Hour
GCOM 211-01
GCOM 211-01
Thursday
GCOM 217-02
GCOM 217-02
Office Hour
GCOM 211-02
GCOM 211-02
Friday
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;
7. Demonstrate an overall competency in the program objectives.
Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, the student will:
1. Demonstrate an ability, and an understanding, to produce graphic material by the
common reproduction processes of offset lithography, screen-printing, digital duplicator
and laser printing;
2. Demonstrate an understanding in basic color theory, and how images are printed;
3. Demonstrate an understanding of basic graphic design principles;
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the theories of each of the common graphic
reproduction processes;
5. Be aware and able to use some of the industrial versions and methods of the common
graphic reproduction processes;
6. Understand the general structure of the printing industry and its support industries and
be aware of the various careers available in the Graphic Communication industry;
Course Outline:
Weeks 1-2: Introduction and History
Weeks 3-8: Design Elements
Midterm: Week of March 7th.
Weeks 9-12: Project and Application of Design Elements
Weeks 13-16: Advanced Project Design
Final Exam: Monday, May 9, 2011, at 1:00 PM
*Subject to change with notice*
Grading Information:
Tests and quizzes account for 30% of the total grade. Regular assignments, class presentations,
and abstracts account for 60% of the total grade. Class participation and attendance accounts for
10% of the total grade. Grades can be found at the following website:
http://www.wiu.edu/users/murlr/students. You will need to login using your class, name and
password that is found in Western-Online.
Grading scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
93% and above
90 – 92% of maximum possible points
87-89%
83-86%
80 – 82% of maximum possible points
77-79%
73-76%
70 – 72% of maximum possible points
67-69%
63-66%
60 – 62% of maximum possible points
59% or less
Laboratory Guidelines:
1. Students are only allowed to work in the printing laboratory during the assigned class
times, unless the instructor has given permission to do so outside of regular class time.
Students are allowed to work in the computer lab without the instructor present, and the
times for computer lab open sessions will be posted;
2. No smoking, food or drink in the laboratories; if you want to use a water or drink
container that can be sealed you are welcome to keep it under your computer desk or in
your backpack; do not set these bottles next to your keyboard, and do not munch on
greasy food right before using a keyboard ;
3. Students are responsible for cleaning up their work area. Clean up should be done during
class and at the end of class. This ensures a clean environment for other students and
other classes. Failure to clean up work areas will result in loss of participation points, and
a dirty laboratory in which to complete our projects;
4. Computers in the lab are for work in this class only. Students may save appropriate files
to the computers and the server, as long as the files are related to this class;
5. Printing from computers is for the sole purpose of completing class assignments. Do not
use the laser printers in either of the GCOM lab’s to print out work for other classes;
6. Paper is expensive, so please be careful to print only what you need, and please recycle
all paper that you print out but cannot use. If you are having problems printing
something, do not continue to hit PRINT over and over again. Stop your print job and see
me. Save a tree!
7. IMPORTANT NOTE: Cell phones are prohibited from ringing in the classroom
and the laboratory. Make sure they are turned off, or at least have them on vibrate.
Also, if you are working during lab hours, do not just chat away on your cell phone in the
lab, take your phone call into the hallway so that the other students around you can focus
on their work and not listen to your conversation about what might be going on at the
Café that night;
8. Headphones/Music: 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. If the student next to you can hear that you are listening to the
Grateful Dead, the volume is too high. Respect the students around you. You will not be
allowed to wear headphones during any type of examination.
9. Internet/E-mail: 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 which you are supposed to be doing something class related. If you insist on
surfing while I lecture, I will deduct points from your participation grade. If you are
caught downloading illegal software or viewing inappropriate sites, you will
automatically be banned from the computer lab during open lab hours, and have all of
your participation points removed from your final grade.
Safety:
Safety is an important and crucial factor in the Graphic Communication Industry. It is equally, or
more, important within the setting of this class and the laboratory. All students should abide by
the following procedures:
1. All students are required to wear safety glasses in critical eye-safety areas, such as the
press area;
2. No student will operate any piece of equipment before the instructor has demonstrated
the correct manner to use the equipment;
3. Students with long hair are required to tie hair back or wear a net when operating
equipment;
4. Neckties and other loose clothing should not be worn around operating equipment;
5. Long sleeve shirts should have their sleeves secured or rolled up;
6. Necklaces and other jewelry must be secured or removed before operating equipment;
7. Chemistry must be handled with extreme caution;
8. While operating equipment students must always be focused on the task at hand!
Students who are not focused have a much better chance of having an accident.
Therefore, only students operating a particular piece of equipment will be allowed to be
around that said piece of equipment;
9. Any accidents should be reported to the instructor immediately.
Any student violating any of these procedures will immediately have lab privileges suspended for
a period of time specified by the instructor.
Attendance:
It is the policy of the university that students attend classes at all times except when unable due
to illness or emergency. The instructor is under no obligation to the student to aid in makeup for
unexcused absences. Arriving late and leaving early is not recommended. Attendance will be
taken through out the semester and will account toward the student’s final grade. Students with
perfect attendance as documented by the instructor will be exempt from a final exam. No
exceptions.
Required Technologies:
Students must furnish their own thumb (flash) drives to record their files. Students also are
responsible for keeping their own back-ups. Files left on the server are at student’s own risk –
they can be deleted or damaged by others, so make sure to take a copy with you.
Late Assignments:
Late assignments should be discussed with the instructor on an individual basis. Assignments are
due at the beginning of class. Late assignments will be assessed a 10% deduction for each DAY
late. Assignments five or more days late will be counted as a zero.
Assessments:
Two tests will be administered over the course of the semester. Students are expected to take the
test at the assigned times. MP3 players, cellular phones and PDAs should be turned off during
lecture times and will not be allowed during test times. During an exam, if a student leaves the
room (i.e. to get a drink, place a call, use the restroom, etc.) the examination will be considered
completed at that point.
Supplies:
The majority of supplies are furnished by the university. The student is responsible for the
purchase of a stripping knife (X-acto or equivalent), a notebook, a large manila folder (or
similar), and a portable storage device (USB thumbdrive). Flash memory sticks are the BEST
option and seem to work rather well. The bookstore has the best prices on these and you can use
them for multiple classes. If you have an older flash drive that would like to reformat and use for
this class, I will be happy to help.
The notebook you have for this class will be used to store assignments and projects.
The large manila folder will be used to turn in your assignments. Your folder does not have to be
new and pretty, it just needs to be functional. You are welcome to use a folder from an old class,
but you will need to turn in the majority of your assignments in this folder, as most assignments
will consist of more than one sheet of paper. I will not grade your assignment if it is not turned in
inside a folder.
You will also be responsible for buying your textbook (where you buy it is up to you) and a three
ring binder for notes and handouts.
You should also plan on bringing a pencil to class, as we will be drawing the old fashioned way
in addition to working on the computer.
Required Text:
REAL WORLD PRINT PRODUCTION W/ADOBE Creative Suite Applications
by Claudie McCue (Author)
Peachpit Press – Publisher - 2009
ISBN – 0-321-63683-x
Class Web site & other important links:
http://www.wiu.edu/users/mujah14/students
http://westernonline.wiu.edu/
http://www.graphiccommcentral.org/
Special Course Costs:
To help cover the costs of supplies for this course, a special course cost of $25.00 will be
charged to each student. This is payable to Shannon in Knoblauch 135 starting Feb 2nd – April
1st, 2011.
Computers:
Students must have access to computers and Internet. Students should have access to a
Macintosh or Windows compatible and the appropriate software. There are University operated,
fee supported laboratories in Library, Stipes, Morgan, Horrabin, and in most of the dormitories.
Graphic Communication labs may be used during open lab times.
Final Exam:
Monday, May 9, 2011, at 1:00 PM
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 3, 2011, Last day to drop regular 16-week course and receive "W" grade.
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.
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:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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.
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 Support Services 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 Support Services 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 at the top of this syllabus. If you plan to request disability accommodations, you are
expected to register with the Disability Support Services (DSS) at 298-2512.
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
Syllabus subject to change with notice.