Dept. of Language and Literature
JOU 1440/1441L-02
Humanities Magazine Publication
Dr. Doug Ford
Spring 2010
Office: 645
Office Hours: M: 9-10 am, noon-2pm
W: 9-10 am, 1-2 pm
F 9-10, noon-2 pm
TR 9-9:30, 11-12:30, 2-3 pm
Office Phone: 408-1501
E-mail: fordd@scf.edu
Web page: http://faculty.mccfl.edu/fordd/fordd.htm
SCF Virtual Library: http://www.mccfl.edu/pages/109.asp
Course Description:
JOU 1440L: Humanities Magazine Publication (1) (A.A.): One hour per week.
This course provides the student an opportunity to contribute to production of a
humanities [literature and arts] magazine that encourages and gives voice to the artistic
expression of students of Manatee Community College. The students are involved in the
layout and make-up of the magazine, including selecting literary and art works, editing,
and proofreading. For Venice-campus sections of the course, students will be producing
an online publication, Elektraphrog, which can be viewed at http://elektraphrog.scfl.edu.
Course Performance Standards:
The student, at the completion of this course, should be able to:
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Recognize a successfully written poem, short fiction work, and short dramatic
work.
·
Identify graphic images (photography and other visual arts) likely to reproduce well
when published online and succeed at nonverbal communication.
·
Discuss elements of poetry and short fiction (and to a lesser extent, short drama,
creative non-fiction and visual art).
·
Critique an online literary magazine on the basis of its strengths and weaknesses.
·
Proofread copy and make author queries.
·
Integrate elements of text and image to create a cohesive, visually appealing, and
reader-friendly online magazine and recognize effective design for online publication.
·
Establish criteria for submission and selection of literary works, make defensible
selections on the basis of those criteria, and communicate with contributors regarding
acceptance and rejection.
·
Work (both in person and via online interactive communication) with a group of
peers to reach workable consensus.
·
Recognize and respect the importance of meeting deadlines while continuing to
maintain high aesthetic standards and good relations with peers, contributors, and readers.
·
Have a basic working knowledge of soliciting submissions for an online publication
and promoting the magazine when it is published.
·
Work with external agents (such as college administrators and staff members, Web
hosts, etc.) when necessary.
Attendance Requirement
Because this course calls for meaningful contributions from all students, consistent
attendance is mandatory. Missing three or more class meetings will compromise a
student’s ability to interact with professor and classmates, and I may ask students to
withdraw at this point. Accordingly, students who miss three class meetings and
remain enrolled in the class will receive an F for their final grade. Please note that I
do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, and please do not ask me to
make allowances. Coming to class unprepared for that day’s activities may also
result in an absence recorded.
Late Work Policy
Please note that I do not full credit for late assignments. Being timely with assignments
is especially important in this course since lateness may delay the publication of our
magazine and thus jeopardize your overall grade.
Withdrawal Policy:
In accordance with the State College of Florida policy, as stated in the college catalog,
students may withdraw from any course, or all courses, without academic penalty, by the
withdrawal deadline listed in the State College of Florida academic calendar. This
semester, the withdrawal date is March 25. Students should take responsibility to initiate
the withdrawal procedure but are strongly encouraged to talk with their instructors before
taking any withdrawal action. In addition, students should note that faculty may also
withdraw students for violating policies, procedures or conditions of the class, as outlined
in individual class syllabi, and such action could affect financial aid eligibility.
Regarding Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative material, data, direct or indirect
wording of another scholar and/or writer—professional or student—without giving
proper credit. Expulsion, suspension, or any lesser penalty may be imposed for
plagiarism. (Note: In this particular course, not only will you need to be vigilant to
avoid plagiarism in your own writing, you will also learn to take reasonable
precautions to ensure that contributor submissions to the magazine do not contain
plagiarism.)
Standards of Conduct:
Students are expected to abide by the guidelines outlined in our student handbook. Also,
please silence your cell phone before class begins. Anyone who has a cell phone go off
must dance to his or her ring-tone!
Description of Assignments, Activities, and Grading:
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Participation in ANGEL discussion: 25 points (each discussion is worth 5
points)
Oral presentation (critique of online literary magazine): 10 points
Contributions to Team journals/wikis: 20 points (5 points each 50+ word
entry)
Active participation in all aspects of producing an online student literary
magazine: 45 points
Active participation in online literary magazine editing and production:
Active participation in all aspects of producing an online student literary magazine,
Elektraphrog, will be the core component of the course. Required participation is likely to
include (but is not limited to) the following activities:
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Establishment of submission guidelines and selection criteria for student creative
work consisting primarily of poetry and fiction but possibly including drama and
probably including some visual art (at least for “cover” art).
Solicitation of student submissions.
Recognition of successfully and unsuccessfully written student literary works and
valid and defensible acceptance and rejection of contributions based on the
established criteria.
Assembly of selected contributions into a coherent, visually appealing, and userfriendly online magazine format.
Cooperative work with a group of peers to agree on and adhere to editorial and
stylistic choices. (In addition to in-person group meetings during class time, teams
will use such online tools as team discussion forums, wikis, and chat rooms, all
available via ANGEL, to communicate and reach consensus on editorial matters.)
Regular attendance of class meetings, regular participation in online work, and
adherence to deadlines established by the professor and the magazine staff.
Copy editing and proofreading.
Promotion of the magazine when it is published and available online.
Responses to queries by contributors.
Tracking of submission through the various stages of the selection and production
process
Notification of contributors regarding acceptance and rejection.
Planning and facilitating a launch party/contributor reception.
Evaluation of the finished product.
Grading:
90-100 points=A
80-89 points=B
70-79 points=C
60-69 points=D
Below 60 points=F
Calendar of Assignments:
(Please note that this schedule is tentative and will likely change as our specific needs
become clear. It is your responsibility to keep up with this schedule. If you miss a class,
be sure to contact another student to find out what you need to have for class the
following class.)
*NOTE: ANGEL discussion postings and journal contributions must be posted
BEFORE the class meeting that they are due. Not posting on time will result in loss
of points.
1/6: Introductions; organize, organize, organize
1/13: Basics of literary editing; due: Discussion #1 on ANGEL
1/20: Selecting poetry; due: Discussion #2 on ANGEL
1/27: Selecting short stories and flash fiction; Due: Discussion #3 on ANGEL
2/3: Selecting non-fiction; Due: Discussion #4 on ANGEL
2/10: Selecting visual arts, using basic elements of publication design; Due: Discussion
#5 on ANGEL
2/17: Oral presentations on literary journals
2/24: Begin posting drafts of submissions on ANGEL; Choose staff positions, establish
teams, start process of selection
3/3: SUBMISSION DEADLINE. Compile a list of submissions and determine
schedule for refereeing the submissions
3/10: Spring Break
3/17: Work on Magazine; Due: Course Journal Entry
3/24: Work on Magazine; Due: Course Journal Entry
3/31: Work on Magazine; Due: Course Journal Entry
4/7: Work on Magazine; Due: Course Journal Entry
4/14: Publish Magazine; promote reception, including invitations
4/21: Reception—party, party, party.
4/28: Due: evaluation of Magazine
Final Exam Week: 5/3-5/6