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SENECA COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF ENGLISH AND LIBERAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION, ART AND DESIGN
SUBJECT OUTLINE
SUBJECT CODE:
SUBJECT TITLE:
PWR 480
(YorkU PRWR 4800)
Advanced Workshop 1: Visual Information and Document Design
SEMESTER: Fall 2012
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________
Andrew Schmitz, Chair
School of English and Liberal Studies
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FACULTY of LIBERAL ARTS and PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Writing Department
Professional Writing Program
COURSE: PRWR 4800 3.0 (PWR 480YA) Advanced Workshop 1: Visual Information and Document Design
COURSE WEBPAGE: MySeneca PWR 480YA [Blackboard]
TERM: Fall Term 2012
PREREQUISITE/COREQUISITE: Enrolment in the York-Seneca Professional Writing Program [Institutional
Communications Stream]
COURSE INSTRUCTOR:
Sharon Winstanley
Office: S2107 Tel: (416) 491-5050 ext. 3076
sharon.winstanley@senecacollege.ca
COURSE CONSULTATION HOURS will be announced and put on the MySeneca course site shortly after
the start of the semester.
TIME AND LOCATION:
Monday mornings, 8:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. TEL building, room 2109
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course offers a substantive introduction to the history, theory, and elements of document design, as well as
an introduction to the application of this knowledge. PRWR 4800 is based on the inextricable relationship of
text/image content to its formal presence. Thus, the course considers the elements of documentary form, then
requires students to assemble these elements into a variety of formats for differing audiences and purposes.
Students will develop, implement and defend effective strategies for visual presentation of information, based on
sound aesthetic and needs-based means of assessment
Organization of the Course
As noted, PRW 480 presents communications/typographic history and theory, and opportunities for practical
application of the specifics of document design. To this end, classes will be comprised of lectures, discussions, and
interactive workshop sessions. During such in-class sessions, students and the professor will work through various
ideological, conceptual, and technical challenges based on demonstrating understanding of specific aspects of
course knowledge. Thorough comprehension of all required readings for this course is essential for student
success, as the course knowledge base builds incrementally from start to end.
Support, tutorial, and reference material will be available on both the PRWR 4800 site on MySeneca and the
course’s website residing on the Seneca library site.
Statement of Purpose
PRW 480 proposes that a solid understanding of the constituents of and rationales behind document design
prepares the student to make informed decisions in a variety of future professional situations, based on
transferable skills and knowledge. Students will be prepared to assess and meet design and production challenges
inherent in presenting self- or other-authored text for a range of types of publications.
Course Learning Objectives
Overall, PRW 480 requires and challenges students to work out their own understanding and management of the
flow from letter and image to page, grid, and longer document.
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Thus, the objectives of this course are to help students to understand typography as discourse, and in so doing,
(1) to learn fundamentals of the history and theory of typographic conventions and page design;
(2) to develop an integrated vision of the document as a whole;
(3) to grasp the nature of textual and visual rhetorics;
(4) to develop suitable critical, practical and aesthetic standards with which to address and evaluate potential
information-presentation challenges;
(5) to merge content and presentation in a meaningful and competent fashion, using appropriate softwares
and applications, and
(6) to begin to implement a range of text and layout strategies relevant to varied publications.
To this end, students will explore the properties, values and rhythms of various fonts, the virtues and placement of
white space, the essentials of page hierarchy, the types of figures and illustrations relevant to differing
publications, the creation and selection of grid systems, and the rationales for various information densities. To do
so, students will examine and evaluate exemplar documents as well as experiment with creating their own
documents.
COURSE TEXT READINGS and REQUIREMENTS
The following text is required for this course:
 Riley, Kathryn, and Jo Mackiewicz. Visual Composing. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson, 2011. Print.
The following text is strongly recommended for this course:
 Lupton, Ellen. Thinking with Type. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004. Print.
The following texts are recommended references:
 Bringhurst, Robert. The Elements of Typographic Style. Version 3.3. Vancouver: Hartley & Marks, 2005.
Print.
 White, Alexander W. The Elements of Graphic Design. New York: Allworth Press, 2002. Print.
*Students are expected to bring to class a USB key.
EVALUATION, GRADING and ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION
Grading will be based on successful completion of the following:
 In-class workshop assignments: 30 %
 Out-of-class assignments, including final project: 50 %
 Midterm and final quizzes: 20 %
Lateness Penalties and Missed Tests
Grading: The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate
programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.). Assignments and tests* will bear either a letter grade
designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+ = 75 to 79, etc.)
For a full description of York grading system see the York University Undergraduate Calendar http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf
Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will receive a half letter grade deduction per day.
Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be
entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation.
Assignment Submission: Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but
on time. Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received at the start of the class, or electronically, as
stipulated, on the due date specified for the assignment.
 Assignments are to be handed in at the start of the class in which they are due in final printed form, in the
case of out-of-class assignments.
 In-class workshop assignments will generally be submitted and printed in class or occasionally emailed on
the date created to the Instructor.
Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness, compassionate
grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter) may request accommodation
from the Course Instructor in the form of a scheduled make-up test. Further extensions or accommodation will
require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.
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PWR 480YA Projected Weekly Schedule: Fall 2012
WEEK
CONTENT
Week 2
September 10
Intro to visual
composition,
Registration
Week 3
September 17
Typography and
function, Rhetoric:
textual and visual
Week 4
September 24
IN-CLASS
ACTIVITY
Writing Diagnostic
Sample
ASSIGNMENT
Chapter 1
Complete I-C
Assignment 1a
Typography and
the creation of
persona
Visual hierarchies:
Visual rhetoric and
readers
Chapter 2
Work on I-C
Assignment 1b
O-C Assignment 1
Assigned: 10
marks
I-C Assignment !a:
5 marks
I-C Assignment 1b:
5 marks
Chapter 3
Complete I-C
Assignment 1b
Week 6
October 8
Mark and Space:
White space and
readability
Chapter 4
Work on I-C
Assignment 2a
Week 7
October 15
Midterm Quiz
Chapters 1—4;
Blackboard
content
Complete I-C
Assignment 2a;
Review I-C
Assignment 2b
Week 8
October 22
Page sizes:
Designing the 8.5
X 11 page
Film
Week 9
October 29
Beyond
typography:
Images, colour,
layout; using
tables
Chapters 5, 7
Complete I-C
Assignment 2b
Week 10
November 5
Week 11
November 12
Week 12
November 19
Week 13
November 26
Week 14
Dec. 3
Graphs and Charts
Chapter 8
Photos and
Illustrations
Colour and other
print media
Course Review
Chapter 9
Complete I-C
Assignment 3
Work on Final
Assignment
Work on Final
Assignment
Final Quiz
Chapters 5—11;
Blackboard
content
Week 5
October 1
ASSIGNED
READING
Film
Chapter 11
I-C Diagnostic
I-C Assignment 1b
Due
O-C Assignment 1
Due
I-C Assignment 2a
Assigned: 5 marks
O-C Assignment 2
Assigned: 10
marks
Midterm Quiz: 10
marks
I-C Assignment 2a
Due
I-C Assignment 2b
Assigned: 5 marks
O-C Assignment 2
Due
O-C Assignment 3
Assigned: 10
marks
I-C Assignment 2b
Due
O-C Assignment 3
Due
Final Assignment
Assigned: 20
marks
I-C Assignment 3:
5 marks
Final Assignment
Due
Final Quiz 10
marks
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Please Note:


Especially in the back half of the semester, you will be working on out-of-class assignments in class; hence
the apparent absence of in-class assignments during that period.
An InDesign Exercise will be done in the back half of the semester; it has a mark value of 5 marks.
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the Senate
Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage (see Reports, Initiatives, Documents) http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm
• York’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website
• Ethics Review Process for research involving human participants
• Course requirement accommodation for students with disabilities, including physical, medical, systemic,
learning and psychiatric disabilities
• Student Conduct Standards
• Religious Observance Accommodation
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SENECA PRWR STUDENTS
SENECA COLLEGE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
As a student of a PRWR course, you are also a student of Seneca College. It is therefore your responsibility as a
student of Seneca College to be aware of and abide by the academic and behavioural policies outlined in the
Seneca College Academic Policy and the Student Handbook. Here are some key policies:
ACADEMIC HONESTY (Section 9 and Appendix E - Academic Policy)
“Engaging in any form of academic dishonesty to obtain any type of academic advantage or credit is an offence
under this policy and will not be tolerated by the College. “The penalty for a first academic honesty offence is a
grade “0” on the work in which the offence occurred, and will result in a comment being placed on the transcript
by the Academic Honesty Committee. The penalty for the second academic honesty offence is an “F” in the
subject where the offence occurred, a second comment on the transcript and suspension from the College for a
time period determined by the Academic Honesty Committee, normally for a minimum of three (3) semesters.”
For more information on Academic Honesty go to: http://library.senecacollege.ca.
STUDENT APPEALS
Students must keep all assignments (including drafts and outlines) and exercises until they have received their final
grade. No appeal will be considered unless a complete file is submitted at the time of appeal. A lost assignment is
no excuse.
If a student disagrees with the evaluation of an assignment or with a final grade, s/he must first discuss the matter
with the professor in an attempt to resolve the disagreement. If the matter is not resolved, at this point the
student should go to the Chair of Seneca’s School of English and Liberal Studies. If the matter cannot be resolved,
the student will be asked to take the appeal to York’s Professional Writing Program Office at 301 Calumet College
and submit a Grade Reappraisal Form.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AND PROTOCOLS
See the Student Handbook. Faculty and students are reminded that College correspondence should only be
disseminated electronically through official College-provided e-mail. Alternate e-mail addresses, such as Yahoo
mail or Hotmail mail, are not authenticable through Seneca.
COPYRIGHT – See the Student handbook
“It is illegal to photocopy textbooks and other copyrighted materials (e.g. graphics from a web site). Copyright
information is available at http://library.senecacollege.ca …”
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - See the Student Handbook
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination
and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on
Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the
Resolution, Equity and Diversity Centre.