EGL 211

ENGLISH 211 GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS


I.	Course Prefix	Course No.	Course Name	Credit	Lecture	Lab
	EGL	211	Writing for the Web	3	3	0

II.

Prerequisite:

WWW131 and one previous, college-level writing course with a grade of C or higher. (Recommended: EGL 101, EGL 111, EGL 212, or equivalent).

III.

Course (Catalog) Description:

Course explores specialized writing techniques and skills necessary to produce effective communications for digital formats. Focus is on online hypertext documents for internet and intranet systems. Experience using word processing software and World Wide Web necessary. Content includes organizing and writing company Web pages, product and service descriptions; and on-line training materials, easily navigated by various audiences. Instruction in HTML coding not part of course. Recommended: Successful completion of one college-level English course. Fee $15

Note: This is not a course in HTML coding.

IV.

Learning Objectives:

Writing for the Web is designed to give student the necessary tools to competently write and present descriptive, explanatory, and instructional information for internet and intranet systems. Specifically, students will demonstrate their ability to:

1.	Identify purposes and types of online documents
2.	Identify audience types and analyze information needs.
3.	Apply appropriate language, tone, and presentation modes for intended audiences and purposes
4.	Write technical material for non-technical audiences.
5.	Classify information according to logical principles.
6.	Write labels and headings that accurately convey content
7.	Write contextual clues and advance organizers
8.	Apply appropriate navigational tools to establish reading paths
9.	Write usable instructions for online tutorials.
10.	Write clear, concise descriptions of organizations, products, policies, and procedures.
11.	Effectively integrate graphics and text.
12.	Apply fundamental page design principles to online documents.
13.	Understand ethical use of Internet and Intranet documents and systems.

Academic Integrity:

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

VI.

Sequence of Topics:

Web Pages - Overview of Principles and Strategies

Purposes and types of online writing
Roles of web designers, developers, and writers
Differences between onscreen and print documents
Readability and usability

Planning a Web Page

Audience analysis
Purpose identification
Information mapping: chunking and layering

Describing Products and Services

Components of descriptions
Spatial organization / Subheadings
Advance organizers and contextual clues
Integration of illustrations and text

Writing Concept Definitions and Explanations

Formal and informal definitions
Language precision --denotative and connotative meaning

Writing Instructions and Procedures

Differences between instructions and process analysis
Chunking and layering stages and steps
Imperative verbs : active vs passive
Illustrations, exploded views, and flow charts- use and integration with text

Trends in Online Writing

Sentence Structure and Grammar: Addressed within units as needed.
Subordination and coordination
Conciseness strategies

VII.

Methods of Instruction:

Lectures, discussions, writing exercises, and review of Internet sites will be used to introduce and clarify principles and strategies of writing for the web. Computers will be employed for research and writing.

VIII.

Course Practices Required:

· Completing and submitting acceptable versions of all written assignments

· Participation in computer lab activities

· Positive contributions to collaborative writing activities.

IX.

Instructional Materials:

· The Internet Writer's Handbook, Martha C. Sammons, Allyn and Bacon, 1999

·Handbook of Technical Writing, Brusaw, Alred, and Oliu, St. Martin's Press, 1998.

· Instructor-generated materials.

Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

Instructor assessment of written assignments; peer and instructor assessment of contributions to collaborative projects.

XI.

Other Course Information:

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

June 2006