Overview

At the beginning of the semester, you will define a Learning Plan based on the course learning objectives and your personal learning goals. Throughout the semester, you will review your Learning Plan and evaluate how well you are meeting your goals. You may adjust your Learning Plan as needed throughout the semester. Your instructor will provide timely feedback on your work via comments, email, or face-to-face meetings.

Using the College’s standard grading scale, you and your instructor will determine your final grade. Your final grade will reflect how well you met the course learning objectives and the personal learning goals outlined in your Learning Plan.

Learning Plan

Review the Course Objectives in the Syllabus and the Course Assignments below before completing and submitting your Learning Plan.

Submit Your Learning Plan

Course Assignments

This course is designated “Writing Intensive.” Students will be writing every week, in class and on the OpenLab via weekly blog posts, peer-to-peer comments, and journal entries. Part of this practice will be presenting thoughtful reflections on their learning process in order to demonstrate their comprehension of challenging theoretical concepts.

Weekly readings and written reading responses are central to this course. Completing every reading is necessary for the successful completion of the course. Your weekly written responses, two short papers, and class discussions will be posted on the class website. The course will also require independent research using a Research Journal and will culminate in a Research Project Presentation. 

Your final grade will be based upon the successful completion of the following assignments as outlined in your Learning Plan and through midterm and end-of-semester discussions with your instructor:

  • Response Posts / Discussion Comments 25% (1 page weekly)
  • Research Papers 20% (2-4 pages each)
  • Research Journal 10% (1 page weekly)
  • Research Project & Presentation 25% (2-3 pages)
  • Productivity & Participation 20%

Weekly Reading Responses (25%)

Each weekly reading will be posted on the class site and will include a set of questions or prompts intended to promote critical engagement and class discussion using Hypothesis and OpenLab. You will be expected to write a 3-4 paragraph comment reflecting on the text presented and provide feedback on your peers’ reflections in Discussions. Responses with links to Hypothesis annotations must be submitted to the class site on the date due.

Research Papers (20%)

Twice during the semester, in lieu of the weekly reading response, you will submit a Research Paper, 2-3 pages (750-1000 words) in length, typed in double-spaced 12 pt Times New Roman, with all references and quotations properly cited according to MLA guidelines. These papers will be formally structured essays concerning assigned readings and your individual research. These readings may relate to your research topic and/or may take the form of an exploratory essay to help guide your research.

Research Journal (10%)

Each week you will add to your online Research Journal, documenting and critically reflecting on your influences, history, culture, likes, and dislikes. This practice of being curious about your own design aesthetic is a way to gain experience engaging with critical design theory. Your Research Journal is a place for collecting ideas, freewriting, images, links, videos, and other media to help you develop your ideas and formulate your research topic. It can also be a place to reflect on the readings and write your rough drafts before they are put into a formal post, comment, or paper.

Your journal may be private or public throughout the semester, but it should be submitted at the midterm and end of the semester for review.

Research Project Presentation (25%)

By Week 7, you will present a well-defined research topic and outline of a final research project to be presented in class and/or posted on the class site for feedback.

In the final weeks of class, you and your peers will present your independent research. You will be expected to articulate a clearly defined topic concerning contemporary design and theory by way of a well-designed poster or slide deck with voice or video narration. Your research project should serve as an opportunity to connect your own design practice with professional research methodologies and the design theory presented in this course.

The research project presentation will:

  • include a 5-10 minute slideshow and audio/video presentation
  • demonstrate professional research practices (written, verbal, visual)
  • connect graphic design history and theory with the contemporary design field
  • demonstrate a connection between your design practice and theoretical concepts covered in the course
  • include an outline, annotated bibliography, and glossary
  • demonstrate methods of primary and secondary source evaluation

Productivity & Participation (20 %)

Discussions of assigned readings will play a critical role in this course. Class conversations, whether face to face or asynchronous, should not only provide a better understanding of the readings but should also make the course more engaging for everyone.

Effective participation is demonstrated by:

  • Posting and commenting on the shared class site by the set deadline, including contributing to discussions or giving peer feedback.
  • Actively participating in group annotations, presentations, and discussions.
  • Following best practices for face-to-face and online learning.
  • Class preparedness; coming prepared for class and checking the class site for instructions, prior to the class meeting.
  • Timeliness; arriving to class on time and completing assignments on time.
  • Asking questions, volunteering answers, and helping other students
  • Paying attention during demonstrations and presentations
  • Following instructions and taking notes

Attendance & Late Work

If you are not able to present or hand in an assignment on the scheduled due date, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor BEFORE the due date.

Late assignments and missed discussions will affect the successful completion of your Learning Plan and your final grade.

COMD Attendance Policy

The COMD BFA and AAS are design studio programs. In-class activities and engagement with other students are a significant portion of the courses. Absences in excess of 10% of the total class hours will result in a 10% drop from your grade due to an inability to meet deliverables of participation. This is in addition to other penalties that will be imposed for failure to complete academic requirements. No more than 4 class absences will be tolerated. It is expected that you will be ready to work at the start of each period. Any 2 latenesses will be considered to be equal to 1 absence.

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