Overview

You will define a Learning Plan based on the course learning objectives and your personal learning goals. Throughout the semester, you will review and adjust your Learning Plan and evaluate how well you are meeting your goals.

Feedback

Your instructor and classmates will provide feedback on your work via comments, email, and/or face-to-face meetings. If you would like feedback on your work, please request it from your classmates and/or your professor.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You are in charge of your learning experience in this course. You will not receive points or grades on your individual assignments. Feedback, verbal or written, is offered instead.

Final Grades

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.

Below is an example of expected final grades:

A = Completed and revised all of the assigned work, met the deadlines, actively participated in all in-class and online activities/discussions, worked on or met most of my learning goals.

B = Completed all and revised some of the assigned work, met most of the deadlines, actively participated in most of the in-class and online activities/discussions, worked on or met many of my learning goals.

C = Completed a significant amount of the assigned work and revised some, met some of the deadlines, actively participated in many of the in-class and online activities/discussions, worked on or met some of my learning goals.

D = Completed some of the assigned work, rarely met the deadlines, participated in some of the in-class and online activities/discussions, worked on or met few of my learning goals.

F = Completed a little to none of the assigned work, didn’t meet the deadlines, participated in few to none of the in-class and online activities/discussions, did not work toward my learning goals.

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 and peer-to-peer comments. Part of this practice will be presenting thoughtful reflections on your learning process in order to demonstrate your understanding of challenging theoretical concepts.

Weekly readings or other media and written responses are central to this course. Completing every assignment is necessary for the successful completion of the course. Your weekly written responses, a research essay, and class discussions will be posted on the class website. The course will also require independent research and will culminate in a Research Project Presentation. 

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

In this writing-intensive course, students are expected to write between 30-40 pages in total.

  • Reading Responses / Comments 25% (1 page weekly)
  • Essay 20% (2-4 pages)
  • In-Class Free Writing 10% (1 page weekly)
  • Research Project & Presentation 25% (2-3 pages of research/prep)
  • Productivity & Participation 20%

Reading & Research Responses (25%)

Each weekly reading or research topic will be posted on the class site and include questions or prompts intended to promote critical engagement and class discussion. You will be expected to write a 3-4 paragraph comment reflecting on the text or topic presented and provide feedback on your peers’ reflections. Responses must be submitted on the date due. 

Essay (20%)

During the mid semester, you will submit one Exploratory Essay 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. This paper will be a formally structured essay concerning assigned readings and/or your individual research. These readings may relate to a specific area of interest to help guide your research. You are encouraged to submit your essay to Many Voices or City Tech Writer.

In-Class Free Writing (10%)

Each week, we will complete a noticing exercise and write about it in class together. This type of writing is for yourself and a way to free up and relax your mind. It’s also a great way to improve your writing skills overall without pressure or critique. It will help you increase your curiosity and awareness, and help you to develop your ideas and creativity.

Your free writing may be private or you may choose to share your work at any point in the semester.

Research Project & Presentation (25%)

By the midterm, 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 three 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 and presentation will:

  • include a 5-7 minute visual and verbal presentation (in person or video)
  • 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, and annotated bibliography
  • demonstrate methods of primary and secondary source evaluation

Productivity & Participation (20 %)

Discussions of assigned readings and topics 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 course content, but should also make the course more engaging for everyone.

Using the Community Agreement as a guide, effective participation is demonstrated by:

  • Attendance and participation in in-class activities are critical to successful completion of the course.
  • Posting and commenting on the shared class site by the set deadline, including contributing to discussions, or giving peer feedback.
  • Actively participating in 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, as a courtesy to your peers and the professor, please notify the professor BEFORE the due date.

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

Attendance (College) and Lateness (Department) Policies

Attendance is taken and is important to success in this class. Both absences and arrival more than 15 minutes after the start of class will be marked. If excessive, the instructor will alert the student that he or she may be in danger of not meeting the course objectives and participation expectations, which could lead to a lower grade.

If this course is being offered asynchronously, attendance and lateness are determined by timely participation in discussion, posting, and commenting deadlines set by the instructor.

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 affect your final grade due to an inability to meet participation and in-class activity requirements. No more than 4 class absences will be allowed. It is expected that you will be ready to work at the start of each period.

COMD Department
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