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. Your instructor will provide feedback on your work via comments, email, and/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.

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, and in their writing portfolio. Part of this practice will be presenting thoughtful reflections on their learning process in order to demonstrate their understanding 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, a research essay, and class discussions will be posted on the class website. The course will also require independent research using a Writing Portfolio 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 / Designer’s Cookbook Posts 25%
  • Essay 20%
  • Writing Portfolio (including free-writing and Art of Noticing) 10%
  • Research Project & Presentation 25%
  • Productivity & Participation 20%

Weekly Reading Responses / Posts (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 200-300 word comment reflecting on the text presented and provide feedback on your peers’ reflections. Responses with links to Hypothesis annotations must be submitted to the class site on the date due.

*In the second half of the course, in lieu of the standard readings and second essay, the class decided to create a series of “Designer’s Cookbook” posts showcasing the unique influences each student brings to the class. See

Essay (20%)

You will submit and one Research 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. These papers will be formally structured essays concerning assigned readings and/or your individual research.

Writing Portfolio (10%)

Each week, you will add your writing for this class to your online Writing Portfolio. Your Portfolio is a place for collecting ideas, freewriting, images, links, videos, and other media to help you increase your curiosity and awareness, develop your ideas and creativity. It can be a place to reflect on the readings and write your rough drafts before they are put into a formal post, comment, or essay.

Your Portfolio 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 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 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 5-7 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.

Using the Community Agreement as a guide, 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, 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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