Grading Formula
The course grade will be determined by the following calculation:
- Exam 1 and 2: 20%
- InDesign Exam: 10%
- Lab projects: 10%
- Magazine prototype: 20%
- iPad prototype: 10%
- In-class assignments and participation: 10%
- Final Presentation: 20%
Grading scale
A = 92-100
B = 83-91
C = 74-82
D = 65-73
F = Lower than 65
Extra credit opportunities
No absence in class and lab, 2 points to final average
The following will result in dropped low lab grades (max 2):
- JMC Chapels attendance (attend all)
- KACU Pledge Drive, 1 lab grade per hour (3)
The following will result in automatic course failure:
- Failing grade in lab
- Failing grade for publication project
- Overall average of less than 64.5
- Violation of JMC integrity policy, included in this document
- Excessive absences
Required Coursework
A summary of expectations for students:
- Attend all classes and labs.
- Take all exams.
- Learn InDesign
- Polish Photoshop knowledge.
- Complete all assignments.
- Complete a major print publication project.
- Complete a major multimedia publication prototype.
Exams
Exams will measure performance in differing ways.
The exams will focus on the lecture and tutorial content covered in class within each unit. Each will be equal in weight (10 percent of final grade each).
The InDesign Exam will measure your level of mastery of Adobe InDesign. The exam will be worth 10 percent of course grade.
The Final Presentation will be a presentation of the final prototypes, which is worth 20 percent of the grade.
Publication Prototypes
Print Design Prototype
Each student will produce a print design concept. The assignment will include producing prototype spreads during the middle of the course. Demonstration of the principles and skills taught in the course will serve as the most significant aspect of grading. See the class schedule for deadlines. The first draft of the print publication prototype is worth 20 percent of the grade.
Criteria for an A Prototype Grade
- Legibility of all typography.
- Effective use of design principles.
- Consistency of style and philosophy.
- Freshness, creativity, innovation.
- Appropriate use of type.
- Comprehensiveness of prototype.
- Neatness.
Expectations
Students will complete a print prototype project. See course schedule for details. Project content expectations include:
- Choose a topic or subject matter for your magazine and e-mail it to your professor and your lab instructor by the end of the first week of classes.
- Analyze magazine’s potential audience based on demographic and psychographic research, identifying appropriate sources. Explain purpose and function of publication in Function and Format Essay. Explain potential advertisers and competition. (Essay should be about three pages long.)
- Design a logo, keeping all versions that you attempted; show this development process in a presentation to the class during which you discuss why you made your final choice.
- Publication Assignment 1: Design brand identity package that appropriately communicates personality and function of your product. Logo must be designed in Illustrator. Include typogrpahic arsenal and other graphical elements that advance the publication.
- Publication Assignment 2: Design a magazine cover that includes an updated, final version of your logo.
- Publication Assignment 3: Design and produce two feature spreads with multiple elements (photo, headline, text, etc.)
- Publication Assignment 4: Design and produce two single-page designs with multiple elements.
- For all publication assignments, use art from source of student’s choice. Maintain appropriate records of where source material was derived from.
- Submit prototype pages in PDF format.
- Defend prototype and portfolio at final exam.
Multimedia Design Prototype
Students will use InDesign to design a multimedia interactive publication. Stories, graphics and other materials will be provided to students for this project. The result will be a multi-page iPad viewable publication that may be uploaded using Adobe’s Digital Publication Solution. The project will be undertaken with the assistance of the Digital Learning Studio during the last five weeks of the semester. Demonstration of the principles and skills taught in the course will serve as the most significant aspect of grading. See the class schedule for deadlines. The first draft of the print publication prototype is worth 10 percent of the grade.
Criteria for an A Prototype Grade
- Legibility of all typography.
- Effective use of design principles.
- Consistency of style and philosophy.
- Freshness, creativity, innovation.
- Appropriate use of type.
- Comprehensiveness of prototype.
- Neatness.
- Appropriate application of creativity.
Fair Use Compliance
Students may download graphics and articles from the Internet under the Fair Use exemption to U.S. and international copyright law. However, compliance requires documenting sources for any copyrighted material used.
Deadlines
Each assignment will have a specified deadline, many of which are included in the syllabus. Failure to turn an assignment in on time will result in an automatic letter-grade drop. Failure to complete an assigned story will result in a zero. A second zero will result in dismissal from the course. All assignments due in class will be due in the course lab dropbox by 9 a.m. that day.
Late Work Policies
Students in mass communication must be able to complete quality work on time. A professional cannot turn in late work. For this reason, deadlines will be enforced, and consequences will result for students who miss them. Here the course rules concerning late work:
No lab quizzes can be made up. The two lowest quiz grades will be dropped, so a missed quiz will be a zero and dropped.
Make-up work is allowed only when absences are officially approved under the attendance policies. Because deadlines are clear in this syllabus, even an excused assignment will be due the day students return.
Students on school-sponsored activities must submit assignments before an absence.
Unexcused late work will be assessed penalties according to the number of days late.
Publication assignments will be penalized if turned in late. A late assignment is penalized one letter grade if turned in midnight-8 a.m. on the day after it is due.
For any publication assignment not turned in by noon on the day after it is due, the assignment will be graded a zero. No publication assignment grades will be dropped. No substitute or bonus grade will be allowed to replace the zero earned.
Marler’s Law
“Estimated time on task to the third power equals actual time to allot for task.”
Teaching Methodology
Teaching styles
Multiple teaching methods will be utilized in the course: you will learn from the teacher, lab instructor Rachel Mallary, InDesign on-screen tutorials, PowerPoint tutorials and your peers. Substantial practice in free-time lab will be required to reach A and B proficiency.
Two Emphases
The course objectives will be achieved by emphasizing theory in the classroom and InDesign and applications in the lab. Basic skills in Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop will be assumed.
Other Information
Cell phones and other electronic devices will be turned off during class. Technology that distracts during class time will be confiscated.
Students should protect the confidentiality of passwords and ID cards; sharing them can result in denial of access and dismissal from the course. After-hours guests in the building and labs must have clearance from JMC chair. Do not prop open doors to DM 307.
Food and drink are forbidden at all times in DM 307. Failure to comply will result in loss of lab access privileges.
All assignments, including the prototype pages, will be placed in the appropriate course dropbox.