Important Dates

Today is the end of the grace period for Project 3. Be sure you have turned it in by 11:59 PM tonight. All other upcoming dates are all on the Project 4 Schedule page.

Additional Tools

Note the table of software programs in the textbook on page 78. Here are some additional tools you can use as you work on your projects:

• Comic Strips
  Bitstrips, ComicMaster, MakeBeliefsComix, Pixton, PowToon, StripGenerator, ToonDoo, Voki, WittyComics
• Timelines
  Dipity, OurStory, Timeglider, TimeRime, Timetoast
• Others
  BeFunky, Bitmoji

If you find anything problematic (e.g., racist, stereotypes) as you work with these tools, let me know and I’ll take that tool off the list.

Deciding What Tools to Use

Test the tools (slideshow with examples) that you are considering for your project to ensure that they do what you need them to.

• Will the tool support your rhetorical situation?
• Does the tool give you control of pertinent design choices?
• Does the tool support the modes you want to use as you retell the story?
• Are there useful affordances to the tool?
• Are there problematic constraints?

Before you make your final decision on the tool that you want to use, you need to check some specific constraints that have been a problem in the past:

• Are there any time limits to how long you can use it?
• Are there any other restrictions on how much you can use it?
• How does it export your work? (and yes, I have the student’s permission to share this work):
  

Key Points from Chapter 5

As you read and use information from Chapter 5 of Writer/Designer, pay particular attention to these details:

1. Table of Technology Choices on page 78.

2. The book explains that a multimodal project doesn’t have to be digital; however, what you make for Project 4 does have to be digital.

3. As you firm up your decision on what tool(s) to use, keep in mind the same questions you used to evaluate an interface in Project 3. There’s also a case study that starts on page 79 and a technology review on page 81.

4. Pay attention to the tips on organizing and naming your files on pages 88–89.

5. Consider making a short style guide for your work to ensure consistency, following the suggestions on page 89.

Pitches (In-Class Writing)

Complete the "Project 4 Pitch" quiz in Canvas to tell me about your current plans for Project 4. Please be specific as you answer each of the questions. I will use the information to ensure that you have chosen a project that will fulfill the assignment.

If your plans change in the future, you will need to talk to me to get approval for the new direction you are taking.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

• If you didn’t complete your "Project 4 Pitch" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 5:30 PM Tuesday (11/3).

For Wednesday, do the following before class:

• Read Chapter 6 of Writer/Designer. We’ll talk about storyboards and mockups in class.

For Friday, do the following before class:

• Bring whatever you need to work on your project in class. Friday will be an in-class workday.
• Anyone signed up for the English Career Connection will be allowed to leave early, after I check in with you on your project.

Important Dates

• October 1: Registration for Career Connections 2015 begins
• October 2: Last day to drop classes
• October 2: Portfolio Deadline (end of grace period, no work accepted after 11:59 PM)
• October 16: Fall Break (no class meeting)
• October 21: Project 3 Peer Review (tentative)
• October 26: Project 3: Interrogate a Story Source due by 11:59 PM

Affordances and Constraints

We will get started with a discussion of autocorrect, autocomplete, and an article about Grandmaster Flash and Grandmas (the linked Tumblr site mentioned in the article is dated).

We’ll use these questions and gather our ideas on Padlet—10:10 class OR 11:15 class. You can use the slideshow for definitions.

1. What are the affordances of autocorrect and autocomplete? 
   In other words, what do autocorrect and autocomplete allow or encourage you to do? What does they make easy for you?
2. What are the constraints of autocorrect and autocomplete? 
   In other words, how do autocorrect and autocomplete limit your ability to do things you want to do? What do they make difficult for you? Think about which features of autocorrect and autocomplete are intuitive and which features are “hidden” or only available to advanced users. What shortcomings are there to autocorrect and autocomplete?

Group Exploration of Affordances and Constraints

You will consider the affordances and constraints of the way a text is published when you analyze your story source for Project 3. For some practice, we will analyze these four text, in small groups, using the Collaborations tool in Canvas (a shortcut for working on Google Docs together):

• Professional and Technical Writing Checksheet (2016)—worksheet, handout
• Creative Writing at Virginia Tech—flipbook
• A Feast of Words—magazine
• London Calling! 2016 brochure—flyer, brochure

After you work through the questions as a group, be ready to share your findings with the class in a short summary.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

• If you are an English major, explore the info on English Career Connections 2015 and fill out the registration form if you’re at the point where you need to think about internships or jobs after college. There are only 50 slots available.

For Friday’s session (10/2), do the following before class:

• Read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer and be ready to apply what you read about rhetorical and design choices.