Syllabus

Com 320: Visual Communication
Spring 2023 • 3 credits
Sec. 1: MWF 9:10-10:00 • Murrow Hall 307
Sec. 2: MWF 10:10-11:00 • Murrow Hall 242

Instructor: Lisa Waananen Jones
Office: Murrow 209
Office Hours: Wednesdays 11:00 a.m.-noon, and by appointment
Phone: 509-335-5229 (please email)
Email: lisalynn@wsu.edu

Course Overview

In this course, students will learn about how we see and perceive images, and apply visual principles to create compositions for web and print publication with the goal of effective communication for public audiences. Students will explore the history, ethics, research and technology of news images to understand why some visuals stand out among everything we see to have a lasting impact in our lives and in society.

In weekly assignments and two larger projects, students will analyze images, take photographs, create web and print products, and edit media using Adobe software to practice visual communication skills. This course requires students to go beyond a comfortable, everyday familiarity with visuals to think critically about how we understand and construct our visual world.

Materials & Resources
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign*
• Digital camera (smartphone or better)
• Digital storage device (such as USB drive) or cloud storage (such as Dropbox)
• Readings and materials provided in class
• Recommended: Discounted digital access to New York Times and Washington Post

*Assignments in this course require the use of Adobe Creative Cloud software, including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. You can purchase an Adobe Creative Cloud student subscription if you prefer to use the software on your own computer, or you can use the Adobe-equipped WSU computer labs in Jackson Hall, Holland Library and the Spark.

Please ask if you would like in-depth book/reading recommendations for any topic covered in this course!

Murrow College Course Learning Goals
The requirements of this course are directly related to the three Murrow College Student Learning Outcomes.

Select University Policies

Copyright (2023) Lisa Waananen Jones
This syllabus and all course-related materials, presentations, lectures, etc. are my intellectual property and may be protected by copyright. Selling class notes through commercial note taking services, without my written advance permission, could be viewed as copyright infringement and/or an academic integrity violation, WAC 504-26-010 (3)(a,b,c,i). Further, the use of University electronic resources (e.g., Canvas) for commercial purposes, including advertising to other students to buy notes, is a violation of WSU’s computer abuses and theft policy (WAC 504-26-218), a violation of WSU’s Electronic Communication policy (EP 4), and also violates the terms of use for the Canvas software program.

COVID-19 Statement
WSU follows public health directives from federal, state and county officials. Public health directives may be adjusted throughout the year to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. All current COVID-19 related university policies and public health directives are located at https://wsu.edu/covid-19/.

Public health policy is based on the overall risk to a broad population, not individual risk, and students are encouraged to voluntarily maintain precautions such as wearing a mask or social distancing when possible and appropriate. When there are no restrictions in place, it is expected in this class that students will respect others’ choices to take precautions that go beyond WSU requirements.

Lauren’s Promise: WSU’s commitment to addressing discrimination and harassment
The Associated Students of Washington State University recommended in 2019 that a statement referring to Lauren McCluskey be included in course syllabi. She grew up in Pullman and her parents work at WSU. The university has changed the wording a few times and in spring 2023 merged it with the discriminatory conduct statement.

Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old honors student athlete, was murdered on October 22, 2018, on the University of Utah campus by a man she briefly dated. WSU will listen and facilitate support and reporting options if someone is threatening you.

Discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct (including stalking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence) are prohibited at WSU (see Executive Policy 15 – WSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment, the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students, and relevant employee manuals). WSU has instituted procedures to respond to violations of these laws and standards, programs aimed at the prevention of such conduct, and intervention on behalf of victims.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

If you are experiencing sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, discrimination or harassment, you have support and options. If you share information with your course instructor, please know that they are required to reach out to the Title IX Coordinator in WSU’s Office of Compliance and Civil Rights (CCR), and CCR will reach out to you with information about on and off campus reporting options and resources. CCR is a system-wide resource (all campuses) which is available for intake consultations for you to learn more about available support. You can reach them directly at 509-335-8288, ccr@wsu.edu, or report online (anonymous reports accepted).

You can also speak to a victim advocate, a medical provider, or counselor confidentially about your concerns. Advocates help survivors of crime determine their own needs in regards to their physical and emotional health, reporting options, and academic concerns. At no cost, advocates connect survivors to campus and community services, and provide accompaniment to important appointments (court, hospital, and police) and support throughout the process. For a list of confidential victim advocates and medical providers, please visit CCR Resources.

WSU Police Department (WSU PD) officers and campus security will treat victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, hate crimes, and other crimes with respect and dignity. WSU PD, campus security departments, CCR, and victim advocates can also help you with safety planning.

Academic Integrity Statement
Washington State University, a community dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, expects all students to adhere to high expectations of scholarship and the Standards of Conduct for Students. Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Cheating is defined in the Standards for Student Conduct WAC 504-26-010(3). It is strongly recommended that you read and understand these definitions: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=504-26-010.

Violation of academic integrity on any assignment will involve (i) an academic penalty ranging from a minimum of both a zero on that assignment and the reduction of a full letter grade on your final grade to failure of the entire course, (ii) filing of case with the Office of Student Conduct, and per university regulations, (iii) inability to withdraw from the course. Instructors may consider mitigating circumstances and have some latitude in assigning sanctions. In addition, the Office of Student Standards and Accountability may impose other punishments, including expulsion from the university.

Some assignments in this course require students to follow professional standards for journalism ethics. Violating these standards (by fabricating sources, intentionally misidentifying sources, presenting staged photos as candid, etc.) is cheating and will be treated as an academic integrity violation.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with documented disabilities or chronic medical or psychological conditions. If you have such a condition and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit your campus’ Access Center/Services website to follow published procedures to request accommodations. Students may also contact their campus offices to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. All disability related accommodations are to be approved through the Access Center/Services on your campus. It is a university expectation that students connect with instructors (via email, Zoom, or in person) to discuss logistics within two weeks after they have officially requested their accommodations. Students may contact the Access Center and request accommodation at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not applied retroactively.

Campus and Classroom Safety Statement
Please sign up for emergency alerts on your account at MyWSU. For more information on this subject, campus safety, and related topics, please view the FBI’s Run, Hide, Fight video and visit the classroom safety page https://provost.wsu.edu/classroom-safety/.

First Week Class Attendance (Rule 72)
Students who do not attend class during the first week of the semester will likely be dropped from the course. Students with extenuating circumstances should notify the Office of Student Affairs. Valid reasons for missing class do not relieve the student of their responsibility for that missed work.

Religious Holidays (Rule 82)
Religious observances do not always conform to state and university holidays. When tests or exams fall on days objectionable to a student because of religious beliefs, the student shall provide the instructor written notice 14 calendar days prior to the holiday.

Retaking Courses (Rule 34a)
Students may only repeat a course graded C- or below one time at WSU during fall or spring semesters. Additional repeats are allowed from another institution or at WSU during summer terms or by special permission of the academic unit offering the course.

Academic Complaint Procedures (Rule 104)
A student having complaints about instruction or grading should attempt to resolve those issues directly with the instructor. If that fails, Academic Rule 104 outlines additional steps to resolve complaints.

Expected Time Commitment
The minimum time commitment per credit hour is 45 hours, as defined in WSU’s Academic Regulations, Rule 27. This means a 3-credit course requires at least 135 hours of student work, including lectures, labs and other course activities, which breaks down to roughly 9 hours each week. Actual time will vary by week and personal skill level.

In this course, the weekly breakdown will typically be:

• 1-2 hours for the weekly content chapter, partially completed class time
• 3 hours of in-class participation and discussion during classes
• 1-2 hours for assigned readings
• 3-4 hours for weekly assignments

Select College & Course Policies

University Communication with Students
All official WSU email communication must be sent to students’ WSU email address. No communication will be sent to external accounts (Gmail, text messages, and so forth). It is the student’s responsibility to check WSU email at least daily and contact the Crimson Service Desk (previously CougTech) to promptly resolve any email account issues.

Late/Missed Work
Deadlines are crucial for communication professionals, and they are crucial in this class. One minute late is missing the deadline. Failure to meet a deadline will lead to a lower grade, and may lead to failing the assignment. The standard penalty for late work is a 20% deduction for one day past the deadline and a 40% deduction for two to seven days past the deadline. After seven days past the deadline, the midterm and final projects will not be accepted, and both must be completed to pass the course. A limited number of weekly assignments more than seven days late may be submitted as revisions through the Friday of Finals Week for up to 50% of the assignment value. This is not a passing grade, but it is a way to earn some points for completing the work. Completing an assignment late is always better than not completing it.

Additionally, each student is allotted one Late Work Pass, which applies to all assignments due a particular week. It can be requested for reasons such as illness, caregiving responsibilities, or other personal circumstances. Weekly assignments (participations journal and skills assignments) during the requested week can be completed anytime later in the semester without penalty; projects and exams during the week will have a negotiated extension period, typically 2-7 days. The Late Work Pass week must be requested before the assignments are due, not retroactively.

Penalties may occasionally be adjusted at the instructor’s discretion for unforeseeable extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Deadlines are not flexible except in the case of documented family or personal emergency discussed with the course instructor before the deadline.

Assignment Revision Opportunity
Each student may submit up to six weekly assignment revisions for a revised score equal to the average of the original and revised score. Revisions can be submitted anytime after the initial deadline through the end of Finals Week, and must be submitted to the original assignment location on Canvas. Both skill assignments and Content Participation Journals are eligible for revisions. More than six assignment revisions may be accepted if discussed with the instructor prior to Week 15.

Class Participation & Absences
This class meets regularly at the designated class time, either in-person or virtually based on the announced schedule. Your participation is expected and essential for this course. All class meetings involve activities and discussions. Your presence is valuable for your own learning outcomes and for your peers, who benefit from your perspective.

Students should miss no more than 6 class meetings (the equivalent of two weeks of the semester) to successfully meet the goals of the course. Meeting notes are posted on the course website and recordings are sometimes available. Students who miss class meetings are responsible for making use of these resources and contacting the instructor with any questions about missed content. Exams and some in-class activities cannot be made up for credit except in cases of personal emergency or prearranged absences in accordance with Academic Regulation 72

Instructor Communication & Office Hours
Communication by email is welcome and encouraged. You can expect to get a response to any email within 24 hours during the week and 48 hours on the weekend and breaks. All email sent to the instructor must be sent from the student’s official WSU email account. Emails from the instructor to the whole class will also be available in Canvas.

Students are welcome to meet with the instructor during posted virtual office hours, as well as other times by appointment. It is helpful to send an email ahead of time about what you want to discuss. The instructor will regularly have other availability at other times, so meetings by appointment are encouraged. To arrange an appointment, please send an email with two suggested time blocks.

Some excellent reasons for making an appointment:
• You are struggling with a particular course topic, or with coursework in general because of life circumstances. We’ll make a plan.
• You want to go over a technical issues with an assignment. We’ll solve it! Try it yourself, but don’t waste hours before asking for help.
• You want in-depth feedback about an assignment or work you plan to submit. We can identify strengths and talk through strategies for improving any weaknesses.
• You want recommendations for learning more about a particular course topic or career. There’s a lot we don’t have time for in class!

Original Work
Students may not submit any work previously created for any purpose, including other courses, internships or personal activities. All work must be original and newly created for the purposes of this course. Any exceptions to this rule are clearly stated in assignment instructions, such as one assignment that allows you to use a photo you’ve taken in the past. Any overlap with topics or examples used in other classes, or any other conflict of interest, must be discussed with the instructor before submitting the assignment. Violating this policy will be considered an academic integrity violation.

Professionalism & Community
All students in this class are expected to work and act as communication professionals, and are expected to follow professional standards and ethics in all assignments and interactions. Be considerate of the diverse experiences and opinions of your classmates, and be self-aware about how your perspective and presence fit into the larger class.

You have an impact on other students’ education and the broader community. The communication industry increasingly expects flexibility with in-person, virtual, and asynchronous collaboration. Be patient and compassionate toward yourself and others in the class. Be mindful of potential distractions and work to be attentive and present in the moment. Practicing good habits now now is an investment in your career success.

Sensitive Course Content
This course involves viewing and discussing important visuals from history and current events, and many images may involve difficult and uncomfortable subjects. Images may depict violence, discrimination, death, nudity and hurtful stereotypes. Students who are concerned about the personal impact of viewing or discussing particular types of images should speak with the instructor early in the semester.

Labs & Technology
Students enrolled in Murrow College courses in Pullman have access to computer labs equipped with Adobe software outside of class times. Students must not count on access to labs beyond the posted times, and should plan ahead to make sure unexpected closures do not affect coursework.

This class meets in a Murrow lab that includes computers and other equipment. All classroom technology and personal devices (laptops, phones, etc.) may only be used for course assignments and activities as directed by the instructor. Habitually using your screens for purposes unrelated to this class is disrespectful and disruptive, no matter how discreet you try to be. If you know you will be tempted to multitask, remove the possibility of distraction.

Network & Technology
Students will need to regularly access secure online platforms for virtual learning. Students are responsible for maintaining their access to the WSU network by remembering passwords and quickly seeking help to resolve any issues. Getting locked out of accounts is not a justification for missing assignment deadlines, class meetings or exams.

Recording Policy
Audio and video of class meetings may be recorded by the instructor for internal uses, such as posting the recordings on Canvas so students can later review class material or catch up when absent. These recordings may not be shared or used externally, and will be deleted once the course is complete. Students are allowed to record class meetings — audio, video, screenshots — for personal use, but must not share any recordings publicly or with any other students without permission of the instructor. Sharing class recordings without permission is a violation of university policy and may violate state law.

Form of Instruction

The instruction for this course is a combination of self-guided online materials and class meetings that include lecture videos, discussion, activities and skills tutorials.

The online materials are organized into weekly content chapters that include readings, text and video lectures, feature videos, self-guided activities and participation questions. The class meetings will include assignment demonstrations and critiques, small group activities and discussions, and reviews of the weekly content questions. This is a 300-level course; students are expected to make connections between readings, lectures and current events that go beyond merely absorbing course content. Students should attend class meetings prepared to contribute in participatory learning activities.

Recommended weekly schedule:
• Monday: Meet in person in the classroom for weekly overview of materials
• Tuesday: Begin the weekly assignments and readings
• Wednesday: Meet in person in the classroom for activities and discussion; attend office hours for any questions
• Thursday: Make substantial progress on assignments and readings and ask for help with any questions or issues
• Friday: Meet in person in the classroom for activities and discussion; complete weekly assignments
• Weekend: Finish work if necessary and submit by Sunday night deadline

Materials and readings are posted each week on the course website: http://murrowcourses.com/viscom

Occasional emails will be sent out with announcements and answers to common questions that may come up. A copy of each email will be archived on Canvas under “Announcements.”

Grading
Grades are based on a point system, with a total of 800 points for the course. Final grades will be determined by percentage (scores on the edge between two letter grades will be rounded up):

All assignments will be judged on accuracy, clarity, effort and application of course principles. For most assignments, a “B” grade indicates that the work successfully meets expectations and requirements, with an “A” reserved for work that exceeds expectations or shows exemplary effort and thought. Additional evaluation criteria is specified in individual assignments and in rubrics available in Canvas.

Assignment requirements and deadlines are described on the course site, along with requirements for submission. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all described requirements and ask questions if any aspects of the assignments are unclear.

Note: It is my goal to provide 1) timely grading and 2) thorough feedback on your creative work. These two goals are in direct conflict since this is a relatively large class. If it would benefit your learning to have assignments graded more quickly or with more feedback, please meet with me during office hours or by appointment and we can go through your submissions together for both grading and real-time feedback.

Content Participation Journal (20 points each; 300 points total)
A written content participation journal is submitted each week to demonstrate understanding of course material and engagement with class activities and concepts. Each week’s content chapter includes five short questions and one short essay to complete independently. Additionally, each class meeting includes two prompts. Answering all questions in a satisfactory way is worth 18/20 points. Students can earn 20/20 by demonstrating thorough and thoughtful engagement with the course material: Are you thinking about it deeply and making connections with your own experiences and the world? Participation journals are evaluated for overall completion and level of engagement/effort; technical aspects of writing (and drawing) quality such as spelling/grammar are not a consideration. Content Participation Journals are eligible for the revision opportunity.

Weekly Skill Assignments (20 points each; 240 points total)
Weekly assignments involve a variety of hands-on media skills and activities related to in-class instruction. All assignments involve a media component (such as taking photos or creating a webpage) and often include written citations or short responses. The assignments include step-by-step training in technical skills, as well as creative activities that reinforce or supplement concepts from class. Instructions for each week’s assignment are posted on the course website by the first class of the week, with assignments regularly due on Sunday nights. There are four possible scores: Completed Exceptionally Well (100%), Successfully Completed (90%), Mostly Completed (80%), Somewhat Completed (60%), Not Sufficiently Completed (0%). Weekly skill assignments are eligible for the revision opportunity.

Exams (50 points each; 100 points total)
Two exams will check knowledge and comprehension of course concepts from lectures, readings and class activities. The format will be a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions, with a time limit and “open book” notes allowed. Exams are during Week 7 and Week 14. Exams are not eligible for the revision opportunity.

Midterm Project (60 points)
Each student will analyze an influential historic photograph in a written paper and give a summary presentation to the class. The paper requires application of course concepts such as visual perception, image composition, symbolism, photojournalism ethics and technological limitations.

Final Project (100 points)
Each student will create a photo essay related to a class-selected theme, published as both a webpage and a poster. This project requires application of practical skills introduced in weekly assignments throughout the semester, including photo composition and exposure, typography, color theory, hierarchy, print design software, and web design choices.

Minimum Standards to Pass
To pass the class, students must earn the points for a passing grade (510 out of 850 points) AND have successfully completed both projects (midterm and final) and at least 9 of 12 weekly assignments. A student who fails to submit both projects and 75% of weekly assignments will not pass the class, regardless of point total.

See the full course schedule here.