In this course, you will publish all your assignments as posts on your own course subdomain, and we will use a syndicator to pull the posts into this course website, where your classmates will comment on them. In order to complete assignments, you must first get a Davidson Domain. Then you must create a subdomain, install WordPress, and set up a simple website for your ENG 406 course work. Consider this website your Digital Design laboratory or workshop—a place where you can create and store assignments and play around.
The design of your site is up to you, but your site must include correct post categories for each assignment
For the syndicator to work properly, the categories must exactly match the ones we’ve designated for each assignment. These categories are case-sensitive and punctuation-sensitive. As soon as you set up your WordPress theme, go to Posts/Categories/Add New, and create the following assignment categories (category name = slug):
- about me
- project proposal
- think piece
- bibliography
- annotations
- strategic plan
- website eval
- wireframe
- lit review
- oas plan
- content draft
- prototype 1
- prototype 2
- white paper
- final project
As soon as you have set up your ENG 406 subdomain, email the site URL to surichard@davidson.edu so that she can set up your site in the syndicator.
Although you will publish your assignments in your course subdomain, you should draft them in Word, Pages, or some other word processing program for safe keeping. Then login to your course subdomain, create a new post, copy your work into it, and save it as a draft. Add a Featured Image if you want use one to attract readers to your post. Add Media if you need images, video, or audio to communicate your argument most effectively (don’t forget to add alt-text for images). Check the appropriate category and Publish it when you are ready to have your post appear on our course site, so that others may read and comment on your work.
All posts should include these 3 necessary elements:
- categories
- works cited
- honor code pledge.
Click “Update” to save changes. Always “View Page” or “Preview Changes” to proofread your work and make sure it is formatted correctly. After an hour or so, go to the course website to make sure your post has been collected by the syndicator, appears under the appropriate category, and has transferred without formatting glitches.
Remember: If you don’t check the right categories, it’s like doing your homework and stuffing it under your bed. You haven’t turned the work in.
