WRI​ ​327

Writing​ ​in​ ​Social​ ​Media:​ ​The​ ​Impact​ ​of​ ​Web​ ​2.0

Rahul​ ​Sethi
rahul.sethi@utoronto.ca
Room​ ​CC3009
Office​ ​Hours:​ ​Tuesdays​ ​and​ ​Thursdays​ ​from​ ​5:40pm​ ​-​ ​6:00pm​ ​and​ ​8:00pm​ ​-​ ​9:40pm
​ ust​ ​be​ ​made​ ​online​ ​using​ ​Appointment​ ​Quest​ ​(a
NOTE:​ ​Office​ ​hours​ ​are​ ​by​ ​appointment​ ​only.​ ​Appointments​ m
hyperlink​ ​will​ ​be​ ​posted​ ​on​ ​Blackboard).

Required​ ​Reading There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​required​ ​textbook​ ​for​ ​this​ ​course.​ ​All​ ​the​ ​material​ ​you​ ​need​ ​will​ ​be​ ​posted​ ​on​ ​a
blog​ ​I​ ​have​ ​created​ ​for​ ​this​ ​course:​ ​googlemytweetface.wordpress.com

Suggested​ ​Texts Guy​ ​Kawasaki​ ​&​ ​Peg​ ​Fitzpatrick,​ ​The​ ​Art​ ​of​ ​Social​ ​Media:Power​ ​Tips​ ​for​ ​Power​ ​Users​ ​(New
York:​ ​Penguin​ ​Group,​ ​2014).

Gini​ ​Dietrich,​ ​Spin​ ​Sucks:​ ​Communication​ ​and​ ​Reputation​ ​Management​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Digital​ ​Age
(Indianapolis:​ ​Pearson​ ​Education​ ​Inc,​ ​2014).

Darren​ ​Barefoot​ ​&​ ​Julie​ ​Szabo,​ ​Friends​ ​With​ ​Benefits:A​ ​Social​ ​Media​ ​Marketing​ ​Handbook
(San​ ​Francisco:​ ​No​ ​Starch​ ​Press,​ ​2010).

Jeff​ ​Jarvis,​ ​What​ ​Would​ ​Google​ ​Do?​ ​(New​ ​York:​ ​Harper​ ​Collins,​ ​2009).

Chris​ ​Brogan​ ​&​ ​Julien​ ​Smith,​ ​Trust​ ​Agents:​ ​Using​ ​the​ ​Web​ ​to​ ​Build​ ​Influence,​ ​Improve
Reputation,​ ​and​ ​Earn​ ​Trust​ ​(New​ ​Jersey:​ ​John​ ​Wiley​ ​and​ ​Sons,​ ​2009).

COURSE​ ​REQUIREMENTS

Written​ ​Work You​ ​must​ ​post​ ​six​ ​original​ ​Assignments​ ​(which​ ​will​ ​be​ ​Blog​ ​Posts​ ​on​ ​an​ ​Individual​ ​Blog​ ​you
create).​ ​You​ ​may​ ​make​ ​as​ ​many​ ​revisions​ ​to​ ​your​ ​assignments​ ​as​ ​you​ ​like​ ​before​ ​the​ ​final
submission.

Deadlines Assignments​ ​and​ ​Exercises​ ​are​ ​always​ ​assigned​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​class​ ​and​ ​due​ ​the​ ​following​ ​week
one​ ​hour​ ​before​ ​class​ ​on​ ​Blackboard​ ​as​ ​a​ ​DOC​ ​or​ ​PDF​ ​file.​ ​The​ ​Assignments​ ​(not​ ​Exercises)
must​ ​also​ ​be​ ​posted​ ​on​ ​your​ ​Personal​ ​blog​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​have​ ​set-up​ ​for​ ​this​ ​course.​ ​Along​ ​with
submitting​ ​the​ ​DOC​ ​or​ ​PDF​ ​files​ ​for​ ​your​ ​Assignment,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​also​ ​provide​ ​a​ ​link​ ​to​ ​the
same​ ​content​ ​on​ ​your​ ​blog.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​make​ ​revisions​ ​to​ ​assignments​ ​any​ ​day​ ​before​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of
the​ ​term.​ ​I​ ​will​ ​not​ ​accept​ ​submissions​ ​after​ ​the​ ​assigned​ ​deadlines.

Format Submit​ ​DOC​ ​or​ ​PDF​ ​files​ ​on​ ​Blackboard/Portal.​ ​No​ ​.rtf,​ ​.docx,​ ​.pages,​ ​or​ ​.pub​ ​files,​ ​as​ ​these
have​ ​often​ ​caused​ ​issues.​ ​Also​ ​have​ ​your​ ​assignment​ ​submission​ ​posted​ ​on​ ​your​ ​ ​blog,​ ​and
include​ ​the​ ​link​ ​to​ ​the​ ​assignment​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dialogue​ ​box​ ​with​ ​your​ ​attached​ ​submission.​ ​For
documents,​ ​double-space,​ ​and​ ​left​ ​justify​ ​(no​ ​full​ ​justification).​ ​Use​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​1.5”
margins,​ ​left​ ​and​ ​right,​ ​on​ ​a​ ​8.5​ ​x​ ​11”​ ​document​ ​(no​ ​legal​ ​size).​ ​Be​ ​certain​ ​to​ ​include​ ​your​ ​first
and​ ​last​ ​name​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Assignment/Exercise​ ​number​ ​in​ ​each​ ​document.

Document​ ​Labelling
Label​ ​your​ ​Assignments​ ​and​ ​your​ ​Exercises.​ ​Label​ ​the​ ​first​ ​version​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Assignment​ ​1a;
label​ ​your​ ​first​ ​revision​ ​for​ ​the​ ​Assignment​ ​1b,​ ​the​ ​second​ ​revision​ ​1c––and​ ​so​ ​on.​ ​Label
Exercises​ ​this​ ​way:​ ​Ex1,​ ​Ex2,​ ​Ex3––and​ ​so​ ​on.​ ​Include​ ​this​ ​labeling​ ​scheme​ ​within​ ​the
document,​ ​and​ ​label​ ​the​ ​document​ ​itself​ ​as​ ​follows:
LAST​ ​NAME,​ ​First​ ​Name-Assignment/Exercise​ ​Number.
 Example:​ ​SETHI,​ ​Rahul-Assignment​ ​1a.

Final​ ​Work Submit​ ​your​ ​final​ ​work,​ ​Assignments​ ​and​ ​Exercises,​ ​on​ ​Blackboard/Portal.​ ​See​ ​Instructions
for​ ​Submitting​ ​Final​ ​Work.

Attendance This​ ​course​ ​develops​ ​your​ ​awareness​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​(blogging)​ ​for​ ​an​ ​online​ ​audience​ ​and​ ​the
editing​ ​process.​ ​“Being​ ​there”​ ​counts​ ​in​ ​this​ ​course.​ ​I​ ​expect​ ​you​ ​to​ ​attend.

Editing​ ​Appointments Editing​ ​appointments​ ​with​ ​me​ ​last​ ​about​ ​twenty​ ​minutes.​ ​Appointments​ ​with​ ​me​ ​can​ ​be
scheduled​ ​by​ ​you​ ​via​ ​Appointment​ ​Quest.​ ​A​ ​link​ ​to​ ​access​ ​Appointment​ ​Quest​ ​will​ ​be​ ​made
available​ ​on​ ​Blackboard/Portal,​ ​and​ ​discussed​ ​in​ ​class.​ ​Aim​ ​to​ ​have​ ​at​ ​least​ ​one​ ​to​ ​two
appointments​ ​during​ ​the​ ​course.​ ​You​ ​must​ ​secure​ ​appointments.​ ​I​ ​do​ ​not​ ​chase​ ​people​ ​to​ ​make
appointments​ ​as​ ​it​ ​is​ ​your​ ​responsibility.​ ​For​ ​appointments,​ ​you​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​hard​ ​copy​ ​of​ ​an
Assignment​ ​you​ ​would​ ​like​ ​me​ ​to​ ​edit.​ ​I​ ​review​ ​your​ ​Assignment,​ ​make​ ​edits​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hard​ ​copy
and​ ​discuss​ ​any​ ​suggestions​ ​or​ ​comments​ ​I​ ​have.

Evaluation I​ ​base​ ​your​ ​mark​ ​on​ ​your​ ​performance​ ​in​ ​all​ ​aspects​ ​of​ ​the​ ​course:​ ​Assignments,​ ​Exercises,
Lectures,​ ​Appointments,​ ​your​ ​Presentation.​ ​Missing​ ​Lectures​ ​will​ ​lower​ ​your​ ​mark.​ ​Missing
Assignments​ ​and​ ​plagiarism​ ​may​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​failure​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course.

We​ ​practice​ ​Portfolio​ ​Assessment​ ​in​ ​Professional​ ​Writing​ ​and​ ​Communication​ ​courses.​ ​That
means​ ​we​ ​assess​ ​the​ ​completed​ ​portfolio​ ​you​ ​develop​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course.​ ​We​ ​expect​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of
your​ ​work​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​as​ ​the​ ​course​ ​progresses.​ ​Before​ ​the​ ​final​ ​drop​ ​date​ ​for​ ​the​ ​course,​ ​I​ ​will
provide​ ​you​ ​with​ ​a​ ​provisional​ ​mark​ ​worth​ ​about​ ​15%​ ​of​ ​your​ ​final​ ​mark.​ ​After​ ​that​ ​point​ ​in
the​ ​course,​ ​I​ ​prefer​ ​not​ ​to​ ​mark​ ​individual​ ​Assignments,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​will​ ​discuss​ ​your​ ​marks​ ​with​ ​you
and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​mark​ ​individual​ ​pieces​ ​if​ ​you​ ​ask​ ​me​ ​to​ ​during​ ​office​ ​hours.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​discuss​ ​your
progress​ ​and​ ​your​ ​mark​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course​ ​with​ ​me​ ​anytime​ ​during​ ​the​ ​course,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​evaluate
your​ ​progress​ ​and​ ​discuss​ ​it​ ​with​ ​you.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​questions,​ ​you​ ​should​ ​consult​ ​me.​ ​At​ ​the
end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​course,​ ​I​ ​assess​ ​the​ ​level​ ​of​ ​achievement​ ​in​ ​your​ ​Blog.​ ​I​ ​look​ ​for​ ​evidence​ ​that​ ​you
have​ ​mastered​ ​fundamentals​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​and​ ​revision​ ​for​ ​an​ ​online​ ​audience,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​key
principles​ ​and​ ​techniques​ ​discussed​ ​in​ ​class.

Because​ ​I​ ​base​ ​the​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​the​ ​evaluation​ ​on​ ​your​ ​writing/blogging,​ ​and​ ​because​ ​the​ ​course
offers​ ​students​ ​a​ ​continuous​ ​process​ ​of​ ​editing​ ​and​ ​revision,​ ​the​ ​standard​ ​for​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of
writing​ ​is​ ​high,​ ​higher​ ​than​ ​the​ ​standard​ ​applied​ ​in​ ​many​ ​university​ ​courses.​ ​To​ ​achieve​ ​an
average​ ​mark​ ​in​ ​this​ ​course​ ​(65%),​ ​students’​ ​files​ ​demonstrate​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​correct,
readable,​ ​detailed​ ​and​ ​interesting​ ​writing.​ ​To​ ​achieve​ ​an​ ​above​ ​average​ ​mark​ ​in​ ​the​ ​course
(70%​ ​or​ ​above),​ ​students​ ​must​ ​produce​ ​writing​ ​near​ ​the​ ​contemporary​ ​standard​ ​for​ ​quality
blogs​ ​and​ ​demonstrate​ ​mastery​ ​of​ ​editing​ ​and​ ​revision.​ ​To​ ​achieve​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​of​ ​80%​ ​or​ ​above,
students​ ​must​ ​produce​ ​exceptional,​ ​original​ ​writing​ ​that​ ​meets​ ​contemporary​ ​standards​ ​for
quality​ ​blogging.

Mark​ ​Calculation 65%––my​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​six​ ​Assignments​ ​(blog​ ​posts)​ ​averaged
20%––my​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​Exercises
5%––my​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​design,​ ​layout,​ ​and​ ​functionality​ ​of​ ​your​ ​blog
10%––my​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​your​ ​participation​ ​in​ ​class

Note​ ​on​ ​Content This​ ​course​ ​encourages​ ​students​ ​to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​writers/bloggers​ ​do​––that​ ​is,​ ​write​ ​about​ ​topics
that​ ​grow​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​experiences,​ ​observations,​ ​and​ ​research.​ ​Even​ ​researchers​ ​and​ ​journalists
work​ ​from​ ​experience​ ​and​ ​observation.​ ​These​ ​writers​ ​often​ ​create​ ​the​ ​experiences​ ​that​ ​inform
their​ ​prose.​ ​Researchers,​ ​for​ ​example,​ ​create​ ​experience​ ​when​ ​they​ ​concentrate​ ​time​ ​and
attention​ ​on​ ​a​ ​chosen​ ​subject​ ​area.​ ​That​ ​experience,​ ​closely​ ​observed,​ ​becomes​ ​the​ ​basis​ ​for
writing.
 Some​ ​writers​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​personal​ ​issues.​ ​You​ ​may​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​personal
issues,​ ​or​ ​you​ ​may​ ​decide​ ​not​ ​to.​ ​This​ ​course​ ​does​ ​not​ ​require​ ​or​ ​encourage​ ​you​ ​to​ ​reveal
anything​ ​about​ ​yourself​ ​or​ ​your​ ​history​ ​online​ ​if​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​uncomfortable​ ​in​ ​doing​ ​so.​ ​Should
you​ ​decide​ ​to​ ​write​ ​about​ ​sensitive​ ​issues,​ ​you​ ​may​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​as​ ​writers/bloggers​ ​often​ ​do:
change​ ​names​ ​(including​ ​your​ ​own​ ​name​ ​by​ ​using​ ​a​ ​pseudonym),​ ​settings​ ​and​ ​other
identifying​ ​details.

Note​ ​on​ ​Intensity This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​writing​ ​intensive​ ​course.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​keep​ ​up​ ​with​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​writing​ ​this​ ​course
and​ ​Having​ ​Personal requires,​ ​or​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​uncomfortable​ ​with​ ​having​ ​your​ ​writing​ ​online,​ ​this​ ​course​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be
Content​ ​Online for​ ​you.

Academic We​ ​assume​ ​students’​ ​knowledge​ ​of​ ​the​ ​University’s​ ​rules​ ​about​ ​plagiarism.
Integrity
From​ ​the​ ​University’s​ ​Code​ ​of​ ​Behaviour​ ​on​ ​Academic​ ​Matters​:

It​ ​shall​ ​be​ ​an​ ​offence​ ​for​ ​a​ ​student​ ​knowingly:

(d)​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​as​ ​one's​ ​own​ ​any​ ​idea​ ​or​ ​expression​ ​of​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​or​ ​work​ ​of
another​ ​in​ ​any​ ​academic​ ​examination​ ​or​ ​term​ ​test​ ​or​ ​in​ ​connection​ ​with​ ​any
other​ ​form​ ​of​ ​academic​ ​work,​ ​i.e.​ ​to​ ​commit​ ​plagiarism.​ ​Wherever​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Code
an​ ​offence​ ​is​ ​described​ ​as​ ​depending​ ​on​ ​“knowing”,​ ​the​ ​offence​ ​shall​ ​likewise
be​ ​deemed​ ​to​ ​have​ ​been​ ​committed​ ​if​ ​the​ ​person​ ​“ought​ ​reasonably​ ​to​ ​have
known."​ ​From​ ​the​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T​ ​Mississauga​ ​Academic​ ​Calendar​:​ ​Honesty​ ​and​ ​fairness
are​ ​considered​ ​fundamental​ ​to​ ​the​ ​University's​ ​mission,​ ​and,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​all​ ​those
who​ ​violate​ ​those​ ​principles​ ​are​ ​dealt​ ​with​ ​as​ ​if​ ​they​ ​were​ ​damaging​ ​the​ ​integrity
of​ ​the​ ​University​ ​itself.​ ​The​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Toronto​ ​treats​ ​academic​ ​offences​ ​very
seriously.​ ​Students​ ​should​ ​note​ ​that​ ​copying,​ ​plagiarizing,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​forms​ ​of
academic​ ​misconduct​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be​ ​tolerated.​ ​Any​ ​student​ ​caught​ ​engaging​ ​in​ ​such
activities​ ​will​ ​be​ ​subject​ ​to​ ​academic​ ​discipline​ ​ranging​ ​from​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​of​ ​zero​ ​on
the​ ​assignment,​ ​test​ ​or​ ​examination​ ​to​ ​dismissal​ ​from​ ​the​ ​University​ ​as​ ​outlined
in​ ​the​ ​UTM​ ​calendar.​ ​Any​ ​student​ ​abetting​ ​or​ ​assisting​ ​in​ ​such​ ​misconduct​ ​will
also​ ​be​ ​subject​ ​to​ ​academic​ ​penalties.

From​ ​the​ ​U​ ​of​ ​T​ ​Mississauga​ ​Academic​ ​Calendar​:

Honesty​ ​and​ ​fairness​ ​are​ ​considered​ ​fundamental​ ​to​ ​the​ ​University's
mission,​ ​and,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​all​ ​those​ ​who​ ​violate​ ​those​ ​principles​ ​are​ ​dealt​ ​with
as​ ​if​ ​they​ ​were​ ​damaging​ ​the​ ​integrity​ ​of​ ​the​ ​University​ ​itself.​ ​The​ ​University​ ​of
Toronto​ ​treats​ ​academic​ ​offences​ ​very​ ​seriously.​ ​Students​ ​should​ ​note​ ​that
copying,​ ​plagiarizing,​ ​or​ ​other​ ​forms​ ​of​ ​academic​ ​misconduct​ ​will​ ​not​ ​be
tolerated.​ ​Any​ ​student​ ​caught​ ​engaging​ ​in​ ​such​ ​activities​ ​will​ ​be​ ​subject​ ​to
academic​ ​discipline​ ​ranging​ ​from​ ​a​ ​mark​ ​of​ ​zero​ ​on​ ​the​ ​assignment,​ ​test​ ​or
examination​ ​to​ ​dismissal​ ​from​ ​the​ ​University​ ​as​ ​outlined​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UTM​ ​calendar.
Any​ ​student​ ​abetting​ ​or​ ​otherwise​ ​assisting​ ​in​ ​such​ ​misconduct​ ​will​ ​also​ ​be
subject​ ​to​ ​academic​ ​penalties.

Students​ ​should​ ​consult​ ​these​ ​documents:

•​ ​ ​How​ ​Not​ ​to​ ​Plagiarize
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/using-sources/how-not-to-plagiarize
•​ ​ ​The​ ​UTM​ ​Calendar:​ ​Codes​ ​and​ ​Policies
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm
•​ ​ ​The​ ​University​ ​of​ ​Toronto​ ​Code​ ​of​ ​Student​ ​Conduct
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/studentc.htm