Welcome to NMAC 5108, Spring 2025!
Welcome to our graduate course on Writing and Publishing in Digital Environments! I’m Jerry Lucas, and I’m excited to work with you this semester as we explore digital composition, technical communication, and collaborative writing using contemporary digital platforms. This is one of two sections of NMAC 5108 beginning today, which means there’s about 60 of you taking this course. I will do my best to keep up, though I’m sure your work will be excellent.
As you know, NMAC 5108 is a graduate-level course, and I will treat you as graduate students and professionals. I expect you to treat yourselves that way, too. Success in this course—and in your professional careers—depends on self-discipline, engagement, and responsibility. You should always present your best self in your writing, communication, and interactions. Whether posting in our class forum, editing Wikipedia, or collaborating on projects, you are building a digital presence and credibility. The habits and skills you develop here will serve you beyond the classroom, in your careers and personal work.
Before getting started, please review the course documentation, requirements, and policies. This will give you a clear understanding of expectations and how the course is structured. My goal is to make this course accessible, logical, and consistent, but this is my first time using D2L for this course. If you find any inconsistencies or errors, please let me know so I can address them as soon as possible. If you encounter conflicting information, always default to what is here on D2L.
Getting Started
One of the first things you should do after reviewing the syllabus is complete the assignments in Bootstrapping. This ensures that you’re fully engaged and prevents you from being reported as a no-show. These initial tasks will help you set up the tools and platforms you’ll need throughout the course, including external accounts required for your work as media professionals. Some of these accounts are public, so be mindful of how you present yourself. Remember, FERPA-protected information (grades, etc.) should never be discussed online.
Communication
Most of our discussions will happen in the course forum. When you have general questions, please use the “Ask Dr. Lucas” category instead of emailing me. If you have a private concern—such as grades or personal matters—then email me directly. Otherwise, the forum is the best way to engage with me and your classmates.
Course Work and Expectations
Your required book for this course is Brian Carroll’s Writing and Editing for Digital Media (Fifth ed.), which is available at the bookstore, through Amazon, or your retailer of choice. You may purchase or rent an ebook for this requirement.
This course is fast-paced and requires consistent engagement. Do not procrastinate. Begin work early each week and make digital composition part of your daily routine. The skills we develop here—whether writing for Wikipedia, editing online content, or working with digital tools—require regular practice. If you take long breaks, you will forget what you’ve learned. Work consistently. Work frequently.
We have two major projects:
These are not last-minute assignments. Weekly tasks will guide you through aspects of each project, but like any significant research project, you should go beyond the weekly work and build them steadily throughout the semester.
Again, Welcome
I’m thrilled to have you in this course and look forward to the discussions, writing, and collaboration we’ll engage in together. If you ever need assistance, I am just a forum post or email away. Let’s make this a productive, engaging, and valuable semester!
Now, let’s get started.
Best,
Dr. Lucas