wepod

ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT
Attendance is a requirement to pass the unit. Sudents whose attendance falls below 75% without having discussed their circumstances with the unit coordinator will fail.

This unit is assessed by a project of a print on demand publication that includes:
1- research, based on weekly readings and blogging activity (posting your comments to the assigned readings and your photo research to your blog), all discussed in class weekly (12.5%)
The written comments are part of four statements (300-500 words each) which can be part of your publication. If your blogging style is informal, you need to reformat your writing to submit it as your Production Analysis document, following the Harvard System for referencing (see LSBU Library Services Help Sheets if you need help with this)
2- final project, the publication, which will present your photographic research, contextualised with text (for example, intro, index, captions etc) designed and upload to your gallery at lulu.com as .pdf with ISBN or other product code) (75%)

Brief 1, 2, 3, 4 – your weekly textual blog entries – form part of your assessment and will provide you with the Production Analysis (12.5%)

Brief 5 – your publication, which forms 75% of your final mark for the unit together with the Production Analysis which forms 12.5%)

Deadlines:
project analysis: 18 dec 2006 2pm
publication: 11 Jan 2007 2 pm

All Briefs in detail
DUE on class 2 | POST ON your blog
Brief 1> what constitute photo publishing practices

start work in class as part of your production time [small groups 3-5 ] // continue as homework
what constitute photo publishing practices
statement 1 (300-500w) and photographic screen presentation (a collection of photos static or as video, animated gif, participatory photo project, tagged,etc) via online blog posting

DUE on class 3 | POST ON blog
Brief 2- The role of text in photo publishing
statement 2 (300-500w): post it to your blog, with images and text- captions, tagging, commentary, technical, etc)

DUE on class 4 | POST ON blog
Brief 3 – online photo-sharing communities
statement 3 (300-500w): select 1 online photo-sharing community and analyse the way they practice photography as a group. Document /discuss it in your blog

DUE on class 5 | POST ON blog
Brief 4 – strategy
statement 4 (300-500w)/ research: think in terms of the images you have selected and choose a strategy to sort it. Discuss it in terms of authorship, editing, curating and what it means for you to work with found material. Continue to document /discuss this process in your blog.

DUE on class 6 | POST ON blog
Brief 5 – publication: editing/design
It is now time to think as editor and designer and organise your material for the publication. Select the best images and accompanying text. Design a template for a 15 to 50 pages publication taking into account the sizes and binding options available at lulu.com.
For details and download pre-formatted templates
> http://www.lulu.com/products/books/paperback.php
You should should continue to use your blog to document your work as this will be used for the class presentation. In addition, you should print a hardcopy as a mock up of your future publication to help you visualise the final product.

DUE on class 7 | POST ON blog
Brief 5 – publication: editing/design (cont.)
Open a lulu.com account if you haven’t done so yet. Spend some time browsing through lulu.com to look at different licensing schemes, formats and options for printing and downloading. Choose 1 project to review for the class. Post your thoughts and images to your blog.
CLASS PRESENTATION: present your research and template to the class and defend your argument as to why this particular collection of images should be published as your final project.

DUE on classes 8/9/10/11 | POST ON blog
Brief 5 – publication: editing/design (cont.)
Development of your working design, text, images, etc.

DUE on class 12 / CLASS PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT ANALYSIS

Project coursework
The project mark is arrived at by assessing:
-The publication .pdf file (the book in your account at lulu.com store)
-The hardcopy (inkjet print) or pod print if you decide to have it printed by lulu.com

We’re looking for evidence of the following in your work:
-an intellectually challenging concept, appropriately contextualised by your writing
-relevant photo-research, based on a search and documentation of existing photographic practices (online communities, trash photography, snapshot aesthetics, etc)
-awareness of curatorial strategies to organise the material
-technical skills to blog the research and design the publication.

Production analysis
The production analysis will feed into your weekly blogging activity, will be based on your assigned readings, and will provide an evidence of how theory underpins your project.
The production analysis should provide a background for your project, indicating the following:
-the source of your concept: what preceded it, how it developed, the relation between form and content
-references to the authors you read, situating your ideas within the theoretical context of the readings suggested in the unit guide (include a bibliography)
-overview of the working process rather than the finish product, describing your decisions and your journey.

Generic Assessment Criteria for Practical Work
Percentage
70% – 100%> Excellent
60% – 69%> Very good
50% – 59%> Good
40% – 49%> Weak
40% or below > Poor Quality

Classification
1st
2:1
2:2
3rd
Fail

Project Production Analysis
1st
Outstanding work: your conceptual framework has been effectively transported into the publication format, with originality and technical skill. Outstanding presentation at the lulu.com store- excellent cover work, excellent preview files, introduction texts- everything will demonstrate consistent attention to detail. Articulate, logically structured and well presented. The analysis should cover the issues outlined in the reading assignments, referencing additional sources connected to your own research No grammatical, spelling or typographical errors.
2:1 Well presented, conscientious work, with a strong concept. While exploring an intellectually challenging idea, the project may be undermined by some minor technical problems; alternatively, while technically proficient, the project may be lacking conceptual rigour or originality. Nonetheless the work stands out as a strong project. Well-referenced, reasonably well-written, well-structured analytical work that might benefit from further reading. Wider theoretical issues have been articulated but might be lacking integration with your research process.
2:2 Well-presented project displaying a good research concept but somewhat unoriginal or not fully pursued in terms of intellectual coherence. Technically competent but may contain a number of significant errors or lack inspiration or ambition in the use of the medium. Alternatively it maybe be unrealistically ambitious and the research lack behind the proposal. A satisfactory written work, revealing a good understanding of the topic; however it may be too general or lacking analysis. It may be poorly written in terms of grammar, spelling sentence construction or be poorly presented.
3rd
This represents a poor project in all aspects: unoriginal or poorly developed concept and incomplete research. Overall it will demonstrate a lack of basic understanding of the brief and problems in developing the basic technical skills to fulfil it. A totally descriptive essay, lacking in all areas required by the Production Analysis remit. Expression may be poor, with spelling mistakes, weak grammar, and lack of paragraphing. Poor presentation.
Fail Project failed to address all or most of the aspects formulated in the brief. The concept may be weak and /or unoriginal; technically, little or no attempt has been made to achieve the required basic technical skills; presentation may also be poor. A purely descriptive work that lacks details for analysis. The work answers very few or none of the production analysis remits criteria. It is badly structured, poorly written, poorly presented. Work will need to be resubmitted to gain a maximum of 40%

5. FEEDBACK
Feedback to blogging and class presentations/discussions will be given weekly as part of the working process.