Second Life Project

Learning Goals

• Apply the "four dimensions" in a radically different environment
• Publish work in an alternate medium
• Learn the basics of Second Life

Overview

The Second Life unit of the course has two components:

1. In class you will complete exercises that help you learn how to operate in Second Life
   
2. At the end of the unit you will submit an essay applying the four dimensions of multimedia - functionality, content, aesthetics, and usability - to Second Life. Relate the areas to Second Life in general (including the client software) and specifically to one or two locations in the virtual world.

Essay Parameters

• Write 1500 to 2000 words
• Insert up to four images in the text (do not submit separate image files)
• Include SLURLs for in-world locations
• Keep description to a minimum; concentrate on analysis
• Demonstrate your understanding of the areas
• Write in third person (not "you will," "I believe," etc.)
• Watch out for plagiarism - cite sources and use quotes
• Mechanics, formatting, and usage together count 25%
  (includes spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, agreement, etc.)
• Submit a single MS Word .doc or .docx file

Formatting

• 1" margins all around
• Double space everything
• Use a common 12 point font - no script or decorative fonts
• No cover page
• Indent body paragraphs
• Include page numbers in a header or footer
  
• At the beginning of the document:
  • Assignment name
  • Your name
  • Date
• If you have citations, use the format of your choice (APA, etc.) consistently

Usage tips

• Be concise
• Don't be pretentious; use the most accurate word, not the longest or most obscure
• Avoid slang
• Avoid these: very, really, extremely, a lot, got, might, probably
• Avoid passive voice; write "John did the work," not "the work was done by John."

Example