Multimodal Composition_ Overview – Starting the Journey_ An Intro to College Writing

Multimodal Composition

The use of two or more of the five primary communication modes (aural, gestural, linguistic, spatial, and visual) in creating content.

Marshall McLuhan

A noted philosopher and communications theorist who emphasized the impact of media on society and individuals.

Gretchen McCulloch

A linguist who argues that writing has become more empowered with the rise of social media and text message norms.

Rhetorical Situation

The context in which a communication act takes place, including the audience, purpose, and medium.

Multimodality

Refers to the five primary modes of communication - aural, gestural, linguistic, spatial, and visual - and the use of multiple modes to convey a message effectively.

Multimodality

The use of multiple modes of communication, such as aural, visual, linguistic, spatial, and gestural, to convey meaning.

Medium

The singular material or interface through which a message is communicated, such as newspapers, social-media apps, or Zoom.

Mode

The channels or resources through which media are sent, such as visual and linguistic modes used to communicate a message.

Copyright Act of 1976

The primary copyright law in the United States enacted in 1976, governing rights for creators to reproduce, share, adapt, and perform their original works.

Fair Use

A doctrine in copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Tangible Medium

Refers to materials where creative works are fixed, such as written documents, art works, sound recordings, which are protected under copyright law.

DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)

Legislation that addresses copyright issues related to digital media, including provisions on technological protection measures and exemptions.

TEACH Act (Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act)

Amended section 110 of the Copyright Act to allow limited performance and display of copyrighted items for distance education.

Public Domain

Refers to works that are not protected by copyright law and can be freely used by the public.

Derivative Works

Works based on or derived from existing copyrighted material, such as translations or adaptations.

Exclusive Rights

Rights granted to copyright holders, including the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display their works.

Copyright Protection

Automatic protection granted to original works fixed in a tangible medium of expression, lasting for a specific period.

Copyrightable Works

Works that are eligible for copyright protection, such as literary works, musical works, and pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.

Fair Use

A legal doctrine that allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder, typically for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Public Domain

Works that are not protected by copyright law and are available for anyone to use without permission or payment.

Creative Commons

A licensing system that allows creators to specify the permissions they grant regarding the use of their work, providing a more flexible alternative to traditional copyright.

Multimodality

The use of multiple modes of communication (such as text, image, sound) to convey information or meaning.

Creative Commons

A type of license that allows creators to specify how their work can be used by others, often promoting sharing and collaboration while protecting their rights.

Digital Copyright

The legal protection of original works of authorship (such as images, videos, and text) in digital format, granting the creator exclusive rights to use and distribute their work.

Fair Use

A doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Attribution

Giving credit to the original creator of a work when using or sharing it, often required by licenses like Creative Commons to acknowledge the source.

Public Domain

Works that are not protected by copyright and are available for anyone to use without permission, often due to expiration of copyright or intentional dedication by the creator.