Tentative Schedule of Assignments and Due Dates Spring 2005
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Class topics, readings and miscellaneous assignments to be completed before class session for which they are listed. All chapter numbers refer to Lannon’s Technical Communication, 9th ed.
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Written assignments due. |
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Week One |
T 1/11 |
Introductions, review of syllabus, in-class writing. |
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R 1/13 |
Topic: Memos Ch. 18 “Memo Reports and Electronic Mail” Ch. 1. “Introduction to Technical Communication” Visit web site, print and bring to class : <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/pw/p_memo.html> Brainstorm memo topics with partner. Prepare memo draft for T 1/18. Memo guidelines. |
Purdue web site printout |
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Week Two |
T 1/18 |
Ch. 13 “Revising for Readable Style” (243-253), "Revising for Clarity" Critique memo drafts. Memo Review Sheet Revision exercises. Bring an advertisement for a job in your field.
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Memo draft, complete and typed (3 copies) |
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R 1/20 |
Ch. 2 “Preparing an Effective Technical Document” Ch. 19 “Letters and Employment Correspondence”(419-448). Job application letters and their formats, critique sample letters. Guidelines for Job application letter. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ |
Memo final draft. |
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Week Three |
T 1/25 |
Ch. 13 (253-261) "Revising for Conciseness" Critique letter drafts, introduce resumes, revision exercises. |
Letter Draft |
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R 1/28 |
Critique resume drafts. Resume Portfolio Memo |
Resume draft |
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Week Four |
T 2/1 |
Ch. 23 “Instructions”(539-565). Ch. 13 (261-274) "Revising for Fluency" and "Finding the Exact Words" Instructions, revision exercises. Features of Effective Instructions |
Resume Portfolio |
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R 2/3 |
Considering your audience. Guidelines for Instructions. Ch. 3 “Delivering the Essential Information” Find and bring to class a short (1 page or less) “flawed” set of instructions. |
Quiz(?) |
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Week Five |
T 2/8 |
Ch. 14 “Designing Visuals” (290-337). |
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R 2/10 |
Critique instruction drafts. Instructions Review Sheet Ch. 13 (275-283) "Adjusting Your Tone" |
Instructions draft (3 copies) |
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Week Six |
T 2/15 |
Instructions cont. Revision exercises. Ch. 9 “Exploring Primary Sources” Ch. 13 (283-287) |
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R 2/17 |
Ch. 7 “Thinking Critically about the Research Process” Ch. 8 "Exploring Electronic and Hard Copy Sources" *LIBRARY SESSION-MEET IN LIBRARY CLASSROOM* |
Instructions due |
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Week Seven |
T 2/22 |
Ch. 15 “Designing Pages and Documents”
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R 2/24 |
Ch. 24 “Proposals” Find a website that has a request for proposals and bring a copy of the RFP guidelines and web address to class. *MEET IN WALKER ROOM 225* SNOW DAY NO CLASS |
Quiz(?) |
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Week Eight |
T 3/1 |
Critique interviews Interview Peer Review |
XXInterview draft (3 copies)XX |
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R 3/3 |
Establish proposal groups Go over Proposal Guidelines. |
Interview draft due NEW DATE! |
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Week Nine |
T 3/8 |
*MEET IN WALKER 225* Ch. 20 “Web Pages and Other Electronic Documents” |
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R 3/10 |
Ch. 6 “Working in Teams” Team Contract due. Team Guidelines Final Report and Presentation Guidelines ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPRING BREAK 3/12-3/20 ENJOY!!! |
Proposal topics due Interview Final due NEW DATE! |
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Week Ten |
T 3/22 |
Ch. 12 "Organizing for Users" Ch. 13 (275-287) Tone. Revision exercises |
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R 3/24 |
Ch. 4 “Making a Persuasive Case” |
Draft of Project Proposal due |
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Week Eleven |
T 3/29 |
Ch. 5 “Weighing the Ethical Issues” Progress Report Guidelines MEET IN WALKER 225 **Make-up for snow day. |
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R 3/31 |
Evaluate report models Ch. 25 "Analytical Reports" |
Final draft of Proposal due |
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Week Twelve |
T 4/5
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Group work. Ch. 26 "Oral Presentations" |
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R 4/7 |
Revision exercises. Ch. 11 "Summarizing and Abstracting Information"
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Progress report due |
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Week Thirteen |
T 4/12 |
Walker Lab Session *MEET IN WALKER 225* Work with groups on reports and presentations. |
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R 4/14 |
Group revisions and critiques. Peer Review for Proposal Reports
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Draft of final report (5 copies) |
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Week Fourteen |
T 4/19 |
Continue group critiques. |
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R 4/21 |
Presentations. Group numbers will be drawn randomly, come prepared to present. (Keep in mind that I will have your report, so prepare your presentation materials independently of your final report.) |
Final draft of report due Presentations |
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Week Fifteen |
T 4/26 |
Presentations and group evaluations (these will be done on 4/28 if the presentations take the whole class period). |
Presentations and Group Evaluations |
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R 4/28 |
Last day of class. Review for exam. |
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The final exam will be held on Thursday, May 5, at 8:00 a.m. in Young 401.