The following schedule is up-to-date. However, I may make changes in class if I feel that they are necessary. Please stay current on all readings and writing assignments. Join our weekly Zoom class meeting here (Meeting ID: 850 8916 2631).
Introduction to Technical Writing
| Date | Discussion Topics | Readings/Items Due |
| Jan. 23 | Intro. to Technical Comm.; Reader-Centered Approach to Technical Comm. | None |
Writing Resumes and Job Application Letters
| Date | Discussion Topics | Readings/Items Due |
| Jan. 30 | Results of Research about On-the-Job Writing; Resumes; Evaluating Drafts by Reviewing; Peer and Instructor Review Session for Resumes |
Read Ch. 1; |
| Feb. 6 | Job
Application Letters; |
Read pgs. 43–50 |
| Feb. 13 | Selecting
Words; Evaluating Drafts by Checking; Transition to Detailed Study of the Technical Writing Process; Document Cycles; Intro. to Instructions Project |
Read
Ch. 10, pgs. 260-68; |
Writing Software Instructions and User Test Reports
| Date | Discussion Topics | Readings/Items Due |
| Feb. 20 | Defining
Objectives; Using E-mail; Planning to Meet Your Readers' Informational Needs; Superstructures for Instructions |
Read
Ch. 3; |
| Feb. 27 | Designing
Pages; | Read
Ch. 12; Take notes for Part A of Exercise 4 on pg. 350—cite one of the chapter's guidelines for each suggestion you make; Create a draft of all instruction steps—include the headings that will group them |
| March 6 | Using Visual Aids; Evaluating Drafts by Testing |
Read
Ch. 11; Read the Reference Guide for Visual Aids, pgs. 312-21; Read Ch. 13, pgs. 371-80; Bring plans or sketches for all visual aids and a revised draft of your instructions in a multi-column format. |
Writing Long Primary Research Reports
| Date | Discussion Topics | Readings/Items Due |
| March 13 | Empirical Reports; |
Read Ch. 5; pgs. 460-68 and Fig. SR. 1 (pgs. 469-86); Due: E-mail me topics for Project 3 and Group Evaluation on Project 2 by 3/17 |
| March 20 | Conducting Research; Conducting Interviews |
Read
Ch. 6; |
| March 27 | No Class!! Spring Break!! |
None |
| April 3 | No Class!! Second Spring Break!! Progress Reports |
Read pgs. 506-514, including the figures; Continue to work on Project 3. |
| April 10 | Beginning a Communication; Ending a Communication; Drafting Paragraphs, Sections, and Chapters; Creating Visual Aids to Display Data |
Bring a detailed outline for your report; Read Ch. 7; Read Ch. 8; Read Ch. 9; Read pgs. 300-312, plus the Focus on Ethics on pg. 313 |
| April 17 | Using the Book Format; |
Read Appendix A, pgs. 569-585; |
Redesigning Web sites and Writing Short Reports
| Date | Discussion Topics | Readings/Items Due |
| April 24 | Unsolicited Recommendation Reports |
Review Guideline 1 in Ch. 8 Due: E-mail me Primary Research Report by 6:30pm |
| May 1 | Check in and Continue to Work on Project 4 |
None |
| May 8 | No Class!! Exam Week!! | Due: E-mail me Web site Redesign Short Report by 6:30pm |
