TCOM 2010 – Technical Writing

TCOM 2010-001 9–9:50 MWF

Course Schedule: Spring 2010

Today's
Date

What We're Doing
In Class Today

Read This Before Class

What's Due Today

Monday
January 11

Welcome to TCOM 2010

Discuss course policies

Discuss format and conventions of the Email and the Memo

Wednesday
January 13

(Tomorrow is the last day to drop or add the class.)

Discuss basic document design principles

Chapter 1 of Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd ed.)

Sageev & Romanowski article

* BONUS VIDEOS *

How to Construct A Memo

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Friday
January 15

Finish Document Design Principles lecture

Discuss and demonstrate MS Word basics

Work on Document Redesign Exercise

Chapters 8, 9

Introductory Memo Exercise due by midnight tonight

Monday
January 18

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day -- No Class Today

Create account on Engrade by midnight. See this video for instructions.

Wednesday
January 20

Discuss grammar and style in technical communication

Chapters 2 and 7

Video on How to Set Tabs in MS Word

Document Redesign Exercise due by midnight tonight

Friday
January 22

Discuss grammar and style in technical communication

Ch. 12 of Writing Software Documentation (PDF file)

Monday
January 25

View and discuss Audience Analysis PPT

Patton - Before Creating the Car, Ford Designs the Driver

Wednesday
January 27

Discuss Technical Letter Assignment

Discuss rhetorical principles of writing a technical letter

View and discuss real examples

Start Audience Analysis Exercise

Chapter 2

Knoy - Technical Correspondence: What Professionals Need to Learn

Friday
January 29

Discuss structure of formal letters

View and discuss business letter example

Chapters 12, 13

Audience Analysis Exercise due by midnight on Friday, January 29

Monday
February 1

Peer review session for Technical Letter Assignment

Use the discussion questions to get started

Chapter 4

Bring a draft of your Technical Letter Assignment in hard copy.

It will count as a quiz grade.

Wednesday
February3

View and discuss Multicultural Communication PPT

Friday
February 5

Discuss technical definitions and technical descriptions

Chapters 15, 16

Technical Letter Assignment

Monday
February 8

Practice writing technical descriptions in class

Wednesday
February 10

Discuss Instructions Assignment

View and discuss PPT on principles of writing instructions

Chapter 18

Friday
February 12

Discuss US and international safety signage

View and discuss real-world examples of instructions

View German safety video

Chapter 19

Monday
February 15

Discuss principles of using graphic elements

Discuss how to manipulate graphics in MS Word

Engage in activity using MS Word Drawing Tools

Wednesday
February 17

View and discuss examples of instructions

First example

Second example

Third example

Fourth example -- "A" instructions

Friday
February 19

Work in class on Instructions Assignment

Discuss usability testing

Bring a rough draft of your instructions in hard copy.

It will count as a quiz grade.

Monday
February 22

Conduct usability testing on your classmates' instructions

NOTE: Bring three things to class today:

  • your instructions
  • all equipment necessary to complete the instructions.
  • a printout of the Usability Worksheet

Chapter 11

Bring a polished draft of your instructions in hard copy.

It will count as a quiz grade.

Wednesday
February 24

Discuss Individual Project Proposal Exercise

Discuss Formal Proposal Assignment

Discuss Group Oral Presentation of the Formal Proposal

View and discuss Principles of PowerPoint Design PPT

Instructions Assignment

Friday
February 26

Begin Fairy Tale PPT Exercise

Chapter 23

Monday
March 1

(Tomorrow is the deadline to drop the class.)

Finish your Fairy Tale PPT Exercise in class

Present Fairy Tale PPTs

Wednesday
March 3

Present Fairy Tale PPTs

View PPT about proposals

Fairy Tale PPT Exercise

Friday
March 5

Introduction to Formal Proposals

Chapter 20

Monday
March 8

Spring Break!

Wednesday
March 10

Go somewhere and have a good time.

Friday
March 12

Come back next week, with a tan.

Monday
March 15

View and discuss Sample PPTs for Individual Project Proposal Exercise

One-Page Proposal Exercise

Video Lecture: Formal Proposal Contents

One-Page Proposal Exercise due by midnight on Tuesday, March 16

Wednesday
March 17

Work on Individual Project Proposal in class

 

Friday
March 19

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 1

Individual Project Proposal

Monday
March 22

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 2

Individual Project Proposal

Wednesday
March 24

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 3


Individual Project Proposal

Friday
March 26

Select projects and form work groups for the Formal Proposal Assignment

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Chapter 7

Monday
March 29

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Wednesday
March 31

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Friday
April 2

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Monday
April 5

Class Cancelled -- Work on your Formal Proposals as a group  

Wednesday
April 7

Work on Formal Proposals in class

 

 

Friday
April 9

Hear and evaluate Group Oral Presentation 1: Formal Proposal PPT

Prompt attendance is mandatory.

  • If you do not attend, you will receive a zero on the Group Oral Presentation Assignment.

  • If you do not attend, your group will receive a 50 on the Group Oral Presentation Assignment.

  • If you are late, you are missing other people's presentations, and you will be counted as absent.

Group Oral Presentation 1: Formal Proposal PPT

Monday
April 12

Introduction to Formal Reports

Example of a recommendation report

Example of an empirical report

Discuss Formal Report Assignment

Discuss Group Oral Presentation of the Formal Report

Chapter 22

Formal Proposal Assignment due in hard copy

Wednesday
April 14

Work on your Formal Reports in class

Friday
April 16

Work on your Formal Reports in class  

Monday
April 19

Work on your Formal Reports in class

Discuss informal reports and requirements for Progress Report Exercise

Chapter 21

Wednesday
April 21

No class today -- Work on your Formal Reports as a group

Progress Report Exercise due at noon via email

Friday
April 23

Hear and evaluate Group Oral Presentation 2: Formal Report PPT

Prompt attendance is mandatory.

  • If you do not attend, you will receive a zero on the Group Oral Presentation Assignment.

  • If you do not attend, your group will receive a 50 on the Group Oral Presentation Assignment.

  • If you are late, you are missing other people's presentations, and it will count as an absence.

Group Oral Presentation 2: Formal Report PPT

Monday
April 26

Turn in Formal Report Assignment

Formal Report Assignment

Wednesday
April 28

Last day of class

Fill out course evaluations

You will receive a pleasant surprise