TCOM 2010 – Technical Writing

TCOM 2010-010 1:30–2:45 TR   TCOM 2010-011 3:00–4:15 TR

TCOM 2010-015 7:30–8:45 TR

Course Schedule: Spring 2010

Today's
Date

What We're Doing
In Class Today

Read This Before Class

What's Due Today

Tuesday
January 12

Welcome to TCOM 2010

Discuss course policies

Discuss format and conventions of the Email and the Memo

Discuss basic document design principles

BONUS VIDEOS for after class:

How to Create A Memo

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

 

Thursday
January 14

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

Finish Document Design Principles lecture

Discuss and demonstrate MS Word basics

Work on Document Redesign Exercise

Chapters 1, 8, 9 of Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd ed.)

Sageev & Romanowski article

 

 

Introductory Memo Exercise due by midnight Friday, January 15

Tuesday
January 19

Discuss grammar and style in technical communication

Chapter 2

Ch. 12 of Writing Software Documentation (PDF file)

Video on How to Set Tabs in MS Word

Document Redesign Exercise due by midnight tonight

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

Thursday
January 21

View and discuss Audience Analysis PPT

Discuss rhetorical principles of writing a technical letter

View and discuss real examples

Chapter 5

Patton - Before Creating the Car, Ford Designs the Driver

 

Tuesday
January 26

Discuss Technical Letter Assignment

Discuss structure of formal letters

View and discuss business letter example

 

Chapter 13

Knoy - Technical Correspondence: What Professionals Need to Learn

 

Thursday
January 28

Peer review session for Technical Letter Assignment

Use the discussion questions to get started

Chapters 4, 10

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

It will count as a quiz grade.

Tuesday
February 2

View and discuss Multicultural Communication PPT

Chapter 5

Technical Letter Assignment

Thursday
February 4

Discuss technical definitions and technical descriptions

Chapters 15, 16

 

Tuesday
February 9

Discuss Instructions Assignment

View and discuss PPT on principles of writing instructions

 

 

Thursday
February 11

Discuss US and international safety signage

View and discuss real-world examples of instructions

View German safety video

Chapter 19

 

Tuesday
February 16

View and discuss examples of instructions

Discuss principles of using graphic elements

Discuss how to manipulate graphics in MS Word

Engage in activity using MS Word Drawing Tools

   

Thursday
February 18

Work in class on Instructions Assignment

Discuss usability testing

 

Bring a relatively complete draft of your instructions in hard copy.

It will count as a quiz grade.

Tuesday
February 23

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.

Thursday
February 25

Discuss upcoming major assignments:

View and discuss Principles of PowerPoint Design PPT

Begin Fairy Tale PPT Exercise

Chapter 23

Instructions Assignment

Tuesday
March 2

(Today is the deadline to drop the class.)

Snow Day -- Watch these videos before next class

PPT: What's a Proposal?

Video Lecture: Proposal Contents

Chapter 20

 

Thursday
March 4

View Fairy Tale PPTs

View and discuss Sample PPTs for Individual Project Proposal Exercise

One-Page Proposal Exercise

 

Fairy Tale PPT Exercise

One-Page Proposal Exercise due by midnight on Wednesday, March 10

Tuesday
March 9

No class -- Spring Break!

Thursday
March 11

Go somewhere else, have a good time, come back with a tan.

Tuesday
March 16

Work on your Individual Project Proposals in class

 

 

Thursday
March 18

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 1

 

Individual Project Proposal

Tuesday
March 23

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 2

 

Individual Project Proposal

Thursday
March 25

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 3

Select projects and form work groups for the Formal Proposal Assignment

Work on Formal Proposals in class

  Individual Project Proposal

Tuesday
March 30

Work on Formal Proposals in class

   

Thursday
April 1

Class Cancelled -- Work on Formal Proposals outside of class

   

Tuesday
April 6

Work on Formal Proposals in class

 

 

Thursday
April 8

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

Formal Proposal Assignment

Tuesday
April 13

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

 

Thursday
April 15

Work on Formal Reports in class

Federal and State Taxes due by midnight

Tuesday
April 20

Work on Formal Reports in class

Discuss informal reports and requirements for Progress Report Exercise

Chapter 21

 

Thursday
April 22

Section 010 (1:30–2:45) and Section 015 (7:30–8:50):

Class Cancelled


Section 011 (3:00–4:15):

Attendance Optional -- Work on Formal Reports in class

 

Progress Report Exercise due via email by midnight

Tuesday
April 27

Section 010 (1:30–2:45) and Section 011 (3:00–4:15):

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.


Section 015 (7:30–8:50):

Class Cancelled

 

 

Sections 010 and 011:

Group Oral Presentation 2: Formal Report PPT


Section 015:

Nothing is due today

Thursday
April 29

Last day of class

Section 015 (7:30–8:50):

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.


All Sections:

Fill out course evaluations

You will receive a pleasant surprise

 

Section 015 (7:30–8:50):

Group Oral Presentation 2: Formal Report PPT


All sections:

Formal Report Assignment