TCOM 2010 – Technical Writing

Monday
January 11

Welcome to TCOM 2010

Discuss course policies

Discuss format and conventions of the Email and the Memo

Discuss basic document design principles

How to Create A Memo

Here's an annotated sample of a memo.

Wednesday
January 13

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 January 19

Monday
January 18

Wednesday
January 20

Discuss grammar and style in technical communication

Chapter 2

Ch. 12 of Writing Software Documentation (PDF file)

Document Redesign Exercise due.

Create account on Engrade.

Monday
January 25

View and discuss Audience Analysis PPT

Discuss rhetorical principles of writing a technical letter

View and discuss real examples

• Student Email
• Job Hunter Email
• Internship Query

Chapter 5

Patton - Before Creating the Car, Ford Designs the Driver

Wednesday
January 27

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

Monday
February 1

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.

Wednesday
February 3

View and discuss Multicultural Communication PPT

Discuss technical definitions and technical descriptions

Technical Letter Assignment

Monday
February 8

Practice writing technical descriptions in class

Chapters 15, 16

Wednesday
February 10

Discuss Instructions Assignment

View and discuss PPT on principles of writing instructions

Monday
February 15

Discuss US and international safety signage

View and discuss real-world examples of instructions

View German safety video

Chapter 19

Annotated sample of instructions

Wednesday
February 17

View and discuss examples of instructions

• First example
• Second example
• Third example
• Fourth example -- "A" instructions

Discuss principles of using graphic elements

Discuss how to manipulate graphics in MS Word

Engage in activity using MS Word Drawing Tools

Monday
February 22

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.

Wednesday
February 24

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.

Monday
March 1

Discuss upcoming major assignments:

• Individual Project Proposal Exercise
• Formal Proposal Assignment
• Group Oral Presentation of the Formal Proposal

View and discuss Principles of PowerPoint Design PPT

Chapter 23

Instructions Assignment

Wednesday
March 3

Today is the deadline to drop the class.

Introduction to Formal Proposals

View PPT about proposals

View and discuss Sample PPTs for Individual Project Proposal Exercise

One-Page Proposal Exercise

Chapter 20

Monday
March 8

Spring Break!

Wednesday
March 10

Go somewhere, have fun, come back with a tan.

Monday
March 15

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 1

Individual Project Proposal

Wednesday
March 17

Hear and evaluate Individual Project Proposals -- Day 2

Individual Project Proposal

Monday
March 22

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

Wednesday
March 24

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Monday
March 29

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Wednesday
March 31

Work on Formal Proposals in class

Monday
April 5

Finishing Formal Proposals and working on introduction to Formal Reports

Example of a recommendation report

Example of an empirical report

Discuss Formal Report Assignment

Wednesday
April 7

Research Day: work on your oral presentations and your formal written proposal assignment

Monday
April 12

Hear and evaluate Group Oral Presentations (#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.

Chapter 22

Group Oral Presentation #1: Formal Proposal PPT

Formal Proposal Assignment

Wednesday
April 14

Work on Formal Reports in class

Discuss informal reports and requirements for Progress Report Exercise

Discuss Group Oral Presentation of the Formal Report

Chapter 21

Progress Report Exercise due by April 19

Monday
April 19

Work on Formal Reports in class

Wednesday
April 26

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.

Wednesday
April 28

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.

  
  

Fill out course evaluations

Group Oral Presentation #2: Formal Report PPT

Formal Report Assignment