Dr. Kristi Siegel Associate Professor - English Mount Mary College EPW 331/531 - Wednesdays: 6:00 - 9:50 pm NDH 249 Office Hours: Wednesday, 4:00 - 5:50 pm and by appointment (414) 258-4810 preferred contact: siegelkr@mtmary.edu general website: www.kristisiegel.com Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon…But the secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components…Clear thinking becomes clear writing: one can’t exist without the other. —William Zinsser, On Writing Well   Grading Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Links Handouts   Materials and Text: Burnett, Rebecca. Technical Communication. 5th Ed., Heinle, 2001 Folder to store my (endless) handouts A few blank diskettes Note Regarding Online Syllabus: I've linked to my own Word documents throughout this syllabus; if you miss class (don't!) or lose a handout, they are all available here.Your assignment descriptions are located in the week in which they are assigned. General handouts (e.g., the Word shortcut manual [32 pages], the web publishing manual [37 pages]) are located in the Handouts section below. The Links section provides links to supplementary websites on subjects such as writing mechanics, technical writing, design, and web publishing. Course Objectives: to understand the purpose and process of technical writing; to create clear, accurate, and succinct content; to produce documents reflecting different types of technical communication such as technical descriptions, proposals, reports, web pages, and instructional manuals; to use mechanically and grammatically correct language in written and oral communication; to learn how to adjust technical content to meet the needs of a specific target audience; to appreciate principles of document design and how they enhance meaning; to give a professional oral presentation on the final project (web site). Grading Lego Instructions, Formal Instructions, Product brochure/Manual, Proposal, Staus/Feasibility Report, Employment package (42%) Website (13%) Oral Presentation (10%) Participation and In-Class assignments (15%) Final Portfolio (20%) Week One - August 28 Orientation and Introductions Discussion of syllabus and scope of course Definition of technical writing and types of technical writing Explanation of "Learning Record" philosophy "Chopping block" of tech writing: clarity and audience Basic word processing shortcuts and techniques Design principles – in class exercise Principles of layout and design Websites: Common Page Design (by David McMurrey) Typography and Page Layout (by Ron F Wolley) Assignment: Bring in example of good technical design and example of poor technical design for next class (be prepared to explain your rationale). Bring in example of good technical writing (content) and example of poor technical content (again, be prepared to explain your rationale). Read: Chapter 1, 2, and 8 top Week Two - September 4 Visual Design and graphics In-class exercise on using and formatting visuals - Revision of Wasson memo Principles for writing instructions Lego Block assignment In-Class work on Lego Block assignment Websites: Online Technical Writing: Instructions (McMurrey) Instructions: How to Write for Busy, Grouchy People (Dr. Dennis Jerz) - funny and smart Assignment: Lego assignment due next class Read: Chapter 15 top Week Three - September 11 Task analysis on Lego block assignment Discussion of results Instructions' manuals assignment In-class work on Full Shot software In-class work on Instructions' manual Websites: Conventions for Writing Computer Instructions - Miami University FullShot trial screen capture site (try the FullShot 99 demo if your computer is slow) Assignment: Complete or "rough out" at least two pages of Instructions' manual (so it may be critiqued and peer-reviewed). Read: Chapter 13 top Week Four - September 18 Assessments on instructions' manual - in-class work on manuals. Parts' or Products' manual explained (collaborative assignment) In-class work on writing clear ad copy In class work on scanning photos Assignment: Complete Instructions' manual - due next class. Complete or rough out products/parts' manual Read: Chapter 5 top Week Five - September 25 In-class work on Parts' manual Principles of Report Writing Feasibility Report or Status Report assigned (choose one) In-class work on reports Website: Recommendation and Feasibility Reports (David McMurrey) Assignment: Complete parts/products' manual - due next class. Rough out ideas/paragraphs/outline for feasibility or status report. Read: Chapter 17 top Week Six - October 2 Feasibility and/or Status Reports discussed and assessed. Principles of Writing Proposals Solicited and Unsolicited Proposals Proposal Assigned - Speaker from Grants' department. In-class work on proposals and reports Examples of proposals discussed Website: Proposals (from the University of Toronto) Assignment: Complete typed rough draft of proposal Feasibility or status report due next class. Read: Chapter 16 top Week Seven - October 9 In-class work on proposals Task analysis and peer review of proposals In-class learning record essay/course evaluation (impromptu) Assignment: Edit proposal based on peer review and task analysis. Final proposal due next class. Bring in one or two employment ads for technical writers or other jobs that interest you. Read: Chapter 7 top Week Eight - October 16 Letters of application discusssed - examples provided. Chronological vs. Targeted/Functional Résumés - Résumé assignment Principles of Résumé design and content Employment package (Letter of Application and Résumé assigned). In-class work on employment package. Website: Résumés - excellent information plus additional resources - Dr. Dennis Jerz Assignment: Complete typed rough draft of Letter of Application and Résumé Sign-up for Geocities website (will be done in class) Choose a topic and then find one or two examples each of websites presenting topic a) with good content and design and b) with poor content and design. Be prepared to defend your choices. Read:Chapter 19 top Week Nine - October 23 Assessments and discussion on employment packages. In-class revisions of employment packages based on critiques. Introduction to website design, content, and planning. Discussion of good/bad websites. Web design hell - I put this page together to illustrate how not to design a webpage. Basic web editing explained (using PageBuilder) If time, basic web editing explained (using FrontPage or Netscape Composer). Website assigned - web "plan" due next class Website: FrontPage Basics (Dell computers) Assignment: Complete employment package - due next class. Complete web "plan" - sketch of proposed hierarchy. Read: Chapter 9 and Chapter 4's "Intertext" top Week 10 - October 30 Website plan collected and discussed Principles of web content and text Different hyperlinks explained Continued discussion of good website design Introduction to FrontPage 2000 In-class work on website Assignment: Complete or "rough out" homepage and at least one secondary page. Bring list of problems/questions that arose while working on website. Share any new techniques you learned. Read: My manual (in the Handouts section) top Week 11 - November 6 Formal oral presentation assigned and discussed. Continued work on website. Practice using docu-cam/computer apparatus for oral report. Website: Delivering Technical Information Face-to-Face - Dr. Dennis Jerz Assignment: If possible, complete websites Work on oral presentation Read: Chapter 18 top Week 12 - November 13 Task analysis on websites In-class work on revising websites based on task analyses. Portfolios assigned and explained (examples provided). Assignment: Complete websites Complete oral presentations Work on portfolios Read: Chapter 19 - pp. 716+ top Week 13 - November 20 Pair up and "practice" oral presentations. Pair up and assess websites. In-class work on portfolios - due on exam period Assignment: Complete portfolio - due exam period Polish (<-- verb, not noun) oral presentation. top Week 14 - November 27 (Thanksgiving) Eat turkey, or just enjoy the break! Week 15 - December 4 Oral presentations on websites Course evaluations Take-home learning record essay assignment discussed - due at exam. If time, in-class work on final portfolios - due at exam . Exam - December 11 Collect and discuss learning record essays Collect portfolios. top Links: How to Build Lame Websites - Charlie Morris Society for Technical Information - STC Professor Charles Darling's Guide to Grammar and Writing - excellent information and interactive quizzes National Writers Union - job information and articles for freelance writers Webopedia - Online Dictionary of Computer and Internet terms - decode the jargon! Writers Write - comprehensive resource on books, writing, and publishing Hotjobs.com - enter "technical writer" as a search term and get some idea of the high demand for this profession. Web Clip Art - tons of links to free clipart and other web graphics - don't get carried away! Handouts: Working at Warpspeed with Word 97/2000's Shortcuts: Part 1 - Getting Started Part 2 - Editing tips Part 3 - Formatting tips Basic Principles of Document Design handout Elements of Page Design How to Put Your Reader into a Coma without Really Trying - Eliminating Wordiness Effective technical descriptions Instructions for Using FullShot Website design pointers Building a basic website - manual   Homepage . .