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Dr. Kristi Siegel Spring 2000 Mondays - 6:00 to 9:50 pm (accelerated format) Smart Classroom – NDH Office hours 4:00-5:50 pm Mondays and by appointment Office Fidelis 223 Phone (414) 258-4810, ext. 461 E-mail siegelkr@mtmary.edu
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Dr. Kristi Siegel
Spring 2000
Mondays - 6:00 to 9:50 pm (accelerated format)
Smart Classroom – NDH
Office hours 4:00-5:50 pm Mondays and by appointment
Office Fidelis 223
Phone (414) 258-4810, ext. 461
E-mail siegelkr@mtmary.edu
: Gerson, Sharon J. and Steven M. Gerson. Technical Writing: Process and Product, 3rd Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2000.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
Required
Recommended: A good dictionary and basic handbook on FrontPage 2000/web publishing.
Course Objectives:
to understand the purpose and process of technical writing;
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 learn how to produce clear and concise prose;
to appreciate principles of document design and how they enhance meaning;
to give a professional oral presentation on the final project (web site).
Grading:
In-Class Assignments 15%
Instructions, Manual, Proposal, Report 40%
Website 15%
Oral Presentation 10%
Participation 10%
Final Portfolio 10%
Class Schedule
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Activity |
Assignment |
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Before Jan. 8 |
Read (skim) first four chapters of text, pp. 1-85; focus particularly on definition and types of technical writing, methods for achieving clarity, and determining audience |
Be prepared to discuss reading for first class (January 8). Bring in one example of technical writing for first class. |
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Week 1 Jan. 8 |
Orientation and Introductions Discussion of syllabus and scope of course Definition of technical writing and types of technical writing "Chopping block" of tech writing: clarity and audience Basic word processing shortcuts and techniques Design principles – in class exercise |
Read Chapters 8 and 9 Bring in example of good technical design and example of poor technical design for next class (be prepared to explain why examples are good or poor).
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Week 2 Jan. 22 |
Visual design and Graphics – in-class work and assignments Narrative strategies for writing technical content (in-class exercises and assignments) Lego Block assignment explained |
Read Chapters 11 & 12 Lego Block assignment due on Jan. 28 |
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Week 3 Jan. 28 |
Lego Block presentations Principles of technical descriptions and instructions (in-class exercises and assignment) Instructional Chapter/manual assignment explained – in-class work and discussion Progress/Status Report explained and assigned. |
Read Chapters 13 & 14 Status Report on Instruction Manual due Feb. 5 Instructional Chapter/Manual due Feb. 12 |
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Week 4 Feb. 5 |
Types of reports explained and discussed (in-class exercises and assignments). In-class work on Instruction manuals Principles of proposal writing In-class work on Web site Proposal Sign up for GeoCities web site |
Read handout on website design. Read Internet links on website design and construction. Instruction manual due next class (Feb. 12) |
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Week 5 Feb. 12 |
Proposals and Grants (cont.) In-class exercises and assignments In-class work on Website Proposal In-class work on Web pages – design, techniques, and writing effective web text Oral Presentation assigned |
Web site proposal due Feb. 19 Read suggested Internet Links |
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Week 6 Feb. 19 |
Discussion of Website Proposals In-class work on webpages In-class work and discussion on presenting effective oral communication – film on effective oral presentations Explanation of Final Portfolio |
Read Chapter 17 |
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Week 7 Feb. 26 |
In-class work on websites In-class work on oral presentations In-class work on final portfolios |
Complete website, oral presentation and final portfolio for Mar. 5 |
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Week 8 Mar. 5 |
Oral Presentation on Website Assessments of Oral presentations Task Analysis Final Portfolios collected |
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