Course calendar
Please note that this calendar is designed to be flexible; that is, we may make changes along the way, depending on the interests and needs of the class.
Grad and post-baccalaureate students please note that a Background Report — a “White Paper” — or an extended Annotated Bibliography requirement, is due week 12.
Week One: Jan 19-24: Getting Started
- Post Forum Introductions, due Thursday 1/21
- Read Intro Letter, from me to you, under “Course Documents”
- Compose Course Survey to help us plan, due Friday 1/22; uploaded to DropBox
- Post Course Acceptance Memo, due Sunday 1/24; uploaded to DropBox
- Discuss project possibilities and questions
Week Two: Jan 25-31: Project Discussions
- Reading: Selber, “Technical Writing in a Technological Age: Changes in the Classroom and the Workplace,” especially the “Introduction” and “Technology and the Nature of Change” — forum response due Friday, 1/29
- Discussion Forum: post your project preference: continue to discuss project possibilities; post your choice by Wednesday, 1/27
- Create your individual ASU blog; after you’ve created your blog and made a successful test post, share your blog’s URL on the Week Two Blog Fourm. Deadline: Sunday, 1/31
Week Three: Feb 1-7: Proposals & Audience Analyses
- Reading: Proposals and audience analyses
- Due: Project proposals and audience analyses
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week Four: Feb 8-14: Project Research
- Team projects: research
- Lynda.com group: posting test files
- Portfolio group: selection phase
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week Five: Feb 15-21: Project Prototypes
- Due: Project Prototype
- Individual Project Report/Log
Project and file-management note:
From this point in the course and project onward, pay close and careful attention to your project files, making regular backups during the week, naming your files such that you have iteration1.doc, iteration2.doc — or iteration1.pdf, iteration2.pdf, etc. — such that, at the end of the semester, you have an archive of your versions, and the ability to articulate the differences and editorial changes between versions.
Week Six: Feb 22-28: Project Iteration #1
- Due:
— Lynda.com group: either another goal/problem/solution cycle or a Lynda.com review (see week 6 forum)
— Portfolio group: follow your self-paced schedule and provide a weekly update with visual examples — a screen capture or file - Individual Project Report/Log (team-based participants will complete an individual self-assessment, based on the readings)
Week Seven March 1-7:
Copyright Law in Technical & Professional Communication
- Reading:
Copyright Law of the United States of America:
Title 17 of the United States Code [PDF and HTML versions]
§ 101. Definitions
§ 102. Subject matter of copyright
§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair Use - Due: Assigned reading response, Blackboard forum
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week Eight: March 8-14:
Editorial Review Versions
- After you’ve made more progress on your project this week, post an “editorial review version” (posted by Wednesday, 3/10). Include in your forum post 3-4 specific questions that we can use to respond with detailed feedback.
- Provide detailed feedback for two classmate’s projects, based on their review-version questions; deadline, Friday 3/12
Spring Break — March 14-21
Week Nine: March 22-28:
- TBA
Week 10: March 29-Apr 4: Problem-solving & Project Iteration #2
- Lynda.com group: readability/usability (due Sunday Week 11)
- Portfolio Group: reflection statements (due Sunday Week 10)
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week 11: April 5-11: Project Iteration #3
- Lynda.com Group: Project Iteration #3 with Usability/Readabilty Report
- Portfolio Development Group: Self-paced Schedules
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week 12: April 12-18
- Lynda.com Group: Problem-solving Week
- Portfolio Development Group: Self-paced Schedules
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week 13: April 19-25: Editorial & Design Reviews
- Due: Editorial feedback version of your project
- Discussion: peer-reviews on forum
- Individual Project Report/Log
Week 14: April 26-May 2
- Due: Feedback questions and requests for help
- Individual Project Report/Log (Final entry)
Week 15-conclusion: May 3-4: TBA
Friday, May 7th: Presentations Due
- Due: Your presentation slides, posted to Presentation Forum