Week 1
Aug. 26:
Aug. 28:
Aug. 30:
Week 2
Sept. 2:
Sept. 4:
Sept. 6:
Week 3
Sept. 9:
Sept. 11:
Sept 13:
Week 4
Sept. 16:
Sept. 18:
Sept. 20:
Note: Calendar is subject to change
Discuss course policies and syllabus
Introductions
Introduce Assignment #1: Persuasive message
For Next Session: read Chapter 1: Communicating in the Tech. Workplace
Durham 91 Lab : The 7 C’s of communication
For next session: read Chapter 2: Readers and Contexts of Use
Read Chapter 12: Startegic Planning, Being Creative
Importance and Complexities of Audience and Discuss Topics
For next session: read Chapter 5: Letters, Memos, and E-Mail
Read Chapter 13: Persuading Others
HOLIDAY
Durham 91 Lab : Persuasive messages: Critiquing examples
For next session: Bring Rough Draft of persuasive message
Peer review of persuasive message (15 pt. daily grade)
Organizational Choices
For next session: Final draft of persuasive message
Final draft of persuasive message and audience analysis due
Discuss technical description assignment
For next session: read Chapter 6: Technical Descriptions & Specifications
read Chapter 17: Using Plain and Persuasive Style
Durham 91 Lab : Working toward a direct style
Levels of edit and Given/New strategy
For next session: read Chapter 15: Using Sources and Managing Infor.
Writing a short technical description (15 pt. daily grade)
For next session: read Chapter 18: Designing Documents and Interfaces
Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity
For Next Session: Read Chapter 4: Ethics in the Technical Workplace
Durham 91 Lab : Using page design software: Publisher and In-Design
For next session: Bring rough draft of technical/process description
read Chapter 16: Organizing and Drafting
Peer review of Technical/Process Description (20 pt. daily grade)
Looking at tech. description examples
For Next Session: Read Chapter 19: Creating and Using Graphics

Week 5
Sept. 23:
Sept. 25:
Sept. 27:
Week 6
Sept. 30:
Oct. 2:
Oct. 4:
Week 7
Oct. 7:
Oct. 9:
Oct. 11:
Week 8
Oct. 14:
Oct. 16:
Oct. 18:
Week 9
Oct. 21:
Oct. 23:
Oct. 25:
Technical/Process description due
Forms of documents
For next session: read Chapter 20: Revising and Editing for Usability
Durham 91 Lab: Introduce Bad Brochure assignment
For next session: read Chapter 7: Instructions and Documentation
Discuss instructions assignment and topics
Instructional Content
Durham 91 Lab : Arrange the page: Readability Formulas
Instruction Outline Due ( 5 point daily grade )
Effective illustrations and photos. Text to Visual transfers
For next session: read Chapter 14: Researching and Research Methods
Grouping information (Sesame Street presentation)
Groups formed for group proposal project
Durham 91 Lab : work on proposal topic memo as group
Submit proposal/report topic memos (8 pt. daily grade)
Levels of reading
Conducting your usability test
For next session: read Ch. 8: Proposals
Instructional photography
Bad Brochure writing assignment due
Durham 91 Lab : Using Photoshop
Photoshop Independence of the visual: callouts, arrows, and descriptions
For next session: read Ch. 10: Analytical Reports
Rough draft of instructions due
Peer review of instructions (20 pt. daily grade)
Durham 91 Lab : Using Sketchup
Looking at instruction examples
For next session: read Ch. 3: Working in Teams

Week 10
Oct. 28: Final draft of Instructions and Usability test report due
What makes a good proposal/report topic
Oct. 30:
Nov. 1:
Week 11
Nov. 4:
Work day for groups
Discuss Report Topics
Nov. 6:
Nov. 8:
Week 12
Nov. 11:
Nov. 13:
Nov. 15:
Week 13
Nov. 18:
Kinds of evidence
For next session: read Chapter 9: Activity Reports
Work day for groups to write report outline
Parts of the Proposal/Report
For next session: read Ch. 11: Creating and Using Graphics
Submit proposal/report outline (8 pt. daily grade)
Durham 91 Lab : In-Class assignment: Progress report
Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Logic Tree: Finding the thesis and weaving the logical thread
For next session: read Ch. 21: Preparing and Giving Presentations
Nov. 20:
Nov. 22:
Durham 91 Lab : Using Word’s style guides and automation features
For next session: Bring rough draft of proposal/report
Peer review of proposal reports (9 pt. daily grade)
Week 14
Dec. 2:
Dec. 4:
Looking at Report/Proposal models
Durham 91 Lab : Creating slides for presentations
Dec. 6: Proposal/Reports due (one paper, one electronic)
Discuss Oral Presentations, schedule oral presentations
Week 15: (Dec. 9th, 11th, and 13th): Group presentations
Week 16: (Dec. 16 th
to 20th): Finals Week