WR 227, Technical Writing I

Projects and Assignments

Students in WR 227 will be required to complete four kinds of activities: readings, on-line discussion, weekly written assignments, and a major technical project. (We may also have a quiz or two on topics to be announced.) All activities should be completed and submitted before or on the due date. (See Submitting Your Work.) Remember to check for spelling and grammar, as these will effect your grade. See the Grading Criteria for more information.

On-Line Discussions

Topics are posted on the Discussions page, linked from the course homepage. This "threaded" discussion board operates much like e-mail, except all messages stay posted for the group to review. This way, you can see what other students are posting and reply to their messages. I will introduce a topic roughly every other week. Please respond to each topic by replying to my posted message. (Just click on "Reply".) I would like your reponses to be at least one paragraph (3+ sentences) and no more than five (5) paragraphs in length.

You are also required to comment on at least two replies posted by other students on any topic. (For example, you may find the discussions about multiple audiences and web pages most interesting. You could pick one student response from each topic, and reply to each.) You may agree, disagree, ask questions or offer suggestions. Please remember to keep your comments constructive and polite. I will be monitering all discussions.

By the end of the term, you will have posted at least eight (8) responses to the Discussions page. I hope that this exercise will generate extended discussions about the topics, all of which relate not only to technical writing in general, but to your final projects as well.

Weekly Assignments and Extra Credit

You will have one non-graded and seven graded weekly assignments. Graded assignments are worth 10 points each.

Contact Instructor via Class E-mail	Contact your instructor with the following information: Name, major, job title (if applicable), and reason for taking WR 227. I'd also like your phone number and outside e-mail address. (Required - No Points)	Length: 1 page max.	Due: Week 1
Profile Questions	Your second assignment will be to interview a classmate via e-mail to develop a "Personal Profile". I will assign you a partner. Before you interview your partner, you will need to develop and submit a list of questions for review. For more information, see Profile, Part I.	Length: 1 page	Due: Week 2
Profile Web Page	After interviewing your partner, you will develop a simple web page for their profile. This project will be graded on content of the profile rather than quality of the web page. Profiles will be posted on our Projects Page. For more information, see Profile, Part II.	Length: 1 page	Due: Week 3
Product Description	Write a brief, technical description of a product or object. Use the process for describing a technical object given on p. 250 of the text. You may include a graphic illustration as a reference for the copy.	Length: 1-2 pages	Due: Week 4
Instructions Revision	Find a set of instructions that you feel is unclear or poorly written. Briefly explain what improvements are necessary. Then, rewrite the instructions. You may include graphic illustrations as a reference for the copy.	Length: 1-3 pages	Due: Week 5
Project Proposal	Write a brief proposal to your instructor suggesting your final project. Use the description of proposal components on p. 341 of the text as a guide. (Note: You will not need "Front Matter" or "Back Matter" for this proposal. "Costs" should only be included as necessary.) A sample is online at http://spot.pcc.edu/~gknox/pp/proposal.htm	Length: 1-3 pages	Due: Week 7
Project Outline	Submit a draft sentence outline of your final project. Follow the "Steps in Outlining" provided on p. 17 - 19 of the text. (For extra credit, you may create "Storyboards" for your major topics within the outline. See pp. 20-22 of the text.)	Length: 2-3 pages (or more)	Due: Week 9
Final Project Critiques	Write a critique of at least two presentations (other than your own) posted on the Projects Page. These critiques should be e-mailed to the instructor and to the presentation developer (your classmate) by Wednesday of Finals Week (Week 12). Critiques can be short, 2-3 paragraphs, and should focus on content and execution. Try to comment on what works and what does not. Please keep your comments polite and constructive.	Length: 2-3 paragraphs each	Due: Week 12
Rewrite of Weekly Assignments (Extra Credit)	You may rewrite any assignments listed above for extra credit points. See my comments on your graded papers for suggestions. These may be submitted any time up to Wednesday of Finals Week.	Length: 1-2 pages	Due: Week 12
Make-up Assignment	If you need to do a make-up paper, read the Quick and Easy Guide to Definitions and write an expanded definition. (The topic is your choice.)	Length: 1-2 pages	Due: Week 12

Technical Project

The final technical project will include a technical paper (80 pts.) and a visual presentation (20 pts.) of the project, due by Monday of Week 11. You are encouraged to choose topics that relate to your professional and personal interests. Projects that may be used at work are acceptable, although you should check with your employer regarding copyright and other concerns.

The technical paper may be in any form of technical communications discussed in class (e.g., research report, proposal, instructions manual, etc.) . Papers must be no shorter than 6 pages in length and no longer that 12 pages, excluding front and back matter. The paper must include significant research on subjects outside of class. Sources, of course, must be referenced appropriately.

You will also be required to prepare a visual presentation summarizing your project. This is not a formal presentation, but rather a visual representation of your work for exhibition. This presentation will be electronic, typically either a web site or PowerPoint presentation. If you have another option in mind, check with me for approval. You should upload your presentation* and submit the URL to me by Monday of Week 11. The presentations will be exhibited for review during the last week of class on our Projects Page page. See below for some sample presentations.

*You have two options for submitting the visual presentation: 1) Upload your presentation to your own personal account. (See The Quick and Easy Guide to Building Web Pages); 2) Send the web files and related graphic files to me for uploading to our Projects page. (I would like you to try uploading your website directly first. You can always have me upload the files later if you get stuck.)

Important: In order to earn points for your visual presentation, you must write a critique of at least two presentations (other than your own) posted on the Projects Page. These critiques should be e-mailed to the instructor and to the presentation developer (your classmate) by Wednesday of Finals Week (Week 12).

Sample Presentations:

Some include a full downloadable paper.

Instructor: George Knox Phone: 503-977-4475 E-Mail: gknox@pcc.edu
Office: Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus, CC 221