Technical and Professional Communication
Fall 1996 Calendar
Please Note: this calendar is subject to be updated and changed
throughout
the semester. While these changes will be announced both in class an on
the class
electronic list, it is your responsibility to check this site frequently!
Week #1
Tuesday August 27
Course introduction; why take a class like this? What is technical/professional communication, anyway? Briefly review resources, requirements, etc. as listed
on syllaweb. How much do we know as a class about networked writing, the WWW
and RCS? Resource sharing.
Assignments for Thursday:
- carefully review course materials and policies;
- read Lay (et al) Chapter 1; Actual Writing; read
carefully A Brief 'Net Primer;
- post to the class list -- an introduction. Who are you, why are you in
this
class, what are your professional goals, personal interests ... anything you
can
think of that will potentially make connections with your classmates (e.g.
co-workers) ... this posting will count as the first "Monday Report" (see
Grades for details).
Thursday August 29
Q+A on class issues.
Professional Correspondence and Electronic Mail. How to get someone's
attention; appropriateness; tone. Use of "emoticons" and abbreviations.
Quick tips on local resources: word processors available to you in this
classroom and how to use them [volunteer presentations worth 25 points
per application -- you also become the class' resident consultant in that
program for the remainder of the semester!] ...
Assignments for Next Week:
- read Lay (et al) Chapter 3; Redish;
Jordan-Henley;
- optional but recommeded reading: Ede and Lunsford; Ong;
- prepare your first official Monday report as a response to the readings;
engage summary, synthesis, comparison; ask questions, make critiques; what
preliminary connections do you see to the earlier readings?
Week #2
Tuesday September 3
Discussion of Audience and Readership -- developing a common vocabulary.
How does tone change with perception of audience?
Assignments for Thursday:
- identify at least one listserv or listproc, and at least one newsgroup which
relate to your professional interests, and subscribe to them. Don't be fooled by
a title; look for FAQs to determine whether or not this is really something you'll
find useful and interesting.
-
read
Langham -- there's
a lot of hard theory in here. What's the point of it all? Can you see connections to
audience and tone?
-
skim through the contents of Jeff Galin's
MOO Central and
familiarize yourself with terminology and commands.
Thursday September 5
In-class MOO session; learning the technology of interactive writing and
conferencing environments. Topic: Gender and Language.
Guest coordinators: S.J. Dauer, The Daedalus Group; Claud Keenan,
Penn State University; Sandye Thompson, Texas Woman's University.
Assignments for Next Week:
- read Lay (et al) Chapter 5; Consigny; Doheny-Farina;
Doherty; the last three are pretty theoretical ... make what sense
you can of them!
- for your next Monday report, you might consider writing about your
own experience in MOOspace in terms of Consigny, Langham and my own
writing; or kicking around the concept of "kairos" (Doheny-Farina)
and how it relates to ethos, pathos and logos (as defined by Lay, et al).
Week #3
Tuesday September 10
Discussion: the rhetorical situation and means of presenting an argument.
You probably won't ever say to a co-worker
"oooh, that's a fine argument from pathos!" So why learn the terminology?
Assignment for Thursday:
Thursday September 12
Making the leap: relating all this theory to practical application.
How will you build your resume? Write your cover letter? What is
your audience? What rhetorical argumentative forms will you use?
Why? And so what?
Assignment for Next Week:
-
draft of cover letter and resume due in class Tuesday -- bring 18 copies of
each to class with you;
-
Monday report: open-ended -- respond to the readings and to each other.
Week #4
Tuesday September 17
In-class writing and peer critique (papertext).
Assignment for Thursday:
Thursday September 19
In-class writing and peer critique.
Assignment for next week:
-
final copies of resume and cover letter due in class on Tuesday -- hand in all
drafts, and all marked-up comment drafts made by your classmates;
- Read carefully
Murphy.
Also begin familiarizing yourself with
McAdams, with
Strunk, and with
Waddell. You should "know your way around" these webtexts. If you would
like to bring a papertext resource of similar quality to class, and discuss it
with your classmates, you are invited to do so;
-
Monday report: open-ended. Suggestions: rhetorical self-analysis of your own
resume (i.e., explain your choices using the vocabulary we're sharing); define
your strengths and weaknesses based on the "areas of writing" in the McAdams, Strunk,
and Waddell readings;
-
Describe the electronic forums (list and newsgroup) you have chosen to participate
in this semester in memo-form, to the class list.
Week #5
Tuesday September 24
Discuss memo writing. Discuss collaborative presentations; begin dividing
into groups for work throughout the semester. Discussion of copy-editing
styles and approaches -- review of resources from the weekend.
Assignment for Thursday:
-
Meet within your groups -- this can occur electronically! -- and draft a memo
to class explaining your initial purpose.
- Read Nelson, "Sweat the Small Stuff."
Thursday September 26
Reports on professional presentations observed Tuesday and Wednesday.
In class: write brief critiques of the oral presentations; write somewhat
longer critiques of the memos posted to class by each group. What questions
are you left with? Discussion of final project.
Assignment for next week:
- Utilize your Monday report to draft a formal memo-format proposal regarding
your final project. Respond to your classmates' postings.
Bring a papertext proposal, preferably revised from your Monday report based on
the comments you received, with you to class on Tuesday.
- Read
Chauss and Grice (handout).
Week #6
Monday September 30: Final day to drop without tuition penalty.
Tuesday October 1
Discuss Chauss. (I am trying to work it out so that she will take class for me
on this day, or on Thursday. However, we teach at the same time, so that will
involve me taking her class. I'll let you know!) Apply Chauss' ideas to an in-class
analysis of a website or other electronic text.
Assignment for Thursday:
-
Post to the class list a summary of your critique of the electronic text you selected.
Be sure to clearly use the ideas Chauss introduces, and to engage the concepts of
ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos.
Thursday October 3
In-class writing; you may choose to work on either of the following:
your final project; in small groups toward your collaborative presentation.
(Alternatively: if Chauss is able to be in class today, the in-class writing
will be Tuesday.)
Assignment for next week:
-
Before leaving class you MUST sign up for an individual conference with me.
These can occur any time during the day on Friday, Monday or Tuesday. These will
last a half hour, and primarily discuss your final project, though anything from
class is fair game. If you do not sign up for a conference, it is the same as
missing one. These conferences are in lieu of class next week.
- Monday report: open-ended; however take note -- even with no classes next
week, this is a required posting!
Week #7
Tuesday October 8 and Thursday October 10
NO CLASSES.
Tuesday's class is cancelled to allow for the mid-semester conferences.
Thursday's class is cancelled as part of the Institute's Fall Break; however,
some time during this week your small groups should meet and write individual
memos for your Monday report regarding the meeting and your group's progress.
This can be your Monday report for either Week #7 or Week #8; the other
should deal with the intellectual property issues in the readings.
Readings for October 17:
Samuelson (two articles);
Monday and Hester
Kickstart
Week #8
Tuesday October 15
No Classes: RPI Fall Break
Assignment for Thursday:
-
Be certain that you have completed the last two Monday reports, including
one discussing your small group meeting and one which addresses issues in
the intellectual property readings. Review these readings in preparation
for in-class debate; see below!
Thursday October 17
In-class discussion and debate. Today's goal: to develop and collaboratively
author a one-paragraph statement (approximately 100-150 words unless it
is feasible to make it shorter) outlining the Tech/Pro Class Policy on
intellectual property and copyright. What are the issues we must address?
What are the statements we must make? How will we decide? Begin class
by posting an attendance memo to the class list which states succinctly one
issue which you believe must be included and what your position on
that issue is.
Assignment for next week:
-
Read
Creating On-Line Documents in RPInfo
on the World Wide Web and create a public_html directory for yourself before
class on Tuesday. This is a must ... don't wait until class to figure it
out.
If you need help, solicit it on the class list from your web-savvy co-workers!
Focus especially on
Creating a WWW Directory on RCS for specifics.
-
Make sure you have a text-only copy of your resume and cover letter available
in your RCS account for use in class Tuesday. If you are familiar with HTML, go
ahead and start coding it to your preferred specifications.
-
Remember -- drafts of all material(s) for your collaborative oral presentations
are due on Tuesday. This should include a title for your presentation, a brief statement of purpose, a description of your intended (target) audience, a list of
all the resources you will be discussing and why you chose them, and a list of any
multimedia needs your group will have in preparing for the presentation (LCD, overhead, TV/VCR, audioplayer, slide projector, et cetera). One copy of this draft, with the
names of all group members, should be turned in today.
-
Monday report: Open-ended. One option: critique and analyze
my homepage which more or
less presents itself as an online resume/portfolio. Does it work? Why or
why not? (I have not updated it in almost a year; does that tell you something
about the process?) Another option: respond to the class statement as
formulated from the intellectual property debate. Another option: get creative!
Week #9
Tuesday October 22
On-line resumes: discussion regarding the usefulness (and dangers) of presenting our
professional selves in digital form. Workshop: getting our print resumes upweb.
Basic HTML commands and RCS permissions will be discussed and implemented.
Experimentation with layout and format as time permits.
Assignment for Thursday:
- Remember "Sweat the Small Stuff"? What choices has your group made (and why?)
regarding presentational style? What is your styleguide of choice? How* does knowing
this information impact the way you might pursue the presenation at hand? Does it make
your job more difficult or easier? Post your thoughts on these issues in an informal
electronic statement to the class list -- format "discussion" rather than "memo."
Thursday October 24
In-class writing; you may choose to work either on
your final project or in small groups toward your collaborative presentation.
Assignment for next week:
-
Read carefully the AAECP
Oral and Presentation Skills Menu with particular attention to the "Delivery
Checklist, which is an excellent "Cliff Note's" kind of approach to oral
presentations; also Chapter 20 of Lay, et al "Oral Presentations."
-
Read the latest issue of
Rensselaer Magazine in both of its current formats -- online and papertext
(the latter is available, free, all over campus). You do not have to read either or both
cover-to-cover (whatever that means in hypertext!), but should focus on the format,
the style and presentation, and what the strengths and weaknesses of each one are.
Do they complement each other? Overlap? Are both necessary? Why or why not?
Consider how we might use the language we've developed in class (ethos, pathos,
logos; Chauss and Grice; etc.) in desribing this/these publication(s). In fact,
are they separate publications?
- Monday report: Write a letter to
Nick Weaver, editor of Rensselaer.Mag
discussing your analysis and making suggestions for the improvement of either or both
versions, or for their interaction with each other. This letter is actually for
potential publication in the magazine. Show off what you know about design and
writing, but make the letter legitimately worthy of printing. Send a copy of the
letter to the class list after you have sent it to Mr. Weaver.
Week #10
Tuesday October 29 and Thursday October 31:
Discussion of oral presentation skills; each individual in class will present a 5-7
minute report on their final project, while co-workers respond and give suggestions
regarding style and approach. Pay attention to the checklist!
Tuesday:
Older, Swanson, Vowell, Weland, Hunnewell
Thursday:
Connolly, Elias, Bobinski, Almeida, Selcukoglu, Scozik, McDonnell, Klauda, Furhang, Johnston
Assignment for next week:
-
Monday Report:
Post to the class list a memo commenting on
the other oral presentations you saw this week; be specific. Do not simply post
notes -- this is a formal document, utilizing response, analysis, and suggestion
in the body of the text.
- Don't forget -- drafts of your final project are due in class on Tuesday!
Week #11
Tuesday November 5
In-class writing; you may choose to work either on
your final project or in small groups toward your collaborative presentation.
Assignment for Thursday:
- Find a set of instructions to something you use regularly (your VCR, a box
of toothpicks, whatever) and a set of instructions to something you have never
used before but may someday like to (a computer program, NordicTrack -- again,
whatever). Familiarize yourself with these and bring them to class with you
on Thursday. Make photocopies of at least one page of these instructions (this may
be the entire text; but don't photocopy a whole book on Java, for instance) -- one
copy for each person in class, 16 total.
Thursday November 7
Discussion: writing instructions. What's hardest to do? How do we identify
audiences for doing so? Does everything need instructions? Why or why not?
Exercise: how to tie a necktie.
Week #12
Tuesday November 12 and Thursday November 14:
Collaborative Oral Presentations
Tuesday:
- Almeida, Elias and Johnston
- Hunnewell, McDonnell and Swanson
Thursday:
- Bobinski and Scozik
- Klauda, Vowell and Weland
Assignment for next week:
-
Monday Report:
Open-ended.
Week #13
Tuesday November 19:
Collaborative Oral Presentations, continued
- Connolly, Furhang, Older and Selcukoglu
Thursday November 21:
We will not be meeting face-to-face today; instead, we will have a
remote class MOO session, probably in a different MOO than the two we have
visited so far (variety and all that) to engage a professional debate, topic to
be determined in class Tuesday. The session will be logged and made available
to next semester's Tech/Pro class for analysis. Consider them to be
a part of your audience as you participate. You are, of course, welcome to use
the computers in our classroom for this MOO session, however you are not
required to be in 4510 Sage; I will not be there.
Assignment for next week:
-
Monday Report:
Write a formal progress report on your final project, including what you have
accomplished, what you need to accomplish, and a timeline specifying when things
will be completed. You may consider this report a formal contract with the class;
what you write, you should stick to or be prepared to explain why you have missed
your own self-chosen deadlines.
Week #14
Tuesday November 26:
It has been pointed out, and well-argued, that "in-class writing" for the final
projects poses platform-compatability difficulties. While working in groups, the
in-class writing is useful; if you are working in a word-processor generally
incompatible with your interface of choice at home, the individual work is prohibitively
more inaccessible.
Therefore, today you are to do "in-class writing" in our virtual space -- anywhere you
can interface with your own work. I will be available for questions and discussion in
my office on MediaMOO from 2:00-3:30 EDT; you are required to check in at least
once during that time, identify yourself, and sign the Memex Board for attendance
purposes. Whether this means you will actually use this class time for Tech/Pro work
is, of course, up to your own professional judgment.
Assignment for next week:
-
Monday Report:
This week's Monday Report is waived in favor of acknowledging the national
holiday. Post us a short description of how you spent the time away from school.
How much did you eat?
Week #15
Tuesday December 3:
Discussion and exercises in class regarding
technical reports and presentation of data in your professional writing.
Thursday December 5:
Discussion and exercises in class regarding face-to-face, electronic, and telephone
interview skills.
Assignment for next week:
-
Monday Report:
You have two options for this final Monday report; if you wish, you can do both of
these things, though you will not receive any extra credit. If you are missing a
Monday report from earlier in the semester, here's a chance to do two!
-
Write a memo to me arguing what your grade should be for this class. Engage
rhetorical argument skills as you see fit (though I would avoid obvious mis-steps
like saying "Now I will argue from pathos") ... incorporate statements of support
from me (I have given you written feedback throughout the semester) and from your
classmates, crunch numbers -- or show why I shouldn't just crunch numbers! --
and draw a conclusion based on your argument. Be specific!!
-
Using the "final" version of the class syllaweb as a "writing prompt," discuss how
this class can be improved next semester. What were the strengths, weaknesses,
etc.? Comment on the readings, on how classtime was spent, on MOOspace and/or the
use of the class electronic list, on the amount and kinds
of feedback you received both from me and from each other, and on any other aspect
of the class you'd like to address.
Please note, I will take either or both of these written documents seriously and
consider them carefully. I am willing to change a grade based on a compelling
(and well-written) argument, and I am equally hoping you will give me sound
ideas on how to tinker with (or even entirely re-structure) the class in the Spring of
1997.
Your Final Project ...
... is due Wednesday, December 11 at 5:00 PM. Papertext projects should be
put in my papermailbox in Sage; webbed project URLs should be sent to my
e-mailbox offlist.
I will have grades done by Friday, December 13 (which should thrill all you
triskadeskaphobiacs out there) and will be happy to send you your grade via
electronic mail. However, I am not legally allowed to send grades electronically
unless you, the student, specifically request that I do so. Therefore, if you
send me electronic mail asking for your grade on Friday afternoon, I will hit reply and
send you your "page" (screen?) in my electronic records.