English 314 Technical Communication

Fall, 2009

Scott Consigny
Office: Ross 301
Text: Blake, Elements of Technical Writing

Part One: Technical environments and texts. (5 weeks)

The nature and scope of technical writing; the internet as resource for technical information; the website as technical document; Media of technical communication; creating a website; writing and the web; interpreting competing websites

1. Aug. 24, 26, 28: Intro; Websites

2. Aug. 31, Sep 2, 4: In-class writing exercise; websites: links; resumes; style and content of sites

3. Sep 9, 11: Writing exercises; website; information gathering; construction

4. Sep 14, 16, 18: Presentations

5. Sep 21, 23, 25: Presentations

FIRST PAPER: Sep 25

Part Two: Describing and evaluating technical products, procedures, and services (4 weeks)

Writing about technical products; comparing and contrasting products; criteria of evaluation; products and services in the technical environment; accessing information; audience, text and technical author

6. Sep 28, 30; Oct 2: Products and services: research online; group organization

7. Oct 5, 7, 9: Products and services: research online; group organization

8. Oct 12, 14, 16: Products and services: presentations

9. Oct 19, 21, 23: Products and services: presentations

SECOND PAPER: Oct 23

Part Three: The fictional company (5 weeks)

10. Oct 26, 28, 30: Company creation

11. Nov 2, 4, 6: Company creation

12. Nov 9, 11, 13: Presentations

13. Nov 16, 18, 20: Presentations

14. Nov 30, 2, Dec 4: Presentations

THIRD PAPER: Dec 4