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Course Calendar - Fall 2008

 Numbers below link
to weekly lessons		 Tuesday Thursday
1
Document
Design
 August 26th
  • Review of syllabus
  • Discussion of course content
  • Definition of technical communication
  • First assignment of semester
  • Getting-acquainted exercise
 August 28th
  • Document design
  • Discussion of readings
  • Example documents

Readings due:
  • Chapter 1
2
Writing
& Design		 Sept. 2nd
  • Presentation on writing processes
  • In-class writing exercise

Work due:
 Sept. 4th
  • Discussion of design principles
  • In-class design exercise.

Work due:
  • Chapter 2
  • Interview reports
3
Research
& Design 		Sept. 9th
  • Library research
  • Internet research
  • Using search engines

Work due:
 Sept. 11th
  • Theories of design
  • Rhetorical arrangement
  • Information design & architecture

Work due:
  • Research assignment
  • Chapter 3
4
Audience Analysis		 Sept. 16th
  • Audience analysis
  • Usability needs

Work due:
 Sept. 18th
  • Presentations of website analyses


Work due:
  • Website analysis
5
Documents
& Pages		 Sept. 23rd
  • The whole document
  • Decisions about media
  • Decisions about format

Readings due:
  • Chapter 4
 Sept. 25th
  • Meaning in page design
  • Using a grid system
  • Grids on the web

Readings due:
  • Chapter 5
6
Project
Management 		Sept. 30th
  • Discussion of project management
  • In-class review of collaboration and project software

Work due:
  • Chapter 10
 Oct. 2nd
  • Workshop on project management
  • In-class review of collaboration and project software

Work due:
  • None
7
Typography & Format		 Oct. 7th
  • Typography
  • Effects on reading

Readings due:
 Oct. 9th
  • Lists, tables, forms
  • Proposal workshop

Readings due:
8
Proposals		 Oct. 14th
  • Proposal discussion
  • Proposal peer response workshop

Work due:
  • Draft proposals
 Oct. 16th
  • Conference sign-up
  • Continued discussion of proposals

Work due:
  • Final proposals
9
Midterm
Conferences		 Oct. 21st
  • CONFERENCES (No Class)

Readings due:
  • None
 Oct. 23rd
  • CONFERENCES (No Class)

Readings due:
  • None
10
Graphics
& Color
 Oct. 28th
  • Visual rhetoric
  • Information graphics
  • Working with graphic images

Work due:
  • Chapter 7
 Oct. 30th
  • Presentation on color
  • Color theory
  • Designing with color

Work due:
  • Chapter 8
11
Instructions		 Nov. 4th
  • Presentation on instructions
  • Instruction/usability workshop

Work due:
  • Start work on progress reports.
 Nov. 6th
  • Oral communication
  • PowerPoint workshop

Work due:
  • Draft of progress report
12
Progress
Reports 		Nov. 11th
  • Progress Report Presentations

Work due:
  • Progress reports
 Nov. 13th
  • Progress Report Presentations
13
Single
Sourcing		 Nov. 18th
  • XML and single sourcing
  • Content management systems

Readings due:
 Nov. 20th
  • DocBook demo
  • DITA examples
14
Thanksgiving		 Thanksgiving
15
Formal Reports		 Dec. 1st
  • Presentation on formal reports

Readings/work due:
  • Continue projects
 Dec. 3rd
  • Formal Reports

Work due:
  • Continue projects
16
Workshop
Week		 Dec. 9th
  • Project Workshop

Work due:
  • Continue projects
 Dec. 11th
  • Project Workshop
17
Final Project
 Final projects due during final exam period: TBA