FALL 2006
SCHEDULE

page last updated: 12.03.06

NOTES ABOUT THE SCHEDULE

* This schedule is a DYNAMIC document, not a static one. It will be updated and revised regularly, probably once per week. Make sure to check at least once per week for updates and modifications. REFRESH the page (in your browser) to make sure that you are looking at the current version. :)

* The upcoming week's classes are always posted at the top of the schedule. Past weeks' classes are pushed to the BOTTOM of the schedule.

* Readings should be completed before the class period in which they are listed.
Date Projects, Topics, and Readings Assignments Due / Reminders
M DEC 4

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• In-class work on Project #4 and Project #5

DUE, by midnight: Draft of Project #5, your e-portfolio, if you would like instructor feedback. Send site URL to instructor via ANGEL email.
W DEC 6 PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• In-class editorial review of Project #4; copyediting, proofreading, and site debugging
• Class wrap up
 DUE, before class: Complete draft of Project #4 resources web site for editorial review, site testing, and debugging. Design Team: send URL to entire class. —> It is important to have the entire site ready and functional by the beginning of class.

FINAL EXAM WEEK — WEEK OF DEC 11

PROJECT 5: E-PORTFOLIO

FINAL EXAM WEEK OFFICE HOURS
Jim will not have his regularly scheduled office hours durings finals week. Instead, his hours will be as follows (in Olds Hall, 3b):
- Monday, December 11th, 3:00-5:00 pm
- Wednesday, December 13th, 1:30-3:30 pm

 

DUE M DEC 11, by 4 pm: Final version of Project #4: the resources web site. URL for site sent to Jim and Dànielle DeVoss. Design Team: Deposit files for site Project #4 Turn-in folder and send files to Dànielle DeVoss.

DUE T DEC 12, by 4 pm: Your individual materials showing the work you have done for Project #4. These materials should include: your project reflection, your team evaluation form, and your project work log, including an overall description of your work on the project and any other things you would like to turn in as evidence of your work on the project ... You don't need to turn in every scrap of paper or email! but rather pick selected pieces that show your most significant work on the project.

DUE W DEC 13, by 4 pm: Final version of Project #5. Send URL to Jim via ANGEL email. (No separate project reflection required, since project reflection is built into the assignment! :)

IMPORTANT NOTE: All late and missing assignments must be turned in no later than 12 noon on Thursday, December 14th in order to be counted toward your final grade in WRA 202.

M AUG 28
3:00-4:20

INTRODUCTION
• Introduction to course, instructor

READ
- WRA 202 course syllabus
- WRA 202 course schedule

  
W AUG 30

WHAT IS "PROFESSIONAL WRITING"?
• Perspectives on writing — process, product, purpose
• What is "professional writing"? basic terminology (writing, professional, rhetoric)
• The Professional Writing major at MSU
• Professional Writing elsewhere
• Introduction to students

READ
- The MSU PW web site —> http://www.msu.edu/~wrac/pw/pw_index.html
- The Purdue PW web site —>
http://pw.english.purdue.edu/
- Miami University —> http://www.units.muohio.edu/english/Undergraduate/Majors/batsc.html
- Texas Tech —> http://www.english.ttu.edu/tc/BA/BAhome.htm
- University of Washington —> http://www.uwtc.washington.edu/
- Grand Valley State —> http://www.gvsu.edu/writing/pw_main.htm
- Rensselaer —> http://www.emac.rpi.edu/index.html
- Indiana University —> http://www.informatics.ius.edu/index.cfm
- Technical Writer (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_writer
- Technical Communication (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_communication
- Creative Writing (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_writing
- Informatics (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informatics

 DUE: (a) Write a brief statement (one paragraph, no more than 125 words) identifying who you are personally and professionally: Who are you, what are your goals and aspirations, what are your worries/concerns, what do you hope to learn/gain from WRA 202? Be prepared to read this statement orally in class. (Turn in: As email to class list -- i.e., send to all members -- on ANGEL before class begins.) (b) Locate an undergraduate professional writing degree program or a type of professional writing specialization on the web (other than the ones listed under READ to the left) that fits your profile or interests in professional writing. Share the URL with the class in the same email that you send for (a).
M SEPT 4 LABOR DAY — no class
 
W SEPT 6

PROJECT 1: SHORT REPORT ON PROFESSIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATION OR JOURNAL
• invention for project #1: analysis of context (audience and purpose); content development
• page design considerations for project #1: grids, layouts, wireframes; discussion and evaluation of sample page templates

READ
- description of Project #1
- visual hierarchy —> http://www.webstyleguide.com/page/hierarchy.html
- grids: consistency and unity —> http://desktoppub.about.com/od/grids/l/aa_gridsunity.htm
- grids: flexible options —> http://desktoppub.about.com/od/grids/l/aa_gridsflex.htm
- Adobe on page design —> http://www.adobe.com/education/webtech/CS2/unit_planning2/pd_print_id.htm
- wireframing —> http://www.dmxzone.com/ShowDetail.asp?NewsId=3991
- wireframes and prototypes —> http://www.boxesandarrows.com/archives/html_wireframes_and_prototypes_all_gain_and_no_pain.php

  
M SEPT 11

PROJECT 1: SHORT REPORT ON PROFESSIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATION OR JOURNAL

 

DUE: Short proposal for Project #1 (submit as email to instructor)
W SEPT 13

PROJECT 1: SHORT REPORT ON PROFESSIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATION OR JOURNAL 
- Project #1 production issues
- computer-based composing processes: how do you write in Word?

READ

FILENAMING
- Naming Files and Folders (Stolley)
http://www.sustainablewebdesign.com/resources/582/
- Naming for Indexing and Clarity (Stolley)
http://www.sustainablewebdesign.com/resources/583/
- Naming for Versioning (Stolley)
http://www.sustainablewebdesign.com/resources/584/
- Naming Files and Directories
http://www.utexas.edu/learn/manage/naming.html

CONVERTING FILES TO PDF
- PDF_conversion.pdf —> in ANGEL > Lessons > Project 1 folder
- "PDF: Unfit for Human Consumption" (Nielsen)
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030714.html
- "Avoid PDF for Onscreen Reading" (Nielsen)
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010610.html

MAKING COLUMNS AND TABLES IN WORD
- http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-39,subcat-OFFICESOFT.html
- http://www.uwec.edu/help/Word03/column.htm
- "Tables in Word X" —> http://web.reed.edu/cis/help/wordxtables.html
- "Create and Use Newspaper Columns: MS Word"

 
M SEPT 18

VIRTUAL CLASS — PROJECT 1: SHORT REPORT ON PROFESSIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATION OR JOURNAL 
We will not meet F2F in Bessey 317 — although you are welcome to login to class from the Bessey 317 lab if you like. Rather, we will meet in virtual space — in the ANGEL chat space. And we will use electronic tools in ANGEL (e.g., class email) for class activities. If you have trouble finding/getting to the virtual class, send me an email.

• PW ethical question: Can you "borrow" somebody's page design?
• using style sheets in Word
• CRAP principles: Proximity, Alignment

READ
- Williams, pp. 9-48

STYLE SHEETS
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/style_sheet.html

DUE: Reflection on your composing process. Submit as email to entire class + instructor.

DUE: Make sure to purchase the Williams' book (The Non-Designers Design Book), read the assigned section, and bring the darn thing to class with you!

IMPORTANT: Attendance at a virtual class counts just as much as attendance at a F2F class. Be there, show up on time, and be involved in class discussion.

W SEPT 20

PROJECT 1: SHORT REPORT ON PROFESSIONAL WRITING ORGANIZATION OR JOURNAL
• procedures for editorial review
• in-class review of Project #1
• issues in typography
• issues in style, proofreading and copyediting

READ
- Williams, pp. 121-174
- "Proofreading vs Copyediting" (Hoak)
http://www.deannahoak.com/?p=188
- Proofreading (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofreading
- "What Exactly is a Copyeditor?"
http://theslot.com/copyeditors.html
- readings on conciseness (vs verbosity)
- http://www.ku.edu/~edit/concise.html
- http://www.quotegarden.com/brevity.html
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_concise.html
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_conciseEX1.html

DUE, before class: Complete draft of Project #1. Submit as PDF file to ANGEL turn-in folder for Project #1.

DUE, in class: Editorial review of Project #1.

 

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."
- Thomas Jefferson

 
M SEPT 25

VIRTUAL CLASS — PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT

Today's class will be ASYNCHRONOUS (i.e., "not same time"), which means that you do not need to attend class at a specific given time — but rather you work through the assigned class activities and engage other members of the class on your own sometime during the day.

Here are the activities you should complete sometime Monday:

- Do the assigned reading below — the Williams' material on typography (previously assigned, but not discussed), and new material related to Project #2.
- Post a note related to typography on the threaded discussion board set up for today's class. That board is at Lessons > Project #1 > Discussion Board. Your postings should pull some useful principle or strategy from the Williams' discussion of typography (or from other readings or knowledge that you have about typography) that applies to Project #1. In other words, the question to answer is this: What typography advice from Williams is most relevant to our work on these chapters? What is some sound typography advice that we should definitely follow? What are some typographic mistakes to avoid? What did you learn from that discussion that would be useful for the entire class? The trick to this exercise is to post some new and useful knowledge that hasn't already been posted ... thus, those who post early have an edge over those who post later! ;)
- Read your classmates' postings — and feel free to engage in further threaded discussion on the Discussion Board.

READ
- Williams, pp. 121-174 (on typography, from last week)
- description of Billboard Project
- Satire (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire
- Irony (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony
- Parody (Wikipedia) —> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody
- The Onion —> http://www.theonion.com/content/index

DUE, anytime Monday: A posting to the Discussion Board for the virtual class. --> ANGEL > Lessons > Project #1 > Discussion Board
W SEPT 27

VIRTUAL CLASS — PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT

Class this afternoon will be a SYNCHRONOUS class (i.e., "same time) — that is, we will meet from 3:00-4:20 in the ANGEL chat space. The purpose of the class will be for me to present revision suggestions for Project #1; to introduce Project #2; and to consider some principles of page design from Williams.

• Project #1 —> revision advice
• introduction to Project #2
• rhetorical analysis of context for Project #2
• page design principles

 

 
M OCT 2

CLASS CANCELLED

 
W OCT 4

PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT
• revision suggestions for Project #1
• ideas for Project #2
• Photoshop tutorial, part 1

DUE, in class: intro Photoshop exercise
M OCT 9

PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT
• Photoshop tutorial, part 2
• page design principles

 

DUE, before class: Revised, final version of Project #1. Submit PDF to ANGEL turn-in folder for Project #1.

DUE, by end of class: intermediate Photoshop exercise

W OCT 11

PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT
• What is a "project reflection"?
• Procedures for in-class editorial review
• In-class editorial review for Project #2

DUE, beginning of class: Polished draft of Project #2 —> load image/s on the web and send URL to the class email list.
—> if you want feedback on assignment, you MUST have this ready by the beginning of class
—> Hint: This is an assignment where you might want to turn in multiple drafts (2-3) to get reader reactions to different versions.

DUE, in class: Editorial review of Project #2.
M OCT 16

PROJECT 2: BILLBOARD PROJECT
• Revision comments for Project #2
• Principles of design (Williams)
• Work on billboard re-design

READ (previously assigned)
- Williams, pp. 49-62 (repetition)
- Williams, pp. 63-78 (contrast)
- Williams, pp. 79-120 (integrating CRAP)

DUE: Please bring the Williams book with you to class.
W OCT 18

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE
• introduction to Project #3
• VERY basic HTML tutorial -- web authoring in Dreamweaver I

READ
- description of Project #3
- HTML Beginner's Guide

ASSISTANCE
- Examples and how-to explanations

 

DUE, before class: Revised, final version of Project #2 + project reflection. Put billboard image on web and send URL to instructor in an individual email. Write up your project reflection in the same email.

DUE, tba: Basic web page posted to your AFS space (containing all the requisite elements from the tutorial). Send URL to instructor. (Note: If you have taken or are currently taking WRA 210 or WRA 410 you do not need to complete this tutorial.)
M OCT 23

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE
• locating and evaluating resources in professional writing
• Tutorial: Merging CSS with HTML

READ
- "Google Technology"
http://www.google.com/technology/
- "Getting the Most Out of Google"
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Google.html
- "How to Use Web Search Engines"
http://www.monash.com/spidap2.html

- "Introduction to CSS" —> check out the CSS Demo! ("see how it works")
http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_intro.asp
- "CSS Beginner's Guide" (html.dog)
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/cssbeginner/
- "Applying CSS" (html.dog)
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/cssbeginner/applyingcss/

IN-CLASS TUTORIAL
- "CSS Tutorial" —> in ANGEL Project #3 folder (css_tutorial.doc)
- "Putting It All Together" (HTML)
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/htmlbeginner/conclusion/
- "Putting It All Together" (CSS)
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/cssbeginner/conclusion/

DUE, end of class: Basic web page + CSS style sheet (from html.dog) posted to your AFS space. Send URL to instructor.

 
W OCT 25

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE
• principles of web page design and navigation
• using CSS for your resources web page

READ
- Web Style Guide on "cascading style sheets"
http://www.webstyleguide.com/type/css.html
- CSS Beginner's Guide
http://www.htmldog.com/guides/cssbeginner/
- CSS Quick Tutorial
http://www.htmlhelp.com/reference/css/quick-tutorial.html
- CSS Examples
http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_examples.asp
- CSS Page Layout
http://www.westciv.com/style_master/academy/hands_on_tutorial/09.laying_out.html
- Web Style Guide on "page design" (all sections) —> http://www.webstyleguide.com/page/index.html

EXTRA HELP
- Style Master CSS Tutorial
http://www.westciv.com/style_master/academy/hands_on_tutorial/index.html

SUPPLEMENTAL/OPTIONAL
Robin Williams and John Tollett, The Non-Designer's Web Book, 3rd edition (Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2005).

DUE, before class: proposal for Project #3. Send as email to instructor.
M OCT 30

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE

READ
- Web Style Guide on "typography" (all sections) —> http://www.webstyleguide.com/type/index.html


 
W NOV 1

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE
• In-class oral reports on Project #3 progress

READ TBA

DUE: progress report for Project #3 (short in-class oral presentation + selected URLs)

M NOV 6

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• introduction to Project #4

READ
- description of Project #4 (forthcoming)

 
W NOV 8

PROJECT 3: RESOURCES WEB PAGE
• procedures and criteria for editorial review
• in-class review

DUE, beginning of class: draft of Project #3 for in-class editorial review. Send URL for web site to class via ANGEL email.

DUE, in class: Editorial review of Project #3.
M NOV 13

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• comments on Project #3
• principles of "writing for the web" (see readings below)
• meeting: organization of content and structure for "Resources Site"

READ
- Nielsen, "How Users Read on the Web"
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html
- Web Style Guide on "Graphic Safe Areas"
http://www.webstyleguide.com/page/dimensions.html
- Web Style Guide on "Visual Hierarchy"
http://www.webstyleguide.com/page/hierarchy.html
- Web Style Guide on "Editorial Style" (Online)
http://www.webstyleguide.com/style/index.html —> HINT: Here is where the Editorial Team might borrow some guidelines for the editorial style sheet ... READ the subsections, too.
- Thomason, "Writing for the Web"
http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol4/design_no10.htm
- "Web Writing Style"
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/webpublishing/step9createwebsite/webwritingstyle/

 
W NOV 15

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• Team meetings for Project #4
• The art of collaborating and working in teams: overmanaging vs undermanaging

READ
- readings on "Collaboration" in Project #4 folder in ANGEL —> there are a lot of readings, but they are all short


DUE M NOV 15, before class: Project Plan from each team for Project #4.

DUE F NOV 17: final version of Project #3 + project reflection. Submit Project #3 in two ways: (1) Load the page/site on the Web (your AFS space) and send me the URL for the page via email; (2) Upload the HTML version of your page to the "Drafts" folder for Project #4. Send me your project reflection via ANGEL email.
M NOV 20

VIRTUAL CLASS — PROJECT 5: E-PORTFOLIO
This class will be asynchronous — that is, you do not need to show up face-to-face, nor do you need to show up at a specified time for class discussion in a chat room. Rather, Jim will post an assignment to the class via ANGEL email before Monday; you will participate in the class discussion by posting some feedback to the Project #4 and Project #5 Discussion Boards. Further details to follow.

Even though you are not required to be in class F2F on Monday, you might wish to use that time block to meet in your Project #4 groups. The Bessey 317 lab will be open from 3:00-4:20. Your team might also choose to use the 11.20.06 chat room to hold a synchronous meeting.

• Introduction to Project #5 —> project description dramatically revised on 11.16.06, so check the updated version!
• Review style sheet for Project #4 (still under development — to be delivered shortly)

READ/SCAN —> sample PW portfolios
Heather Carlile (MSU) -- http://www.msu.edu/%7Ecarlileh/portfolio/
Adam Treadwell (MSU) -- http://www.msu.edu/%7Etreadw10/adamportfolio.html
Tarbox (Rensselaer) -- http://www.rpi.edu/~tarboj/
Brown (Kennesaw State) -- http://pigseye.kennesaw.edu/~abrown15/
Schuerman (Clemson) -- http://people.clemson.edu/~aschuer
Byers (MSU) -- http://www.kristenbyers.net/portfolio/
Kuhnmuench (MSU) -- http://www.akuhnmuench.com/portfolio/
Parker (MSU) -- http://www.msu.edu/%7Eparke131/portfolio/
Van Duinen (MSU) -- http://www.msu.edu/~vandui11/portfolio/

DUE F NOV 17: final version of Project #3 + project reflection. Load your resources page/site on the Web (your AFS space) and send me the URL for the page via email. In that same email include your reflection on the project.

DUE M NOV 20: THREE postings/participations

 
W NOV 22

 NO CLASS — Thanksgiving Break

Enjoy the time off!

 

M NOV 27

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• Comments on Project #5
• In-class work on Project #4 and Project #5 —> Use class time to work in groups on Project #4, or to do individual work related to Projects #4 or #5. Groups or individuals should check with Jim if they want help or feedback on work-in-progress. For Project #4, teams should be starting to finalize and copyedit the individual contributions and be moving toward site assembly.

  
W NOV 29

PROJECT 4: PROFESSIONAL WRITING RESOURCES GROUP PROJECT
• In-class work on Project #4 and Project #5 —> Use class time to work in groups on Project #4, or to do individual work related to Projects #4 or #5. Groups or individuals should check with Jim if they want help or feedback on work-in-progress. For Project #4, teams should be working on site assembly ... overall "draft" of site is due on Monday the 4th.