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The Final Three Major Projects

The Final Three Major Projects published on

This is the post for the week of February 26, 2018.

Notes for the Week

  • Since Spring Break begins at the end of the week, all of the Discussion posts for this week have been published on Monday. This change will allow you to get everything done early if you are leaving town. If you aren’t leaving, no worries! Just do things as you usually would, getting the work done as you can.
  • This week, we begin work on the last three major projects you will complete for the course. All of the remaining major projects in the course are connected. Here’s how:

    Genre Report Timeline

    The important detail here is that you have to decide on your plan for both the proposal and the genre analysis report this week.

Readings for the Week

Tasks for the Week

Complete the tasks and readings included in the Short Proposal Overview Module in Canvas:

  1. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 26, submit your 02/23 Labor Log in Canvas, if you are using the grace period.
  2. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 26, submit your project in the Analysis assignment in Canvas. If you are using the grace period, submit your project by 11:59PM on March 1.
  3. Leave a comment on the Discussion Posts if you like.
  4. By 11:59PM on Friday, March 2, write your 03/02 Labor Log in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, March 12. Spring Break doesn’t count in the calculation, but if you put off writing, you may forget what you have done. Endeavor to submit your log on time.

 

Note: This image already has a text description, so a transcript is not needed.


 
Last updated on Thursday, March 1, 2018

Peer Review & Submission of Analysis Project

Peer Review & Submission of Analysis Project published on

This is the post for the week of February 19, 2018.

Screenshot from the Peer Review:Commenting Strategies video
Screenshot showing strategies from the Peer Review:Commenting Strategies video

Notes for the Week

  • Apologies in the delay in grading. I was at a conference last week, and I didn’t get as much done as I had anticipated. I hope to catch up on things soon. In the meantime, if you have a question, email me or send a message in Canvas.
  • We will do things a little different next week, since it’s the week before Spring Break. I will publish all of the week’s posts on Monday, and I will add a Module in Canvas to organize the work. This Module strategy worked relatively well during the Winter session, so we will experiment with it and see how it works for us.

Readings for the Week

Tasks for the Week

  1. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 19, submit your 02/16 Labor Log in Canvas, if you are using the grace period.
  2. Review previous posts that can help you improve your Analysis project:
  3. Rewatch the Peer Review: Commenting Strategies video for specific ways to comment on one another’s drafts. I will check for references to these strategies in your group comments.
  4. By 11:59PM on Wednesday, February 21, post a draft of your project in the Group Feedback on Analysis of Writing Projects Discussion in Canvas.
  5. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 23, post feedback on the drafts posted by your group members in the Group Feedback Discussion in Canvas. Be sure to use the strategies from the Peer Review: Commenting Strategies video.
  6. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 26, submit your project in the Analysis assignment in Canvas. If you are using the grace period, submit your project by 11:59PM on March 1.
  7. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 23, write your 02/23 Labor Log in Canvas. Specific questions for your log are included in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, February 26.

 


 
Last updated on Sunday, February 18, 2018

Working on Your Analysis Project

Working on Your Analysis Project published on

This is the post for the week of February 12, 2018.

This week, you will continue working on the Analysis of Writing in Your Field Assignment project. I have some activities that will help you find more information you can add to your project.

How the Major Projects Connect
Transcript and larger image available

Readings for the Week

Tasks for the Week

  1. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 12, submit your 02/09 Labor Log in Canvas, if you are using the grace period.
  2. Remember that you can ask any questions you have about the Analysis project in the Analysis of Writing in your Field Questions.  If you have any questions, check there first to see if they have already been answered. If they have not, post your question there, and I will answer when I check in.
  3. Consider the general categories of communication that occur in your field. Read the information on the Poster: Writing and Communication – WOVEN from Georgia Tech, and then add your replies to the WOVEN in Your Field Discussion in Canvas. Post your response by 11:59PM on Friday, February 16. The grace period for your response ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, February 19.
  4. Review the Readings for the Week for information that relates to your field. As you find relevant information add it to your Analysis table.
  5. Continue work on your Analysis project. Here are the relevant dates for the project:
    1. Wednesday, February 21 by 11:59PM: Post a draft of your project in the Group Feedback on Analysis of Writing Projects Discussion in Canvas.
    2. Friday, February 23 by 11:59PM: Post feedback on the drafts posted by your group members in the Group Feedback Discussion in Canvas.
    3. Monday, February 26 by 11:59PM: Submit your project in the Analysis assignment in Canvas.
    4. Thursday, March 1 by 11:59PM: Submit your project in the Analysis assignment in Canvas, if you are using the grace period.
  6. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 16, write your 02/16 Labor Log in Canvas. Specific questions for your log are included in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, February 19.

 
Last updated on Monday, February 12, 2018

Focus on Writing in Your Field

Focus on Writing in Your Field published on

This is the post for the week of February 5, 2018.

This week, you will turn in your Professional Bio project and move on to the second major project, which asks you to consider the kinds of writing that people in your field do.

This week there is a lot of prep work to do—primarily reading the pieces that will help you complete the different columns in your table. You will also need to conduct some research on writing in your field.

Readings for the Week

Tasks for the Week

  1. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 5, submit your Professional Bio Statement in Canvas. The grace period ends at 11:59 PM on Thursday, February 8.
  2. Read the Analysis assignment. You will create a table of the kinds of writing in your field. The project is due on Monday, February 26. The grace period for the project ends on Thursday, March 1.
  3. Ask any questions you have about the Analysis project in the Analysis of Writing in your Field Questions.  If you have any questions, check there first to see if they have already been answered. If they have not, post your question there, and I will answer when I check in. Asking a question is not required.
  4. Compose your Analysis project in Microsoft Word. Google Docs and Excel will not allow you to format the contents within the table cells in the same way.
  5. Begin work on the Analysis assignment. Use the suggestions in Step 3 of the Analysis assignment (Research writing in your field) to begin work on your project. Your research can include looking at business writing and/or technical writing textbooks, thinking about things you have written during internships and other related jobs, and interviewing people in the field or professors who can tell you about writing in your field.
  6. Read the relevant information that will help you with specific parts of your project:
    1. Find info to help with the Audience column in your project in Audience Analysis: Primary, Secondary, and Hidden Audiences (from Writing Commons). The missing image for Table 1 is available at http://writingcommons.org/images/Audience_Analysis.JPG. For additional information on audience, read the Chapter 2 of Technical Writing: Audience Analysis.
    2. Find info on ethics. If you are focusing on ethics in your table, check out Ethics in Technical Writing, Chapter 9 (9.1–9.6) of Technical Writing, OR Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, Chapter 2 (2.1–2.8) of Exploring Business. For either chapter, you need to click through to access all the sections of the chapter.
    3. Find info on intercultural and global issues. If you are focusing on intercultural and global issues in your table, check out Practicing Intercultural Communication from Writing Commons. The Worldwide Cellphone Etiquette Infographic demonstrates all the intercultural considerations that can go into something as simple as a business phone call. For additional information on intercultural and global issues, read Chapter 18 of Business Communication for Success: Intercultural and International Business Communication and/or “Appreciating Different Cultures” from Wikibooks.
    4. Check any of the textbooks on the syllabus for information on the specific kinds of writing you will include in your table. The textbooks can especially help with describing the characteristics of kinds of writing.
  7. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 9, write your 02/09 Labor Log in Canvas. Specific questions for your log are included in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, February12.

 

 

Note: Today’s infographic already has a text-based transcript.


 
Last updated on Saturday, February 3, 2018

Peer Review & Submission of Professional Bios

Peer Review & Submission of Professional Bios published on

This is the post for the week of January 29, 2018.

Note for This Week

Readings for This Week

Tasks for This Week

Here’s what you need to do for this week:

  1. Review the resources that can help you improve your Professional Bio:
    1. The advice articles
    2. The examples
    3. The LinkedIn Summary article. Your professional bio, with light revision, can frequently do double duty as the summary for your LinkedIn profile.
    4. The Word Choice in the Job Search infographic. These same tips apply to your bio.
    5. The Official Biography, from The Tongue and Quill. Useful for those pursuing military careers.
  2. Finish the draft of your Professional Bio, using the examples and advice on the assignment as well as in the readings (above) on this post.
  3. By 11:59PM on Wednesday, January 31, post a rough draft of your bio to your Writing Group in Canvas in the Group Feedback on Professional Bios Discussion. Additional instructions are in the Discussion.
  4. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 2, post feedback in Canvas to all your group members in the Group Feedback on Professional Bios Discussion. Remember to provide constructive feedback, following the advice on the Writing Groups page and the information in the #WeekendWatch video, Peer Review: Commenting Strategies. Additional instructions are in the Discussion.
  5. By 11:59PM on Friday, February 2, write your 02/02 Labor Log in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, February 5.
  6. Revise your bio during the weekend and Monday, following the advice of the members of your group.
  7. By 11:59PM on Monday, February 5, submit your bio in the Professional Bios Assignment in Canvas. If you need additional time, submit your bio by the end of the grace period, at 11:59PM on Thursday, February 8.

 

 

 

Note: The infographic in today’s post needs a text-based transcript. See the Optional Accessibility Transcript Activity for more details.


 
Last updated on Saturday, January 27, 2018

Getting Started on Professional Bios

Getting Started on Professional Bios published on

This is the post for the week of January 22, 2018.

Notes for This Week

  • Likes mean I read your post. If I like your post in the Facebook Group or your comment on a Daily Discussion Post, I read what you wrote. I reply occasionally, but I try to let the class drive the conversation. If you don’t get a Like, I simply missed reading the post or comment. Don’t worry though. It still counts as work toward a grade higher than a B in the course.
  • Chat available in Canvas. We’ll use the Chat tool in Canvas for impromptu conversations. You can use it with your groups, and I will be available there as needed. Everyone in the class can see everything you post, so don’t say anything personal or private there.
  • Writing Groups will be set up on Wednesday. Once everyone has filled out the Spring 2018 Group Preferences Survey, I will finalize your writing groups. To be sure that I include everyone, I have to wait until after the last day to add the class. I will send out an email message when the groups are set. Don’t worry about the group work until you receive that message from me.

Readings for This Week

Tasks for This Week

Here’s what you need to do for this week:

  1. Review the advice on How to Succeed in This Online Class, in the infographic above. In particular, set a schedule for getting your work done, just as you would for any other course that you take. Don’t assume that you can “fit it in.” That strategy doesn’t work out for most students.
  2. Read the Professional Bio Statement assignment, and ask any questions you have in the Professional Bio Questions Discussion in Canvas. Asking a question is not required.
  3. Get started on your Professional Bio by jotting out things you want to be sure you include and exploring the resources included in the assignment. Here are the relevant dates for the project:
    • Wed, January 31: Post a rough draft of your bio to your Writing Group in Canvas by 11:59PM.
    • Fri, February 2: Post feedback in Canvas to all your group members by 11:59PM.
    • Mon, February 5: Submit your Professional Bio Project by 11:59PM.
    • Thu, February 8: The grace period ends at 11:59PM.
  4. Connect with Writing Group after you receive my email indicating that groups are set up:
    1. Introduce yourself to your writing group by posting in the Getting Acquainted with Your Writing Group Discussion in Canvas.
    2. Collaborate to set ground rules for your writing group. The primary work of your writing group is explained in the Writing Groups Overview. To help make your work together go smoothly, your group should make a set of guidelines, or ground rules, for how you will collaborate. The readings from Chapter 19: Group Communication, Teamwork, and Leadership will help you decide on the issues that are important and how to address them.

      Use the Group Ground Rules Discussion in Canvas to work out your guidelines, which should cover all of the following:

      • Contact information that group members can use to keep in touch outside Canvas (if desired).
      • Group responsibilities (division of labor). For instance, do you want a leader? Who is responsible for making sure everyone gets feedback on drafts?
      • Group scheduling and due dates. For example, do you need group due dates for posting drafts to make sure you have time to give one another feedback?
      • Communication policies that account for how the group will deal with any issues that arise, such as someone being offline for a few days or someone disappearing without notice.
  5. By 11:59PM on Friday, January 26, write your 01/26 Labor Log in Canvas. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Monday, September 29.

 

Note: This infographic already has a text-based transcript.

 

Image Credit: How to Succeed in This Online Class by Traci Gardner.


 
Last updated on Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Introduction to Technical Writing

Introduction to Technical Writing published on

This is the post for the week of January 16, 2018.

Welcome to Technical Writing. This is the course website for these four courses, all taught by Traci Gardner at Virginia Tech during Spring Semester 2018:

  • English 3764 (Technical Writing), CRN #14087
  • English 3764 (Technical Writing), CRN #14088
  • English 3764 (Technical Writing), CRN #14089
  • English 3764 (Technical Writing), CRN #14105

Information on all assignments, weekly activities, and related resources for these courses will be posted here. Check this site regularly for the details on what to do for the course.

Notes for This Week

  • Daily Discussion Posts: This week’s Daily Discussion Posts will focus on writing effective email messages. While you do not have a major project that focuses specifically on email, it is still an important kind of writing no matter what career you are pursuing.
  • Work Hours: Normally, I am online from late afternoon through early morning hours. I’m not a morning person. So look for responses from me during those hours.

Readings for This Week

Tasks for This Week

You will notice that there are a lot of tasks. I try to post everything that you need to do at the beginning of each week. In my experience, online students have to fit work for this course in around many other responsibilities. By posting everything at the beginning of the week, I hope that I give you enough lead time to fit the coursework around your other obligations.

Here’s what you need to do for this week:

  1. Complete the Course Overview Module in Canvas. You will read the various course documents and then take a syllabus verification quiz. The quiz is due by 11:59PM Friday, January 19. The grace period for the quiz ends at 11:59PM Tuesday, January 23 (you get an extra day because Monday is the last day to add classes).
  2. Confirm that your notifications in Canvas are set the way you want them. Note that Canvas uses your notification preferences to determine whether to email you or text you (or not tell you at all) about information on the site. See the section "How do I adjust my notification preferences?" in the Student Getting Started with Canvas Guide for more information on setting up your notifications.
  3. Add a professional profile picture to your Canvas account. Follow the Canvas documentation to add a profile picture in your user account. Since this is an online course, your profile picture helps me see you as more than just a name on the course roll.
  4. Fill out the Spring 2018 Group Preferences Survey so that I can arrange your writing groups. Responses are due by 11:59PM Friday, January 19. The grace period for the survey ends at 11:59PM Tuesday, January 23 (again, you get an extra day because of Monday is the last day to add classes). You will begin working with your group next week.
  5. Watch this site or Announcements in Canvas during the week for our Daily Discussion Posts for the week. You can add a comment if you’re working toward a grade higher than a B or try one of the other options. Remember that I have to approve your first comment before it appears on the site.
  6. Join the optional Facebook Group if you are interested in participating there as you work toward a grade higher than a B. Check the Optional Facebook Group page for more details on this option. I will confirm your membership in the group manually, checking it against the course roll to keep spammers out.
  7. By 11:59PM on Friday, January 19, write your 01/19 Labor Log in Canvas. Read more details on Labor Logs page. The grace period for your log entry ends at 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 23 (ditto on the extra day here too).

 

Note: This infographic needs a text-based transcript. See the Optional Accessibility Transcript Activity for more details.

 

 

Image Credit: Why Good Writing Is Needed for Better Jobs from Grammarly.


 
Last updated on Tuesday, January 16, 2018

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