Tentative Schedule

This schedule is subject to change. It is your responsibility to check your email and the course website for updates and changes to the course schedule.

Week Week of Topic
1 Jan 20 Introduction to the course. Course Logistics and Tools.
2 Jan 27 Begin Project #1: Technical and Professional Rhetorical Analysis.
M: Markel, Chapter 1: Introduction to Technical Writing
W: Markel, Chapter 2: Understanding Ethical and Legal Considerations
F: Markel, Chapter 4: Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose
3 Feb 3 M: Markel, Chapter 6: Writing for Your Readers
W: Markel, Chapter 7: Designing Documents and Web Sites
F: Have a rough draft of Project #1 ready for peer review in class
4 Feb 10 M: Markel, Chapter 9: Writing Correspondence
W: Review, Tips, and Pointers for Project #1
F: Feb 14: Due Date for Project #1: Technical and Professional Rhetorical Analysis.
5 Feb 17 Begin Project 2: Technical Description, Definition, and Instructions.
M: Markel, Appendix A: Documenting Your Sources
W: Markel, Chapter 14: Writing Definitions, pp. 359 to 366
F: Markel, Chapter 14: Writing Descriptions, pp. 366 to 374; Feb 21:  Deadline for Project #1: Technical and Professional Rhetorical Analysis
6 Feb 24 M: Markel, Chapter 14: Writing Instructions, pp. 375 to 366
W: More on Instructions
F: Markel, Chapter 8: Creating Graphics
7 Mar 3 M: Have a rough draft of Project #2 ready for peer review in class
W: Revision Techniques (Markel, Chapter 6: Writing for Your Readers)
F: Review, Tips, and Pointers for Project #2
8 Mar 10 SPRING BREAK
9 Mar 17 M: Mar 17: Due Date for Project 2: Technical Description, Definition, and Instructions.
 
Class meets ONLINE March 17 & 19 (I’ll be at a conference)

Begin Project 3: Job Application Materials.
W: Markel, Chapter 10: Writing Job-Application Materials
F: VT Career Planning Guide: Writing Resumes, pp. 33 to 59
10 Mar 24 M: Group Resume Activity; Mar 24: Deadline for Project 2: Technical Description, Definition, and Instructions.
W: Group Resume Activity
F: Have a rough draft of Project #3 ready for peer review in class
11 Mar 31 M: Revision Techniques (Markel, Chapter 6: Writing for Your Readers)
W: Review, Tips, and Pointers for Project #3
F: Apr 4: Due Date for Project 3: Job Application Materials.
12 Apr 7 Begin Project 4: Group Recommendation Report and Presentation.
M: Markel, Chapter 13: Writing Recommendation Reports
W: Markel, Chapter 3: Writing Collaboratively, pp. 33 to 41
F: Markel, Chapter 7: Designing Documents and Web Sites; Apr 11: Deadline for Project 3: Job Application Materials.
13 Apr 14 M: Markel, Chapter 15: Making Oral Presentations
W: Preparing for oral presentations
F: Preparing for oral presentations
14 Apr 21 M: Preparing for oral presentations
W: Preparing for oral presentations
F: Preparing for oral presentations
15 Apr 28 M: Preparing for oral presentations
W: Preparing for oral presentations
F: May 2: Due Date for Oral Presentations.
16 May 5 M: May 5: Due Date for Oral Presentations.
W: May 7: Due Date for Oral Presentations. Go over final exam assignment.
Optional, Take-Home Final Exams:

  • CRN #13260 (9:05 MWF): Due by 9:45 AM on Tues, May 13
  • CRN #13261 (10:10 MWF): Due by 9:45 AM on Sat, May 10
  • CRN #19530 (1:25 MWF): Due by 5:25 PM on Tues, May 13