Week 15

Sat, 12/15/2007 - 13:19 — admin

Tuesday, December 2

Teaching Technical Writing (English 421)--Nathaniel and Mark

Resources

ENGL 421 Approved Textbooks

  • Professional Writing Online, 3rd edition , by Johndan Johnson-Eilola, Patricia Sullivan, and James Porter. © 2008. ISBN: 978-0205652129. Longman. List: $51.40. Discounted: $46.68. Publisher’s site: $55.40. Online textbook: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_porter_pwo_3 (Students should be told to purchase unopened copies because used password codes are not transferable.)
  • Technical Communication Today. 2nd edition, by Richard Johnson-Sheehan. © 2007. ISBN: 0321457587. Longman. List: $90.20. Discounted: $79.77
  • Technical Communication in the 21st Century. 1st edition, by Sidney Dobrin, Christian R. Weisser, and Christopher J. Keller. © 2007. ISBN: 978-0131172883 (softcover; list $86.67; Amazon $86.67).
  • Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach. 6th Edition, by Paul V. Anderson. Wadsworth, © 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4130-1770-0. List Price: $113.95; discounted price: $102.56).


421 Supplemental Textbooks

  • The Thomson Handbook*, Comprehensive edition, by David Blakesley and Jeffrey L. Hoogeveen. Thomson/Wadsworth. © 2008. ISBN 978-0838460788 (hardcover; list: $67.95; discounted: $58.13) or ISBN 978-1428205031 (softcover; list $61.05; discounted: $52.03). *May be used as the sole course text with supplementary readings provided by instructor or PW.
  • Handbook of Technical Writing. 8th edition, by Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu. Bedford/St. Martin’s, © 2003. ISBN: 978-0312309237 . List: $39.95. Discounted: $26.37.

Group Project: Client-Based White Paper Project

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 06:36 — David Blakesley

The Drama of Human Relations

For the White Paper Project, the class will work with and for the Tippecanoe County Human Relations Commission (TCHRC) on a grant-funded project to develop a white paper on the process involved in making and adjudicating complaints, with some additional attention to methods whereby the process may be improved and, more generally, ways that the TCHRC can fulfill its mission.

Resume Extravaganza

Tue, 09/02/2008 - 14:26 — Nathaniel

This is fairly simple activity that nevertheless productively puts students in the role of a cynical and rushed human resources employee. I suggest introducing this activity with this reading. The exercise is intended to drive home the importance of design as the access point (and first impression) for resume readers.

Rhetoric

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:10 — Rita Rud

Rhetoric is the art of writing or speaking to effectively persuade, inform, entertain and impress. Rhetoric should be used ethically, to promote better relations between us, and even though used to persuade, this persuasion should be founded on “truth” and not used purposefully to mislead or deceive.

Week 5

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 11:38 — David Blakesley

Tuesday, September 23

Read in advance . . .

Write in advance . . .

  • Post a blog entry (tag: professional writing) in which you discuss the range and scope of professional writing. What does it entail? How might professional writing differ from other kinds of writing?

Group Activities

Introductions

Wed, 08/20/2008 - 06:48 — David Blakesley

Welcome to English 505!

So that we can get to know each other a little better, please post a reply to this message in which you

  • describe where you are from
  • give your course of study and year in the graduate program
  • talk about your areas of specialization and career goals
  • tell what you would like to get out of this course
  • share at least one thing personal about yourself (a hobby, your favorite sport, a favorite activity, etc.)

I'll start. I've lived in West Lafayette since 2000, when I first came to Purdue. I was promoted to full professor in 2006. My areas of specialization include professional writing, rhetorical theory, digital media, print publishing, and film. In 2002 I founded Parlor Press, an independent scholarly publisher. I'm also involved with Purdue's Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy, a program of the Burton Morgan Center in Discovery Park.

My favorite sports are golf and baseball, but I spend most of my free time playing with new gadgets, including my twins.