Monthly Assignment #1

Assigned: Monday, January 14
Due: Wednesday, Janaury 23

Pick one of the options below. Remember that you only need to complete 4 monthly assignments this semester, so if none of these appeal to you, wait for next week.

Option 1: Analyzing a Sample of Technical Communication

Locate a piece of technical communication (or a piece of professional communication in your major)and write a 1 or 2 page memo to me in which you analyze its effectiveness. In addition to some of the factors we discussed in class, I’d like you to think about the following questions, which will move you towards a rhetorical analysis:

• What is the context (or background) for this document? For example, what do you know (or what can you infer) about the writer, the company, the circumstances giving rise to this document?
• What is the purpose of your example? Is it likely to accomplish this purpose? Why or why not?
• Who seems to be the audience for this document? What sort of expectations will they have? Are those expectations met?
• Also consider: should this document (memo, email) have been written in the first place, or would a meeting or different type of document have been better?

There are some real-life examples of memos and complaint letters on the internet:

http://notmuch.com/Features/Memos/index.html (funny memos)

http://www.complaints.com/ (easiest to use if you browse by company or company type)

http://www.4hb.com/index.html(a large number of letter templates)

Option 2: Write a letter (or memo)

Write a claims, inquiry, sales, or any other letter/ memo genre you feel it would be useful to practice. Real life examples are encouraged—consider asking a graduate program for an application or additional information; complaining to your landlord; thanking someone who’s been helpful, or responding to an inquiry you received at work, etc.

Option 3: Template Critique & Redesign

Choose one of the resume, letter, or memo templates in MS Word. Using the principles of document design we'll discuss in class, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the design (or things you like or dislike). Summarize your findings in a brief (half-or two-thirds page) memo to me, then redesign the template.

Monthly Assignment #2

Assigned: Wednesday, January 23
Due: Monday, January 28

Option 1: Letterhead Design Create a letterhead for yourself that you can use for the employment project and/or for your class projects in 421. 

Option 2: Resume Evaluation Imagine your boss has authorized you to hire a summer intern. Create an applicant pool by collecting at least two resumes from new graduates in your field (you can use friends' resumes if you want, or look on the web). 

Then write an email (one page, max) to your boss recommending which candidate to interview. Your memo should provide a justification based on the "applicants" resumes and show some thought about the degree of formality to use in your emai. 

Also, remember that hiring decisions are subject to EEOC oversight, so you'll want to think carefully about what NOT to put in writing. 

Be sure to turn in the resumes with your email.

Variant: Those of you interested in graduate school or assistant professor jobs may substitute graduate school applications or cvs.

(this assignment was proposed by Joey S, a student in Fall 2005).

Option 3: Career Website Evaluation

This option is not especially sexy, but you may find it helpful in doing the project assessment for the Employment Project.

Search at least three career websites you haven't used before. Identify at least one that is useful to someone in your situation (education or MET major, relocating to Chicago, etc.) and one that is not.

In a brief memo to me, identify the useful site(s) and the less useful site(s) and explain your thinking. You may find it easiest to explain how you searched and what your search results were. 

Monthly Assignment #3

Assigned: Monday, Feb 4
Due: Monday, Feb 11 (this deadline is somewhat negiotable since you're doing a lot of writing this week)

Option 1: Copyedit a Wikipedia article

Wikipedia has a large collection of articles in need of copy-editing. Pick one whose topic interests you and print it out. Mark it up using the copyediting symbols on p. 327 of the textbook; then, go into Wikipedia and edit the page.

For your assignment, please give me a copy of the original entry, your revised entry, and a brief summary of the changes you made and why. Also, please let me know what happened to your entry after you submitted it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:All_articles_needing_copy_edit

Option 2: Analyze a simile, analogy, or metaphor in your field (inspired by the "Collaborative Project" on pp. 235-6 of the textbook)

In the last 20-30 years, a number of scholars have questioned whether medical professonials, scientists, and engineers should use metaphors and analogies in scientific and technical communication and whether these metaphors help or impede scientific understanding. Pick a metaphor (or simile, or analogy) from your field. It can come from one of your textbooks, from a lecture, or from the lab/ workplace. Then write me a memo in which you do the following:

1. Explain the metaphor: how is the technical concept (e.g. making a protein) like the more everyday concept (translation)?
2. Evaluate its helpfulness (does it let you understand the concept better, or does it confuse you?)
3. Evaluate its appropriateness (does it have any implications that worry you?)
4. See if you can think of a clearer or more apt metaphor.

Monthly Assignment #4

Assigned: Mon, Feb 18
Due: Mon, Feb 25

Option 1: Friedman response

This option asks you to write a thoughtful and intelligent response of about 2 double-spaced pages to the Friedman. Here are a few options to get you started:

• attend this Thursday's Books & Coffee*, summarize Prof. Ramirez's talk, and, if you wish, respond to it (Where? Stewart 302-306; When? 2/21 at 4 pm for food, 4:30pm for talk)
• pick a question or your own or a classmate's that we didn't get to, and answer it
• pick a section you found interesting and discuss it
• find some material relevant to your project, summarize it, and explain how you'll use it
• characterize Friedman's politics and discuss how they affected your response to the book
• criticize Friedman

Option 2: Report Evaluation

A report often cited alongside Friedman's "Quiet Crisis" chapter is the National Academy of Engineering's Rising Above the Gathering Storm (2005?).

Spend about 30 minutes browsing the report, available online at:

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11463#toc

and then write:

• a description of the report's format,
• a brief summary of the report,
• your evaluation/ opinion

Note: you may substitute a different report if you wish.

Monthly Assignment #5

Assigned: Monday, Feb 25
Due: Monday, March 3

I strongly encourage you to consider doing this assignment if you have not already completed two monthly assignments.

Option 1: Design a web page (or site)

Create a website or at least two separate pages on your Purdue account. If you already have a site there, consider adding to or updating it.

The content may be general (for example, explain a concept in your major or create an informational page on your home town) or about you personally. Alternative versions of existing sites (for example, a more student-friendly look for the Purdue student page or an updated club page) are fine too. If you create a personal site, make sure it's something you're comfortable submitting for a grade.

To turn in this option, email me a link to the site. If you already had content there, your email should clarify what you created or updated for this assignment.

Option 2: Web Design Analysis

In class, we looked at some bad and okay websites. For this option, pick a website whose design you really like and (in a memo) explain why. Your analysis should display a solid understanding of the design principles from class and from chapters 10 and 14 of the textbook.

Option 3: Graphics

Ideas: Discuss how you've learned to read and interpret a specific kind of image used in your major field; analyze a good or bad graphic; find an unethical graphic and explain why you think it's unethical... etc.

Monthly Assignment #6

Assigned: Monday, March 3
Due: Monday, March 17

Options 1 and 2 are intended to give you additional practice summarizing complex material:

Option 1. Find a complicated graphic from your major that you think the rest of us will not understand. Write a brief analysis of the graphic and then explain how you learned to read it.

Option 2: Find a scholarly article whose topic you think will interest many of us but that may need translation and additional background information. Read the article and write an approximately one-page (double-spaced) summary and discussion of it for a general audience. It's fine to use articles from another class or from your white paper, as long as you haven't already written the summary.  

Option 3: PowerPoint position paper Look further into PowerPoint and its positives and negatives. Decide where you stand and use memo format to write an informative or persuasive discussion of your position. You may want to respond to either one of the following questions. "After researching PowerPoint, do you think it is an effective way to give presentations?" (persuasive option) "PowerPoint is a widely used presentation aid. What does research show about the positive and negative uses of the program?"

Option 4: Propose a new monthly assignment (or in-class activity)

Monthly Assignment #7

Assigned: Monday, March 31
Due: Monday, April 7

Option 1: Using memo format, create an activity report in which you discuss your and your team's experience with the team-building exercise on March 31. Excellent biweeklies will display familiarity with chapter 4 of the textbook.

Here are some prompt questions, both general and book-related:

• How did you decide on your team's task (that is, on what game to play?)
• What happened in your group? Provide a brief overview.
• Was the exercise successful in building a sense of team identity, or was it just fun?
• Was the exercise successful in teaching you more about team dynamics and group work, or was it just fun?
• If the exercise was primarily "just fun," is it (in your opinion) still worth spending class time on it?
• Which of Tuckman's 4 stages did your team go through? For example, did you notice a forming stage? a storming stage?
• If you experienced conflict, how was it resolved?
• What roles did you notice within your group?

Option 2: Teams on Screen
Watch a movie or TV show which depicts a team at work. Then write me a brief analysis of their collaboration.

Here are some questions to get you started. However, your biweekly should be more than a list of answers to these questions.

• What is the team's task? Why do they need to work as a team in the first place?
• What roles do the team members assume? Do these roles change over the course of the project or over the life of the team?
• What stages does the team go through (Tuckman's or ones that make sense to you)?
• Does the team experience conflict? If so, how constructive is it? If it's resolved, how?
• What sort of meetings does the team have?
• Do they use any technologies to help them collaborate?
• Does culture, race/ethnicity, social class, or gender play a role in the team's collaboration?

Some possible options include, but are not limited to, 12 Angry Men, Office Space, Ugly Betty, The Office, The Apprentice, Lost, Scrubs, heist movies, crime/police/medical dramas, etc. .....

Monthly Assignment #8

Assigned: Monday, April 7
Due: Monday, April 14

Note: This week's options focus on ethics. There will be at least two other monthly assignment opportunities, one on definitions/ descriptions, and one on instructions, and probably a third as well.

Option 1: Personal Reflection Write about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma in the workplace, at school, or related to your major (in other words, a ethical dilemma that was professional rather than personal). Describe the dilemma and why you would classify it as a dilemma (that is, why were both courses of action problematic?). Then explain what you did and whether your choice was the right one (at the time? in the long run?).

Option 2: Cases from Textbook or Unethical Ad We didn't really get to the cases in the book. Pick one that has ethical implications and discuss it. For some of the cases, you may find it helpful to discuss several alternative courses of action: (1) the ethically exemplary course of action; (2) an ethically gray but not self-destructive option (i.e. a realistic option), and (3) a clearly unethical option.

You may also analyze an unethical ad that is relevant to your major, to technology, or to professional communication. (For example, a drug advertisement?)

Option 3: Environmental Ethics

One of the things I like about the textbook is its discussion of environmental ethics: ethical responsibilities to animals and to the planet more generally. Discuss the ways in which the topic is relevant to your major or future profession (if it isn't relevant, this option probably isn't your best choice).

Option 3a: If you're interested in environmental ethics but don't see it as related to your major, write a brief memo informing the class about one of the following topics in environmental ethics:

• pro-environmental evangelicals
• recent criticisms of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring
• eco-feminism
• or another of your choice (green construction, agriculture, an eco-friendly company or business leader, etc).

Monthly Assignment #9: Definitions and Descriptions

This monthly assignment prompt this week: to write or evaluate a definition or description. The options below are intended to give you more specific guidance, but you may also write 1 (single) to 2 (double-spaced) pages on the topic.

Option 1: Origins of a Technical/ Scientific/ Business term

Using the Oxford English Dictionary, look up the origins of a term in your field or another technical/ scientific/ business term that interests you. When did the term enter English? What older meanings (if any) did it have? Does it have different technical meanings in different fields (e.g. "prime" or "gas"). Write a memo about your findings.

Hint: This assignment is most interesting if you use older terms.
Variant: Discuss one or more technical terms in another language you know fairly well (as the book does with Swahili). 

Option 2: Descriptions for Different Audiences

Find two or more descriptions or extended definitions of the same term written for two clearly different audiences (elementary school kids and college students; college students and experts; patients and nurses; the general public and business leaders; chemists and geologists) and compare.

Option 3: Analyze a description

Locate an extended definition or description that interests you and discuss the descriptive teachniques it uses. You might also compate two definitions that use similar techniques. 

Option 4: Write a description

Locate a term you've wanted to learn more about; research it, and write a description or extended definition. Be sure to specifiy the audience. 

Monthly Assignment (rolling deadline #2)

Assigned: Monday, March 3
Due: ideally, within a week or so after the event

Presentation Critique

Attend a technical/ business/ scientific/ professional presentation. For example, go to a lecture sponsored by Krannert, a seminar in your department, a reading by a creative writer, etc. Do not use a session of a class for this assignment; the presentation should be a one-time event or part of a lecture series.

Write me a memo in which you summarize and evaluate the presentation. The summary should make it clear to me what the speaker said; the critique should include both strengths/ things you liked and weaknesses/ things that annoyed you.

Evaluation can focus on any or all of the following:

• content (was it interesting? audience-appropriate?)
• organization (did the speaker have a clear intro, conclusion, and transitions? What pattern was used in the body?)
• delivery (how effective? Did you notice any bad habits?)
• handling of questions
• use of technology/ visual aids (If the speaker used Powerpoint, how effectively?)

(The book has an evaluation form on pp. 457-58 you may find helpful in planning your memo)

Monthly Assignment on Job Searching (rolling deadline)

Assigned: Wednesday, January 23
Due: Open, but within a week of an actual job interview (i.e. before you forget what happened)

This assignment is intended to give you practice with additional components of the job search.

Option 1: Interview Thank you
Within a day or two of interviewing for a position, draft a thank-you note to the employer. Then send it to the employer. (You may need to attach a cover note to me explaining some background).

Guidance in writing thank-you notes is available through the textbook, CCO, or online. You can ask me, too-- and incorporate any suggestions you find useful before sending the real thing.

Option 2: Interview Report
Within a week or so of interviewing for a position, write me an informative memo describing the interview. Your goal is to give me a sense of current interview practices in your field.

Here are some prompt questions to get you started:

• who?: who interviewed you? What were the interviewer(s) names and titles? Your impressions of them?
• where? where did the interview take place: on campus, by phone, at their offices?
• how long was the interview?
• what questions did they ask? which were predictable and which were hard/ weird question?
• what preparation did you do that most helped?

You may reflect on how the interview went, too, but this information is not a requirement of the assignment.   

Monthly Assignment #10: Popular Science/Technology/Business Websites

Assigned: Monday, April 21
Due: Wednesday, April 30 (i.e. along with the final project)

Option 1: Instructions

Create a set of instructions. Here are some possible approaches:

• Improve a set of bad instructions
• Rewrite a set of acceptable instructions for a new audience (for example, the book suggests rewriting first aid instructions for college students or appliance instructions for children)
• Write a set of instructions telling 8-10 year olds how to perform a task on the computer
• Write instructions for students new to Purdue or new to your major 

You may also analyze a set of instructions that don't necessarily need rewriting but that strike you as interesting.

Option 2: Popular/ Kid Science on the web

Analyse a website that communicates science, technology, or business concept(s) to a general audience. Websites for kids are fun, but sites designed for the general public are okay too.

Getting started:

Lists of websites for kids:

• http://apps.exploratorium.edu/10cool/index.php
• http://www.kids.gov
• http://www.in.gov/kids_info.htm

Project #1 (detailed discussion)

Here is a more detailed discussion of project #1, the Employment Project.

Overview: which project is this one?
Locate a job (or internship, or graduate program) for which you are qualified and prepare an application for it. In addition, do an informational interview with someone in a position/ company that interests you.

1. First, select a job to pursue and use the Job Ad Analysis form to do a rhetorical analysis/ close reading of the ad for this job.
2. Second, create a resume suitable for such a position.
3. Third, write a job application letter.
4. Conduct an informational interview with someone whose job title or company interests you. 
5. Finally, you will assess your experience in a "Project Assessment Memo."

Timeline: what's due when?
Job ad analysis: Wed, 1/16
Resume (rough draft)& initial ideas for interviewees: Fri, 1/18
Application letter (rough draft): Wed, 1/23
Interviewee name(s) and proposed questions: Fri, 1/25 
Entire project for editing (that is, first draft of project assessment; revised resume and cover letter; job ad analysis): Monday, Feb 4 
Finished project: Wed, 2/6

Notice that we'll be doing two rounds of peer-review: the workshops on Jan 18, 23 & 25 will focus on higher-order revisions (choice of content, organization); the one on Monday, Feb 4 will concentrate on proofreading and stylistic editing.

Grading standards: what makes an A, B, C?

Grading a resume and cover letter may seem artificial. Outside of school, job applications either pass (get you an interview) or fail (get you a rejection). But the fate of your application does not always reflect the quality of your materials: you may not be a good fit for a company, there may be an internal candidate, or your qualifications may be so good that an employer overlooks a typo or boring resume design.

Thus, your employment project will be graded on its:

• content choices (selection of info; supporting examples)
• design (do the resume and letter clearly come from the same person? Is the resume scannable and visually appealing?)
• writing (style, grammar, word choices, mechanical correctness)

An excellent (A) employment project has the following characteristics:

• The documents are consistent in quality (for ex, the resume is not noticeably stronger than the cover letter).
• The cover letter shows thought about document design, while the resume design is attractive but professional.
• Specific examples are thoughtfully chosen and used effectively.
• The writing is an asset-- the documents are fluent and appropriate in style; the word choice is interesting.
• The resume, cover letter, and follow-up email are free of mechanical errors and typos; the two supporting documents are virtually free.
• Phone this person immediately before someone else hires him/her.

A good (B) employment project has the following characteristics:

• One or two of the documents is weaker than the others.
• The resume and cover letter conform to common-sense design principles, like balancing on the page.
• The writer has some good examples but should explain them in more depth and/or use more of them.
• The writing has a few stylistic or grammatical lapses, although nothing glaring. If the resume or cover letter have typos, they shouldn't jump out on a quick scan.
• We should interview this person; s/he looks qualified.

An acceptable (C) employment project has the following characteristics:

• Some of the documents are ineffective due to lack of examples, a cursory reading of the job ad, or a failed rhetorical strategy.
•  The resume looks like a template and the cover letter is squashed up at the top of the page.
• Stylistic and grammatical errors have become distracting; a few typos are obvious in the resume and letter.
• This person's documents go in the "maybe" pile.

A poor (D) employment project has the following characteristics:

• documents seem to be thrown together hastily and thoughtlessly
• the resume is impossible to scan or the letter to follow
• This person's documents go in the recycling bin.

An unacceptable (F) employment project has one or more of the following characteristics:

• it is plagiarized
• one or more of the required documents is missing
• This person's documents go in the recycling bin, but only after we mock them

A general grading rubric for ENGL 420-421 is available here:
http://www.digitalparlor.org/pwenglish/files/rubric.pdf

Project #2

Here is a more detailed discussion of project #2, the Globalization White Paper Project.

jump to: proposal guidelines | progress report guidelines | white paper guidelines | project assessment prompt Qs

Overview: which project is this one?
Choose a topic related to globalization, propose it to Suzanne, research it, and create a white paper (or informative report) that describes your findings. Finally, prepare a presentation for the class. You may work individually or in pairs.

1. Choose a topic and, if you wish, a partner.
2. Write me a brief (1-2 pg) proposal describing your topic and your preliminary research
3. Write me a progress report.
4. Write a white paper (or informative report) and upload it to the web.
5. Prepare and give a presentation.
6. Finally, you will assess your experience in a "Project Assessment Memo."

Generic Tasklist & Timeline: what's due when?
Proposal: Friday, 2/8 
Progress Report (rough draft): Fri, 2/15
White paper (rough draft):Mon, 3/3
Presentation Outline: Fri, 3/7 or Mon 3/17
Actual Presentations: Week of 3/17 
Entire project for copy-editing & proof-reading: Mon, 3/24
Finished project: Wed, 3/26

Notice that we'll again be doing two rounds of peer-review: the initial proposal, progress report, and white paper workshops will focus on higher-order revisions; the final one will concentrate on proofreading and stylistic editing.

Grading standards: what makes an A, B, C?

Your white paper project will be graded on its:

• choice of topic and content (selection of info; supporting evidence)
• research: extent of library research; knowledge of Friedman book
• design (print and screen)
• writing (style, grammar, word choices, mechanical correctness)

An excellent (A) white paper project has the following characteristics:

• The topic is original and sharply focused; the writer should think about publishing his or her work.
• The research is impressive; I learned a lot from the white paper.
• If Friedman's book is relevant to the topic, it is used intelligently.
• The design is stunning ("wow!") as well as professional.
• The documents are consistent in quality
• Specific examples are thoughtfully chosen and used effectively.
• The writing is an asset-- the documents are fluent and appropriate in style; the word choice is interesting.
• The documents are free of mechanical errors and typos.

A good (B) white paper project has the following characteristics:

• The topic shows thought and intelligence.
• The research is careful. I didn't necessarily learn anything but I admire the writer's efforts.
• If the Friedman reading is relevant to the topic, it is used effectively.
• Design is professional and conforms to common-sense web design principles.
• One or two of the documents is weaker than the others.
• The writer has some good examples but should explain them in more depth and/or use more of them.
• The writing has a few stylistic or grammatical lapses, although nothing glaring. Typos shouldn't jump out on a quick scan.

An acceptable (C) white paper project has the following characteristics:

• The topic is appropriate but may be trite or unfocused.
• Research has gaps, but the writer has put effort into it.
• If Friedman's work is relevant, it is at least mentioned
• Design has some flaws.
• Some of the documents are ineffective due to lack of examples, weak interview technique, or a failed rhetorical strategy.
• Stylistic and grammatical errors have become distracting; typos seriously detract from the writer's credibility

A poor (D) white paper project has the following characteristics:

• Choice of topic is questionable.
• Research was clearly hasty and thoughtless
• Writer should really use the Friedman book-- has s/he read it?
• Writer has put little, if any, effort into design.
• the project is impossible to follow due to poor writing or usability issues.

An unacceptable (F) white paper project has one or more of the following characteristics:

• it is plagiarized
• one or more of the required documents or elements is missing. For example, the writer skipped the presentation or didn't do an interview.
• I know the writer hasn't even opened the Friedman

A general grading rubric for ENGL 420 is available here:
http://www.digitalparlor.org/pwenglish/files/rubric.pdf

Project #3

Overview: which project is this one again?

Officially, the final project for ENGL 421 asks you to work in teams to produce one or more written documents, such as a manual, usability report, or set of procedures, for an actual company, non-profit group, or campus organization.

Unofficially, you are free to work on a wide range of topics as long as your topic (1) involves group work; (2) involves technical writing, professional writing, or writing related to your major or minor; (3) interests you. Below and here are some initial ideas.

Examples: what have students done in the past?

• Instruction cards for the local Habitat for Humanity chapter
• An updated crisis communication manual for the airport
• A marketing campaign for a small business (brochures, business cards, advertisements, webpages)
• A proposal for the owner of Levee Plaza

What are the groups this semester?

Timeline: what's due when?

introduce project; initial individual brainstorming
review and add to list of clients and topics; also see fun list
noon on Tues, April 1: list of project preferences to be emailed to Suzanne
Wednesday, April 2: initial planning meetings; tasklist, timeline, and Gantt chart due
Friday, April 11: group's proposal due to me (and client, if you have one)
Wednesday, April 9; Friday, April 18 : progress reports/ project logs due (as blog posts)
Wed, April 23: present project 3 to class
Friday, April 25 (and earlier as desired): project drafts due for class feedback

Project 3 will be due Wed, April 30 (Wed of finals week)