English 420 Fall 2012

Intro to Professional Writing: Course Calendar

N.B. Unless otherwise specified, except for blog posts, homework and reading is due in the next class. Blog posts are due posted before the next class. Week 1: Introduction & White Paper Assignment M Aug. 20 Introductions & Syllabus Discussion Registration and tutorial for course website HW: Read: PWO, Documents > Reports >Types of Reports in Professional Communication. Skim this entire page, but make sure to scroll down and read carefully the section on White Papers. Also, make sure to click on and read Read More about White Papers. Write Blog Post: On the course website, write a two-paragraph blog post before class. In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and explain what you think business writing is and why you are taking English 420. In other words, what do you hope to achieve and learn in this class? In the second paragraph, write a brief response to the reading above. This response can take many forms. For example, you could provide a summary of the reading, or challenge some aspect of the reading, or ask a question about what you have read, or some combination. This list is merely suggestive, so feel free to respond as you see fit. W Aug. 22 Discussion of report-writing and the genre of white papers/backgrounders Assignment Introduction: White Paper/Backgrounder Introduction to crowdsource funding platforms HW: Read PWO>Home>Documents>Oral Presentations. Make sure to read carefully the bullet point entitled Elevator Speech. F Aug. 24 Discussion of oral presentations and Elevator Speech Assignment of small groups for platform research reports Formulation of class-defined rubric for grading oral presentations HW: Research your platform.

Week 2: Small Group Reports & Proposals M Aug. 27 In-class collaboration on presentations HW: Prepare reports to be shared with class on Friday Revisit PWO>Home>Documents>Oral Presentations>Tips for giving an oral presentation W Aug. 29 Elevator Pitch Presentations Peer evaluation of pitches (to be emailed to me by end of class) HW: Read PWO>Home>Documents>Proposals>The Rhetoric of

Proposals F Aug. 31 Discussion of proposals Formulation of class-defined criteria for Unit 1 proposal HW: Read case studies:

http://www.wired.com/design/2012/06/kickstarter-fail/ http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/07/kickstarter-stats/ http://www.wired.com/design/2012/06/kickstarter-fail-turned-into-gooddesign/

Write proposal (Due emailed to me before class on Wednesday) Week 3: White Papers M Sept. 3 NO CLASSLABOR DAY W Sept. 5 Discussion of case studies Formulation of class-defined criteria for comparison/contrast & case studies HW: Read PWO>Home>Principles>Arranging Information>Thinking About Document Design Read PWO Home >Principles>Constructing VisualsTables, Graphs, and Visualizations
Have content ready to pour into InDesign on Wednesday (complete White Paper due next Sunday) Complete one of your case studies for in-class peer review.

F Sept. 7

In-Class work on white paper and peer review HW: Complete remaining case study

Week 4: White Papers & InDesign M Sept. 10 Peer Review of Case Studies HW: Revise case studies based on peer review feedback W Sept. 12 Discussion of visual rhetoric and effective document design Formulation of class-defined criteria for comparison/contrast & case studies HW: Watch InDesign Tutorial videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk4U0KaZw_0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms9ieWoXEcI

F Sept. 14 on Monday

InDesign Tutorial In-Class work HW: Complete the rough draft of white-paper for in-class peer review

Week 5: White-Paper Final Draft & Elevator Pitches M Sept. 17 In-class peer review of completed drafts of white-papers HW: Revise white papers based on peer review. Bring new drafts to class on Wednesday W Sept. 19 Formatting white-papers in InDesign HW: Revise white papers based on peer review. Bring new drafts to class on Wednesday Elevator Pitches, each followed by a two minute Q&A Peer evaluation of pitches (to be emailed to me by end of class) F Sept. 21 Lecture on/Discussion of presentation practices HW: Prepare elevator pitches, with PPTs. Upload to Dropbox before class on Monday. Week 6: Elevator Pitches M Sept. 17 Elevator Pitches, each followed by a two minute Q&A Peer evaluation of pitches (to be emailed to me by end of class) HW: White Paper due emailed to me by midnight on Wednesday M Sept. 17 Elevator Pitches, each followed by a two minute Q&A Peer evaluation of pitches (to be emailed to me by end of class)