COMP 3040 Course Schedule of Topics and Readings

Winter 2013
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all readings are from our required textbook:
Pfeiffer and Adkin. Technical Communication: A Practical Approach. 8th Edition.
Scarborough: Pearson. 2013.
Week 1: January 8
* Topic: Introduction to the Course
* Assignment 0: Self-Introduction on Forum (Due Friday, January 10) Value: participation
Week 1: January 10
* Topic: The Writing Process: Purpose and Audience
* Reading: Chapter 1 (pages 1 18) and Chapter 2 (pages 35 46)
* In-Class Exercise 1: Determining Audience and Purpose
Week 2: January 15
* Topic: The Writing Process: Ideas and Outlines
* Reading: Chapter 1 (pages 46 51)
* In-Class Exercise 2: Outlines and Organization
Week 2: January 17
* Topic: The Writing Process: Writing the First Draft
* Reading: Chapter 1 (pages 51 52) and Chapter 4 (pages 88 105) and Assignment 1
* Assignment 1: Applying the Writing Process (Due January 29 and 30) Value: 10 / 90
Week 3: January 22
* Topic: The Writing Process: Editing and Revising I
* Reading: Handbook (pages 658 687)
* Slides: Humerous Reminders of Common Writing Errors
Week 3: January 24
* Topic: The Writing Process: Editing and Revising II
* Readings: Chapter 17 (633 - 650)
Week 4: January 29
* Topic: The Writing Process: Editing and Revising III
* Readings: none
* In-Class Exercise: Workshop Assignment 1
NOTE: Assignment 1 due today and Wednesday, January 30.
Week 4: January 31
* Topic: Common Components: Definitions and Descriptions
* Reading: Chapter 7 (192 214)
* In-Class Exercise 5: Definitions and Descriptions
* Assignment 2: Communication and the Writing Process (Due February 14 and 15) Value: 15 / 90
COMP 3040 Course Schedule of Topics and Readings Winter 2013
Week 5: February 5
*Topic: Process Explanations and Instructions
*Reading: Chapter 8 (pages 215 233)
*In-Class Exercise 6: Instructions
Week 5: February 7
* Topic: Common Components: Page Layout and Graphics
* Readings: Chapter 5 (pages 117 - 141) and Chapter 13 (479 518)
Week 6: February 12
* Topic: Common Components: Web Design
* Guest Speaker: TBD
Week 6: February 14
**NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN COMPUTER LAB. LOCATION TBA**
* Topic: Assignment 2 Editing Workshop
* In-Class Exercise 4: Workshop for Assignment 2
NOTE: A2 due today and Friday, February 15
Week 7: February 26
* Topic: Working in Groups. Planning for Assignment 3
* Reading: Chapter 3 (pages 59 80) and Assignment 3
* Assignment 3: Group D2L Documentation (Due March 28 and Monday, April 1) Value: 25 / 90
Week 7: February 28
* Topic: Web Pages and Writing for the Web
* Reading: Chapter 14

Week 8: March 5
* Topic: Oral Presentations
* Reading: Chapter 13 on Oral Presentations
* Assignment 5: 6 - 8 minute Oral Presentation (Due March 19, 21 or 26) Value: 15/ 90

NOTE: Near the end of class, we will break into groups for the upcoming practice presentations. You will
be assigned to a group, and each group will be assigned to a different room.
Week 8: March 7
* Topic: Practice Oral Presentations
* In-Class Exercise: Prepare a 3 -4 minute oral presentation
* Bring: feedback forms from class pack
Week 9: March 12
* Topic: Politics of Presentation Software (and Technology, in general)
COMP 3040 Course Schedule of Topics and Readings Winter 2013
* Reading: "The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint" by Edward R. Tufte
(http://www.phil-fak.uni-
duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Institute/Kultur_und_Medien/Medien_und_Kultur
wissenschaft/Dozenten/Szentivanyi/Computerspielanalyse_aus_kulturwissenschaftliche
r_Sicht/tufte1.pdf )
Week 9: March 14
**NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN COMPUTER LAB. LOCATION TBA**
* Assignment 4: In-class Assignment (due same day) Value: 10 / 90
NOTE: Assignment 4 due at end of class today.
Week 10: March 19
* Topic: Oral Presentations (1)
* Bring: Marking Guide for Oral Presentations
Week 10: March 21
* Topic: Oral Presentations (2)
* Bring: Marking Guide for Oral Presentations
Week 11: March 26
* Topic: Oral Presentations (3)
* Bring: Marking Guide for Oral Presentations
Week 11: March 28
**NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN COMPUTER LAB. LOCATION TBA**
*Topic: Workshop I for Assignment 3 (Group Assignment on Documentation)
Note: A3 (Group Assignment) Due Today and April 1
Week 12: April 2
**NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN COMPUTER LAB. LOCATION TBA**
* Topic: Collaborative Writing and Introduction to Class Project (A6)
* Workshop: Wiki Workshop 1
* Assignment 6: Class Wiki Project Value: 15 / 90 (Due April 10)
Week 12: April 4
**NOTE: CLASS WILL BE HELD IN COMPUTER LAB. LOCATION TBA**
* Workshop: Wiki Workshop 2
Week 13: April 9
* Topic: Ethics in Technical Communication
* Reading: Chapter 2 (pages 13 15) and ACM Code of Ethics (in class pack or online)
* In-class Exercise: Ethical Scenarios
Note: A6 (Class Assignment) Due April 10