Spring 2018

TR 1:30-2:45

English 4853 Instructor: Dr. Will Kurlinkus

E-Mail: wkurlinkus@gmail.com
Writing Track Capstone Office: Cate Center 338
Office Hours: 12-1:30 TR

Overview Materials
In the writing track capstone, you will learn how to fine tune some of ! Tim Brown. Change by Design
the professional and technical writing skills that employers look for in Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion
graduating English majors as well as how to apply for writing–centric ! Grant Writing Made Easy
jobs. To do so, we’ll first learn how to find and analyze job ads and workbook
write resumes and cover letters to match. We’ll then learn to write
! Notebook
grants, instruction sets, and social media proposals. Finally, you’ll have
a running project throughout this semester that asks you to find a
communication problem in the wild, research its effects on real Assignments
people, and propose a solution.

1. Job Application: 12%

Goals 2. Grant Proposal: 12%

! Understand how to find, analyze, and apply for a job 3. UX Research Midterm: 20%
! Understand some of the critical writing genres most professional 4. Instructions: 8%
writers will engage at some point
5. Social Media Packet: 8%
! Understand how to research audiences
! Understand how to adapt and market your pre-existing skills 6. Final Research Project 30%
7. Participation, Homework: 10%
Attendance, Participation, Late Work
Attendance is vital to your ability to understand course material. Each
Tips
unexcused absence after two in a unit will result in the lowering of your
unit grade by a full letter. Six unexcused absences will automatically 1. Attend All Classes
result in failing the course. There will be an attendance sheet passed 2. Finish All Readings
around each day of class. It is your responsibility to sign it each day.
Late submission of a final assignment will result in the deduction of 1/2 3. Come to Office Hours
of a letter grade for each day late. Skipping a review presentation will, 4. Take Studio Time Seriously
similarly, result in a ½ grade deduction.
5. Imagine the texts you produce in
this class as writing samples for a
future career. They are.
Access
Students requiring academic accommodation should contact the
Disability Resource Center for assistance at
http://www.ou.edu/drc/home.html Any student who has a disability
that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities
should contact me personally ASAP so we can discuss
accommodations to ensure full educational opportunities.

Writing Track Capstone 1



1. Application Packet
T 1.15 Intro to Class, Job Search, and Analyzing Job Ads
1. Introduce Yourselves
2. 4 sample job ads for English majors

R 1.17 Introduction to Resumes
1. “Obtaining a Job.” Paul Anderson: Chapter 2: Read 22-45 (beginning to cover letter)
2. Emails 1: How to Email - The Atlantic - The Atlantic.pdf
3. Emails 2: New Series: The Art of the Email
4. Emails 3: https://www.sitepoint.com/how-to-streamline-email/

T 1.22 Introduction to Cover Letters
1. “Writing Your Job Application Letter.” Anderson: 46-58 (cover letter onward)

R 1.24 Introduction to Interviews, Follow-Ups, and Concluding Thoughts
1. KolinInterviewing.pdf
2. https://www.levo.com/posts/12-tips-to-get-hired-as-a-recent-graduate
3. http://www.resumeok.com/49-job-interview-questions-and-answers/
4. https://www.levo.com/posts/5-things-you-must-do-to-follow-up-after-an-interview

T 1.29 Editing Workshop

R 1.31 Peer Review

2. Design Research Grant Proposal
T 2.5 Studying Communication Design Problems 1: design research & design thinking
1. Tim Brown. Change by Design: 1-38
2. Problems navigating the university, major, and life?
3. Keren Amit Bigio. “A Day In The Life Of The Design Researcher”: https://www.ideo.com/blog/a-day-
in-the-life-of-a-design-researcher
4. Matt Cooper-Wright. https://medium.com/design-research-methods/12-design-research-methods-
to-get-inspired-by-users-cae4789a094b

R. 2.7 Studying Communication Design Problems 2: human-centered design
Tim Brown. Change by Design: 39-62

T 2.12 Studying Communication Design Problems 3: UX
Tim Brown. Change by Design: 63-108

R 2.14 Discovering and Describing Problems: Statements of Need
1. Tim Brown. Change by Design: 109-128
2. Grant Writing Made Easy Workbook: Statement of Need (pp. 1-19)
3. Statement of Need Professional Example
4. Statement of Need Student Example

T 2.19 Researching Problems: Pre-Existing Solutions
1. Tim Brown. Change by Design: 129-149
2. Continue to read and fill out pp. 1-19 of your workbook. Read through all the sources I've provided on
your topic at: Grant Research Materials
3. Research Professional Example
4. Research Student Example

R 2.21 Describing Solutions
1. Tim Brown. Change by Design: 177-201
2. Grant Writing Made Easy Workbook (see download from Monday): Proposals pp. 20-41

1

3. Research Professional Example
4. Research Student Example
5. Professional Proposal 2

T 2.26 Goals and Objectives, Evaluations and Deliverables
1. Tim Brown. Change by Design: 203-225
2. Grant Writing Made Easy Workbook: pp.42-45, 61-63
3. Professional Example
4. Statement of Need Student Example
5. Logic Model Example 1

R 2.28 Executive Summary, Timeline, Budget, Feasibility
1. Robert Cialdini: Pre-Suasion: 1-14
2. Grant Writing Made Easy Workbook: pp. 52-60
3. Professional Example
4. Student Example

T 3.5 Peer Review

3. Instruction Set
R 3.7 Introduction to Instruction Sets
“Reader-Centered Instructions.” Anderson: Chapter 27
In Class: Lego Group instruction creation; comparing types of instructions
Introduce Assignment 3
[DUE]: Assignment 2

T 3.12 Writing User-centered Instructions
1. User persona
2. Gathering information

R 3.14 Designing User-Centered Instructions
1. Visual Hierarchy 1: http://gibbon.co/c/e14983c1-54fd-4945-9c3e-c433074da086/on-visual-
hierarchy
2. Visual Hierarchy 2
3. Illustrations in Technical Writing:
https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Professional_and_Technical_Writing/Design/Illustrations

UX Research Midterm Due

T 3.19 No Class—Spring Break
R 3.21 No Class—Spring Break

T 3.26 Evaluating Instruction Sets
What are the Pros and Cons of Each of these instruction sets
1. Dummies: http://www.dummies.com/personal-finance/how-to-change-your-cars-oil/
2. Pennzoil: http://www.pennzoil.com/en_us/education/know-your-oil/changing-your-own-
oil.html#iframe=L3NvcHVzL3Blbm56b2lsLzIwMTZuZXdzbGV0dGVyLz9sb2NhbGU9ZW5fdXM=
3. Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/id/OilChange/?ALLSTEPS
4. Wikihow: http://www.wikihow.com/Change-the-Oil-in-Your-Car
5. Lifehacker: http://lifehacker.com/how-to-change-your-cars-oil-1598482301

4. Social Media Marketing Packet
R 3.28 Writing Press Releases
1. Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapters 2 and 3

2

2. Reading: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zach-cutler/press-release-tips_b_2120630.html
3. Reading: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-write-a-press-release-with-examples/
4. Writing: Find and read 4 press releases about university events (preferably from an English
department) and make a 1-page short standard of work.

T. 4.2 Facebook Marketing
1. Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapters 4 and 5
Readings on Facebook:
• https://blog.hootsuite.com/5-ways-colleges-can-reach-students/
• https://vtldesign.com/inbound-marketing/social-media/how-todays-colleges- and-universities-
are-using-social-media/
• http://mashable.com/2011/10/17/facebook-marketing-colleges- universities/#3kQwZ.rl5kqF
• http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/20/tech/social-media/universities-social-media/
• In Class: English Department Marketing Campaigns; Introduce Assignment 4
• Writing: Bring in 3 examples of department of English Facebook accounts to discuss [DUE]:
Assignment 3: Press Release and Blog Post

R 4.4 Readings on Twitter
1. Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapters 6 and 7
• http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-college-
twitteraccounts#sm.00001achnyfg4df63qwcekwi1b8oa
• https://www.universitybusiness.com/article/10-twitter-tips-higher-education
• http://monitor.icef.com/2013/05/using-twitter-for-student-recruitment-to- maximum-effect/
• https://netnatives.com/2014/05/20/use-twitter-business-recruit-students/
• https://www.ama.org/events-training/Conferences/Pages/Higher-Ed-Marketing-Meets-Social-
Media.aspx
• Writing: Bring in 3 examples of department of English twitter accounts to discuss
• In Class: Talk about twitter; examine standard of work sheets and competitor analyses.

T 4.9 Readings on Instagram
1. Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapters 8 and 9
• https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/11/27/institutions-recruit- students-reach-
students-social-media
• http://www.thesearchologist.com/how-to-use-instagram-for-recruitment/
• http://www.socialtalent.co/blog/recruiting-with-instagram
• http://connect.mit.edu/blog/how-colleges-and-universities-use-instagram
• Reading: https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-proposal-template/
• Reading: https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-to-create-a-social-media-marketing-plan/
• Writing: Bring in 3 examples of social media marketing campaigns to discuss
• In Class: Continue to examine proposals.

R 4.11 Presentations Day 1 + Portfolios
Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapter 10

T 4.16 Presentations Day 2 + Portfolios
Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapter 11

R 4.18 Studio Time
Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion Chapter 12

T 4.23 Studio Time

R 4.25 Final Presentations
T 4.30 Final Presentations
R. 5.2 Final Presentations
Final Due: Midnight by Exam Day

3
 Spring 2018
TR 1:30-2:45

English 4853 Instructor: Dr. Will Kurlinkus

E-Mail: wkurlinkus@gmail.com
Writing Track Capstone Office: Cate Center 338
Office Hours: 12-1:30 TR

Overview Materials
In the writing track capstone, you will learn how to fine tune some of ! Tim Brown. Change by Design
the professional and technical writing skills that employers look for in Robert Cialdini Pre-suasion
graduating English majors as well as how to apply for writing–centric ! Grant Writing Made Easy
jobs. To do so, we’ll first learn how to find and analyze job ads and workbook
write resumes and cover letters to match. We’ll then learn to write
! Notebook
grants, instruction sets, and social media proposals. Finally, you’ll have
a running project throughout this semester that asks you to find a
communication problem in the wild, research its effects on real Assignments
people, and propose a solution.

1. Job Application: 12%

Goals 2. Grant Proposal: 12%

! Understand how to find, analyze, and apply for a job 3. UX Research Midterm: 20%
! Understand some of the critical writing genres most professional 4. Instructions: 8%
writers will engage at some point
5. Social Media Packet: 8%
! Understand how to research audiences
! Understand how to adapt and market your pre-existing skills 6. Final Research Project 30%
7. Participation, Homework: 10%
Attendance, Participation, Late Work
Attendance is vital to your ability to understand course material. Each
Tips
unexcused absence after two in a unit will result in the lowering of your
unit grade by a full letter. Six unexcused absences will automatically 1. Attend All Classes
result in failing the course. There will be an attendance sheet passed 2. Finish All Readings
around each day of class. It is your responsibility to sign it each day.
Late submission of a final assignment will result in the deduction of 1/2 3. Come to Office Hours
of a letter grade for each day late. Skipping a review presentation will, 4. Take Studio Time Seriously
similarly, result in a ½ grade deduction.
5. Imagine the texts you produce in
this class as writing samples for a
future career. They are.
Access
Students requiring academic accommodation should contact the
Disability Resource Center for assistance at
http://www.ou.edu/drc/home.html Any student who has a disability
that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities
should contact me personally ASAP so we can discuss
accommodations to ensure full educational opportunities.

Writing Track Capstone 1