Week 1 Instructions: Course Intro

• Time Required
• 6–8 hours, including reading time

Welcome to Technical Writing. Information on all assignments, weekly activities, and related resources for this course will be posted here on Canvas. Check this site regularly for the details on what to do for the course.

As noted in the Course Manual Links to an external site., this course is designed to acquaint you with the concepts and modes of writing that you will encounter in the workplace. In terms of what you will be writing about and the genres you will be learning, you should expect this course to be very different from first-year writing (composition) and other courses in which you have produced written work.

This first module is designed to introduce you to the structure and the expectations for this course and to make you aware of resources that are available to you as a student. You will also begin work on the Recommendation Report, which we will work on the entire term, by choosing a topic for your report.

 

Objectives for this Module

After completing this introductory module, you will be able to

• Identify the course policies, schedule, and expectations.
• Describe the course grading policies and standards.
• Identify the technology requirements for the course.
• Understand what learner support services are available to you, as well as identify privacy and accessibility policies and resources.

 

Suggested Due Dates

• Suggested Due Date: By 11:59 PM on Friday, May 28, 2021
• Grace Period: Ends at 11:59 PM on Friday, May 28, 2021

 

📚To Read

These readings are designed to orient you to the course plan, expectations, and grading standards, as well as to provide you with information about technology requirements, learner support, and privacy.

• A Short Guide to Technical Writing Links to an external site.
• Course Manual Links to an external site.
• Chapter 1 of Markel & Selber, Understanding the Technical Communication Environment
• Recommendation Report Topic Requirements
• Recommendation Report Topic Examples
• Weekly Work Log Guidelines

 

📝To Write

• Complete the Syllabus Review, after reading the Short Guide and Course Manual.
• Respond to the Chapter 1 Review activity, after reading Chapter 1 of Markel & Selber, “Understanding the Technical Communication Environment.” If you do not have the textbook by the end of the grace period, just complete this activity once you do have the text.
  
  
• Share the topic you want to focus on for the term in your Recommendation Topic Proposal.

 

💬To Discuss

• Introduce yourself to the class by posting a Professional Bio Statement.

 

📓 To Track

• Record all the work that you do for the course in your Work Log for the Week of 05/24.
  
  
• Remember that you will propose your course grade at the end of the term, so the notes you keep in your Work Log are important.

Photo Credit: Typer by Caleb Roenigk on Flickr Links to an external site., used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.