LMC

3403 Technical Communication. Section L, Fall 2015. Brian N. Larson, instructor

Version of: 9/25/15 11:19 AM This schedule is always subject to revision. Usually, revisions will relate to readings, class activities, and minor and ungraded
assignments. The instructor will attempt to avoid changes in the major assignment deadlines and characteristics, though there adjustments may prove
necessary for a wide variety of reasons. Assignments due on a given date are due at 2:05 p.m. unless otherwise specified.

Wk
Day Date Readings
Assignments due before/during class
Classroom material and activities
(in addition to preparing for class discussion)
1
M
8/17 None

Instructor: Intros and course overview; the
textbook; texts in general; topic sheets.
Assignment given: Write a literacy narrative
(due 8/21)

W
8/19 Assignment sheet: Literacy
Buy your textbook and orient yourself to T-Square (if Discuss: Peer group introductions
narrative
you are new to T-Square)
Discuss: What is technical communication?
Topic sheet: What is technical
communication?

F
8/21 Topic sheet: Rhetorical
Assignment 1 Literacy narrative due on T-Square
Discussion: Rhetorical situation
situation

2
M
8/24 Topic sheet: Audience

Discussion: Audience
Topic sheet: Genre
Discussion: Genre
Assignment given: Find two genres from
your field or job (due 8/28); write
Assignment 2 Genre analysis memo (draft
due 9/4; final due 9/11)

W
8/26 Topic sheet: Correspondence

Discussion: Emails, memos, and letters
Discussion: Instructor expectations for genre
analysis memo

F
8/28 Topic sheet: Organization and Upload two genres from your field to T-Square;
Discussion: Genres students identified, their
development
bring a copy of (at least a portion of) each to class.
rhetorical situations and development.
Two students volunteer to be videographers
on 8/31 (pick up and get familiar with
cameras on 8/28).
Discussion: Assigning group roles.
3
M
8/31

Hands-on activity.
Q&A re: Assignment 2

LMC 3403 Course schedule 1

LMC 3403 Technical Communication. Section L, Fall 2015. Brian N. Larson, instructor
Wk

Day Date

Readings

Assignments due before/during class

(in addition to preparing for class discussion)

Classroom material and activities

9/2

9/4

Topic sheet: Group work

Topic sheet: Usability
principles
Assignment sheet: Usability
assessment report
Topic sheet: Peer review

Post your observation notes about hands-on activity

of 8/31 to your group on T-Square.
Complete your draft Assignment 2 Genre analysis
and exchange it with your peer reviewer at or after
class.

Instructor: Providing a good peer review.

Figure out who will review your memo draft
and how you will exchange.
Begin analysis of rhetorical situation of
assembly instructions of consumer product
sold world-wide.
Discussion: Final project options

9/7

NO CLASS: Labor Day

9/9

Topic sheet: Analytical report

9/11

Topic sheet: Interviewing for

information

Provide a review of your peers genre analysis memo

by email before the beginning of class (copy your
instructor).
Bring copy of your own draft genre analysis memo
to class.
Bring a copy of your peers paper with your review
on it to class.
Assignment 2 Genre analysis memo due on T-
Square

9/14

9/16

Topic sheet: Think aloud

protocols

9/18

Post possible questions for 9/23 hands-on activity to

your group forum on T-Square.
Post your notes from the think-aloud protocol on
9/14 to your groups forum on T-Square.

NO CLASS: Work day (no office Post your groups planned approach for analyzing
hours)
usability data to group forum on T-Square.
Larson provides feedback on interview questions.

Assignment given: Usability assessment

report
Review hands-on activity of 8/31.

Discussion: Evaluating peers writing.

Discussion: Evaluating peer reviews.
Discussion: Analytical report.
Two students volunteer to be videographers
on 9/14 (pick up cameras on 9/10) and two
on 9/16 (pick up cameras on 9/14).
Discussion: Final project options
Discussion: Interviewing
Discussion: Data analysis

Hands-on activity with think-aloud protocol.
Group work on Assignment 3 (if theres time)
Discussion: Developing questions for 9/23
hands-on activity.
Group work on Assignment 3.

LMC 3403 Course schedule 2

LMC 3403 Technical Communication. Section L, Fall 2015. Brian N. Larson, instructor
Wk

Day Date

Readings

9/21

9/23

9/25

Read the proposed topics of

other students on the forum
on T-Square

9/28

9/30

10/2

10/5

Topic sheet: Layout and

design
Assignment: Final project
portfolio

Topic sheet: Visuals and

graphics
10/7 NO CLASS: Work day (no office
hours)
10/9 Topic sheet: Impromptu
presentations
Review Topic sheet: Audience
10/12 NO CLASS: Fall student recess

Assignments due before/during class

(in addition to preparing for class discussion)
Post your proposed final project topic to the forum
on T-Square.
Larson returns Assignment 2 with feedback and
tentative grade; students may revise (until 10/2)

Classroom material and activities

Assignment given: Final project portfolio

(due 11/20; with opportunity to revise
between 11/29 and 12/9)
Discussion: Grouping for topics, individual
topics?
CETL observation
Discussion: Layout and design

Review the cockroach fact sheets referred to in

Topic Sheet: Layout and design; come prepared to
comment on their layout and design according to
principles in the topic sheet
Post your brief evaluation of the layout and design
of one of the cockroach fact sheets to the forum
on T-Square.
Post your notes from the interview on 9/30 to your
groups forum on T-Square.
Optional: Turn in Revised Assignment 2

Discussion: Common issues in Assignment 2

Discussion: Finalizing questions for 9/23
hands-on activity.
Discussion: Final projects

Hands-on activity followed by interviews.

Hands-on activity followed by interviews.

Discussion: Presentations
Group work: Discuss layout and design of
Assignment 3
Discussion: Visuals and graphics

Turn in draft/outline of your groups Assignment 3

efforts for feedback

Discussion: Impromptu presentations

Discussion: Project planning for your final
projects

LMC 3403 Course schedule 3

LMC 3403 Technical Communication. Section L, Fall 2015. Brian N. Larson, instructor
Wk

Day Date

10/14

10/16

10

M
W

10/19 TBD
10/21 TBD

Library research presentation. Meeting space

will be announced in advance of class
session.

11


12

F
M
W
F
M

10/23
10/26
10/28
10/30
11/2

13

W
F
M
W

11/4
11/6
11/9
11/11

14

F
M
W
F

11/13
11/16
11/18
11/20

15


16

M
W
F
M

11/23
11/25
11/27
11/30

Dead
Week

Readings

Assignments due before/during class

(in addition to preparing for class discussion)
Larson provides feedback to Groups on draft of
Assignment 3
Group work and participation assignment: Short
memo to your instructor assessing your group
members and yourself re: Assignment 3
**Class not in normal classroom***

Assignment 3 Usability assessment report (group
project), due on T-Square
TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD
Group work and participation assignment: Short
memo to your instructor assessing your group
members and yourself re: final project
TBD

TBD

TBD

NO CLASS: Work day (no office
hours)
TBD

TBD

TBD


Full Assignment 4 portfolio due to instructor (by
6:00p.m.)
TBD

NO CLASS: Holiday break

NO CLASS: Holiday break


Group work and participation assignment: Short
memo to your instructor assessing your group
members and yourself re: final project

Classroom material and activities

Discussion: Key points/concerns about final
projects (which instructor returned 11/29).

LMC 3403 Course schedule 4

LMC 3403 Technical Communication. Section L, Fall 2015. Brian N. Larson, instructor
Wk

Day Date

Readings

17*

W
F
M

12/2
12/4
12/7

TBD

12/9

Assignments due before/during class

(in addition to preparing for class discussion)

Classroom material and activities

Full Assignment 4 portfolio, revised, due to

instructor (optional)

Course wrap up

Finals
Week

.
Possible Topics for later in semester:
Topic sheet: Global communication
Topic sheet: Ethics in technical communication
Topic sheet: Third-party document templates
Topic sheet: Presenting data graphically
Topic sheet: Document design
Topic sheet: Social media in DP&TC
Revisit Audience
Revisit Interviewing for information

LMC 3403 Course schedule 5