Technical Writing--2311.004

L. Lennie Irvin
San Antonio College
Fall 2005
Tech Writing Home

• For exercises 21-31, students must fill out an Audience Profile, found on page 64 of the text. I am NEVER the audience, and all the questions apply to the audience not to the students preparing the assignment. I suggest you make a template of the Audience Profile so that you can simply fill in the blanks with each of the assignments. The audience profile is prepared first so that students have a clear idea of the person or people who will be reading the assignment. The profile turned in along with the assignment when it is due.

• After completing each assignment (21-31), students must fill out a Checklist for Usability that is found in each section of the text next to the type of assignment. The Checklist for Usability may require that students return to the assignment and make changes before submitting the assignment. In that case, students will repeat the Checklist for Usability and include the final check with the final draft. Students should use this checklist at least a day before the submission date so that they can make appropriate changes that they find with the checklists. This Checklist for Usability will also be posted in the body of the email, following the audience profile, and the assignment will be included in an attachment.

• If an assignment requires visuals and students do not have a scanner to include the visuals in their documents, they may fax the visuals ONLY to the attention of Lennie Irvinat 210.733.2507. The visuals must follow the requirement of using visuals (title, labels, reference to visual in the document itself). Be sure the visuals are not so large that they will not download. Students may want to email or fax the visuals to themselves first to check the way the document will arrive. Most fax transmissions are not particularly clear.

• Students should make sure that they keep a copy of their submissions on a backup disk. All posting of work or email attachments must be sent with the following name convention: your first initial and last name and the number of the assignment (e.g. lirvin21). Collaborative assignments will be sent with the group name and the assignment number (e.g. Texans25).

• On individual and collaborative assignments, all names will appear on the first page of the document. All collaborative assignments require a performance appraisal for each group member (page 101).

• Plagiarism of items from the web constitutes cheating. Students are learning to write their own documents and must be original. While students may find models of assignments on the web, they will rewrite any model to make it their own document, not simply change a few facts or items in a document. A plagiarized document will receive a 0 and possible suspension from the class. See college polices on academic dishonesty.

• On all turned in work and correspondence, students must be sure to include their first and last name.

• Additional textual materials and links can be found at the companion website for the text: http://www.ablongman.com/lannonweb. Students should look at this material early in the semester so they will know what to review as they reach each assignment.

• Many of the models in the book are not very good samples. Students should not simply change facts and use the sample documents.