Unit Four: A Very Short Guide to Technical Communication

Situation

The semester is wrapping up, and I want to help you retain as much as you can about what we have done in this class.  I would like you to design a compact but informative document called “A Very Short Guide to Technical Communication” (or something like that).  In addition to retaining some ideas from this class, this assignment will also force you to think about issue of design, format, and medium selection. 

Audience and Purpose

You are actually the most important audience member for this document, although your classmates and I will be important secondary audiences.  Hey! Who am I kidding? I assign the grade so I am a pretty important audience member! 

The purpose of this document will be for you to collect what you consider to be the most important ideas from this course into a document or computer file that you will be able to use in the future.  In other words, you might produce for yourself an informational tri-fold, a document modeled after the “Quick Guide” series, a web page that you can easily host on your own site, or even a document for a PDA if you use one regularly. 

Deliverables

1. The Very Short Guide.  Due May 9.  100 points. 
2. Project assessment memo (PAM):  Please explain why you have chosen to include what you have included, and please explain the choice for design, format, and medium.
3. Oral presentation: The oral presentation is a bit like a poster-session at a conference—show the class your document, explain what you have done (you will essentially be presenting your PAM orally), and field questions.  You will only have 5 minutes, so you need to be prepared, focused, and concise.  Presentations on May 7 and 9.   50 points. 

Evaluation

Your document will be evaluated for usability, relevance, and accessibility—you will have an opportunity to grade your own work because you are the primary audience for this document.  Your classmates will have an opportunity to grade your presentation and document during your oral presentation. 

Goals for this unit

• Synthesize and retain concepts and habits from this course.
• Make design, format, and medium choices that are relevant to your audience, not because I have required certain features.