Week 1
January 13
Introduction to class
Complete student information sheet
Homework: Read Brandt (CP)
January 15
Updated calendar with summary/response papers listed
Discuss Brandt
Introduce Project #1
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 3-67 and pp. 273-76
Week 2
January 20
Writing professional memos
Discuss why we do research and in what contexts
Types of research in professional writing
Journal analysis: In groups of 3-4, browse through a few recent issues for one of these Professional Writing publications and report your answers the following questions:
What kinds of articles are contained in this publication? How would you describe the writing? Who seems to be the audience for this publication? What kinds of topics are discussed and what kinds of technologies are covered, if any?Brainstrom suggestions for finding a topic for project #1
Topic development heuristic
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 68-101; MLA Style Manual, pp. 1-31
January 22
Summary/response papers
Writing your research proposal:
- One page, single-spaced professional memo
- Describes a topic for research (what is your research question/problem?)
- Provides credible reasons for researching this topic (why is this important/current/relevant?)
- Addresses the audience for the report (Who is going to be interested in your research and why?)
- Presents a preliminary plan for research (What have you already found on the topic? What do you need to find?)
Some useful library handouts on research
Work on moving from topic-->question-->problem
Homework: Read Schiff (CP) and Willinsky (CP); Write summary/response paper on one of the readings
Week 3
January 27
Tips on writing proposals (for the proposal that is due Thursday)
How to determine information credibility in print and online texts
Determining the differences between types of sources
Changing notions of expertise
Examine the following two websites and determine their credibility:
http://www.unitedstates.orgSummary/response paper on Schiff or Willinsky due
http://www.fedstats.gov
Homework: Read MLA Style Manual, pp. 33-69; Finish draft of research proposal
January 29
Proposal workshop:
In the following groups, use the proposal workshop questions to read and respond to each other's proposal memos:Research proposal and peer reviews due by end of class
Group #1: Natty, Ciara, Jessica, Matt
Group #2: Charles, Joe, Carrie, Jill
Group #3: Patrick, Kristyna, Dawn, Rachel
Group #4: Natalie, Alisa, Christina, Alexa
Group #5: Darin, Danielle, Lindley, Josh
Homework: Read MLA Style Manual, pp. 163-239 and Kroski (CP)
Week 4
February 3
Organizing your research using tools that Kroski outlines
Discuss annotated bibliographies
Documentation I: Works Cited
In small groups, complete this research practice exercise
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 187-202; MLA Style Manual, pp. 240-59; Finish draft of annotated bibliography
February 5
Annotated bibliography due
Workshop annotated bibliographies in the groups from last week
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 103-127
Week 5
February 10
Finish this research practice exercise from last week
Documentation II: How to integrate in-text citations
Tip sheet on introducing quotes
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 130-169
February 12
Making claims--->determining types of claims
Look at sample claims and determine their strength
Understanding and using evidence
Chart to help you outline reasons/evidence
Summary/response paper due on one article from your research
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 249-269; MLA Style Manual, pp. 79-141
Week 6
February 17
Look at the Amethyst Initiative website-->what are its claims, reasons, evidence, acknowledgements, warrants?
Look at one sample reasons/evidence charts from last time
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 232-248
February 19
Introductions and Conclusions
What should your report look like? Conventions of professional documents [via OWL]
What conventions/components do you notice in these documents? Glenn Research technical reports, Pew Internet reports, sample marketing report
MS Word templates
Review stylistic advice in textbook and work on revising these sample paragraphs
Summary/response paper due on a second article from your research
Homework: Complete draft of research report
Week 7
February 24
Peer workshop on Project #1:
In the following groups, use the workshop questions to read and respond to each other's reports:
Group #1: Christina, Alexa, MattHomework: Revise research report; Read Hicks (CP)
Group #2: Joe, Carrie, Jill
Group #3: Patrick, Kristyna, Lindley
Group #4: Jessica, Alisa, Natty, Ciara
Group #5: Darin, Danielle, Josh, Natalie
February 26
Project #1 due; in class, compose a brief memo to your instructor outlining where you are at with your report (what you feel is strong about it/what needs work/questions you have). Submit this memo with your final report and with drafts/peer reviews of your report.
Overview of Project #2
Review research rationale and sample rationale
Discuss ethics of research with human subjects
Review ethics cases
Homework: Read Interviewing (CP) and Conducting Group Interviews (CP)
Week 8
March 3
Review information on interviews and focus groups
In four groups, read through the attached scenario and develop questions for one of the methods assigned; report results to class
If time remains, work on research rationale
Homework: Read Planning Surveys; Identifying the Population; Developing Questionnaires; Administering Surveys; and Schafer (CP)
March 5
Discuss survey methodology; using the suggestions from our readings, in small groups critique this web-based survey; play with survey monkey and other free web survey software listed in "Ten Tips"
Homework: Read Usability Testing (CP)
Week 9
March 10
Discuss usability testing and review usability.gov templates and STC usability resources
Perform sample usability test
IRB consent form (under forms link)
Work on Project #2 materials in class
Homework: Continue work on Project #2
March 12
No class-instructor at professional conference
Homework: Continue work on Project #2
Week 10
March 17
No class-spring break
Homework: Continue work on Project #2
March 19
No class-spring break
Homework: Complete draft of Project #2
Week 11
March 24
Workshop Project #2: rationale review and documents review
Group #1: Alisa, Jessica, Matt, CarrieHomework: Revise Project #2
Group #2: Natty Ciara, Christina, Joe, Kristyna
Group #3: Alexa, Jillian, Patrick, Lindley
Group #4: Darin, Danielle, Josh, Natalie
March 26
Project #2 due: compose professional cover memo with an assessment of your work and any questions you have of the instructor.
Overview of Project #3
Discuss rhetorical aspects of writing instructions
Review examples of media-rich instructions: how to fix a leaky basement wall; podcast of knitting instructions; Wonder How to Video Site
Homework: Read Lessig (CP); write summary/response paper on Lessig reading
Week 12
March 31
Discuss new media and remix culture
Summary/reponse paper on Lessig due
Homework: Read Graham and Whalen (CP); Finish proposal for Project #3
April 2
Proposal for Project #3 due
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 213-231
Week 13
April 7
Communicating evidence visually
Homework: Read The Craft of Research, pp. 203-212
April 9
Continue work on project #3; we'll talk about revision next week
Tip: remember to think about how you are going to publish your media-rich instructions. That is, how are you going to deliver the information to your audience?
Homework: Complete draft of Project #3
Week 14
April 14
Peer workshop for Project #3
--Each group will present their instructions and the class will review the projects as a whole
Note: please email me your written instructions asap and I will print out copies for the class; please also make sure your media-rich instructions are accessible on the instructor terminal (on the web or a disk/drive)
Homework: Revise Project #3
April 16
Project #3 due: print written instructions for me and either email me the url for your media-rich instructions or put on a cd/dvd
Complete the collaborative work assessment form and submit to me in class.
Discuss portfolio
Discuss revision reading from last week (so be sure to bring Craft of Research)
Homework: Revise for the portfolio
Week 15
April 21
Workshop for portfolio--bring revision of project #1 for workshop
Homework: Revise for the portfolio
April 23
Workshop for portfolio--bring revision of project #2 for workshopo
Homework: Revise for the portfolio
Week 16
April 28
Workshop for portfolio--bring revision of project #3 for workshop
Homework: Revise for the portfolio
April 30
Portfolio due by end of class!
Reminder: complete online evaluations by end of class
Have a great summer!