• Course Description
• Books
• Grades

• Technology Requirements
• Project Management
• Email Etiquette

• Collaborative Work
• Late Work
• Attendance and Punctuality

English 515 is designed for undergraduates and graduates interested in professional writing for both print and electronic publication. Students learn to produce documents and coordinate writing projects, study and apply principles of document design and electronic publication using appropriate application software, and work in teams in computer-networked environments. Students will work both individually and collaboratively as they document, utilize and analyze writing practices, literacy tools, and research methodologies.

In English 515, Advanced Professional Writing, students will first study sites of professional writing, developing research and observation methods appropriate for writing professionals. The class will then study and create usability testing materials. Students will conduct informal usability tests in order to both learn about usability as a professional writing concern and to study usability as a site of authority and identity for professional writers. Finally, students will study sites of engagement and intervention through writing in order to explore what it means, first, to be a writer and, second, what it means to be a professional in the post-industrial workplace. Students will complete three substantial writing projects: a workplace observation report, a usability report, and an argumentative professionalization report.

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Rubin, Jeffrey. Handbook of Usability Testing: How to Plan, Design, and Conduct Effective Tests. John Wiley and Sons. 1994. ISBN #0471594032

Henry, Jim. Writing Workplace Cultures: An Archeology of Professional Writing. Southern Illinois University Press. 2000. ISBN #0-8093-2320-6

Faber, Brenton. Community Action and Organizational Change: Image, Narrative, Identity. Southern Illinois University Press. 2002. ISBN #0-8093-2436-9

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Grades will be based on completion of three substantial writing projects, class participation, as well as a number of smaller assignments:

• Workplace Observation Report
• Usability Report


• Professionalization Report

A further breakdown of these grades is available on the projects description page.

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In order to participate fully in the course, you should be able to use the technology platform and applications listed below. 
 

• Windows XP & Macintosh OSX
• Microsoft Office--particularly Word and PowerPoint
• Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer, and Safari Browsers
• Email program which allows you to send and receive email attachments during and outside class

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Because the exchange of information and materials in this class will be largely electronic, familiarity with certain technologies is crucial for participation and success in the course. If you need any assistance now or at any point during the semester, please do not hesitate to ask. I will also provide links to electronic documentation to help facilitate your use of classroom technologies.Thus, you should be able to attend to the responsibilities in the list below.

• Have access to your Career Account
• Set up your @purdue.edu email address. You must use this account as other types of accounts (e.g. ecn, hotmail,yahoo) have been know to cause file tranfer difficulty. This is also the account the class listserv uses. YOU are responsible for the tranfer of messages and documents to your instructor and classmates. Make backups and save copies.
• Become proficient sending and receiving email attachments via Netscape Messenger or Purdue Webmail.

Important note, all emails sent to me MUST have Engl515 and the name of the ASSIGNMENT (if attached) in the SUBJECT LINE of the email message. I WILL NOT accept emails that fail to have this subject line.

Other Email etiquette requirements will be determined by the class on the first day.

• Check the course calendar before the beginning of each class. It will be updated on a regular  basis.  You are responsible for keeping track of the dates materials will be due.
• Documents exchanged electronically must contain an underscore followed by your initials and the version number at the end of the file name just before the extension. (e.g. project_jer1.doc)
• Become more proficient with unfamiliar computer technologies and applications.
• Maintain back-up copies of all assignments via your home directory, disks, and/or email attachments to yourself. You are responsible for making certain that the instructor and the members of your project team get usable electronic copies of documents. If you are using a program other than MSWord, please use the rich text format (.rtf) for saving and distributing documents.

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General

• All email must have Engl515 in the subject line.
• Be sure to include a subject that relates to the material in the message body.
• Group email must have all participants’ names listed at the end of the email.

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Please submit assignments when they are due.  Late work is not acceptable.  While I am happy to discuss grading practices and policies and will do my best to explain why students receive certain evaluations, grades are rarely changed.  Please visit me in my office during office hours, and use email to contact me between class meetings.

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You are expected to be in class every Tuesday and Thursday and to participate in email discussion throughout each week.  Each missed class is significant: communicate with the instructor regarding any missed class time.  After two absences, student grades will be impacted.  Please discuss multiple absences with the instructor.

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