• Time Required
• 6 to 8 hours, including reading time

This module explores how audience and purpose shape technical writing and how persuasion can help you make effective recommendations.

The concepts you read about this week apply to every project you will do in the course—and ultimately to the projects you will do in the workplace.

Holidays & Events This Week

Each week, I mention religious holidays and cultural events that I know about. If I leave out a religious holiday that should be included, please email me so that I can add.

Here’s what’s coming up this week:

• Labor Day is Monday the 4th. Virginia Tech classes are cancelled, and I will limit email work. See the Emergency Contact FAQ Announcement for more information.
• Patriot Day is Sunday the 11th.

I doubt either holiday will interfere with your work in the class. That said, if you need me to adjust your due dates because of a holiday, send me a message in Canvas.

 

Objectives for this Module

After completing this week’s activities, you address the following course objectives:

• Analyze the rhetorical situation and determine the appropriate audience or users of written communication, considering the needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 1]
• Prepare to conduct research appropriate to workplace problem solving, such as literature review, evaluation of online resources, interview, and site inspection. [CLO 2]
• Consider the ethical and human implications of my situation. [CLO 3]
• Use conventions of various workplace genres, such as proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, and slide decks, with understanding of how the genre conventions can be used as heuristics and as principles of arrangement. [CLO 4]
• Collaborate with classmates in planning, researching, writing, revising, and presenting information. [CLO 5]

 

Activities to Complete

📚 To Read This Week

• Markel & Selber, Ch. 5: “Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose”
• One-sheet summary: “Determining the Important Characteristics of Your Audience”
• Markel & Selber, Ch. 8: “Communicating Persuasively”

 

📝 To Write This Week

• Finish work on the Label Analysis Assignment, using these additional resources:
  • Tip Sheet: Label Analysis
  • Label Analysis Criteria
• Check your Label Analysis Full Draft with the Label Analysis Self-Check.
• Try out strategies from the course by submitting these activities:
  • Try-It #5: Audience and Your Food Label (Tuesday)
  • Try-It #6: Using Evidence to Persuade an Audience (Thursday)

💬 To Discuss This Week

• Check in with your Accountability Group, according to the agreement that you have made. Use whatever tool your group has agreed to. Remind your group of two things:
  • The Suggested Due Date for the Label Analysis Full Draft is Friday, September 9.
  • Try-Its and Check-In Surveys have a 5-day grace period and must be submitted by September 14.

• Post any questions you have in the General Q&A Discussion Board in Canvas.

📓 To Check-In This Week

• Fill out the Week 3 Check-In Survey to let me know how the week has gone for you.