- Time Required
- 5 to 6 hours, including reading time
Welcome to Technical Writing. Information on all assignments, weekly activities, and related resources for this course will be posted here on Canvas. Check this site regularly for the details on what to do for the course.
As noted in the Course Manual, this course will introduce you to the concepts and modes of writing that you will encounter in the workplace. In terms of what you will be writing about and the genres you will be learning, you should expect this course to be very different from first-year writing (composition) and other courses in which you have produced written work.
This first module is designed to introduce you to the structure and the expectations for this course and to make you aware of resources that are available to you as a student.
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 it.
Here‘s what‘s coming up this week:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was Monday, January 20. The 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on campus includes activities throughout the week.
- The birth of Fatima al-Zahra' (Arabic: فَاطِمَة ٱلزَّهْرَاء) is celebrated Saturday, January 25. The Lady Fatima is the daughter of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
- Burns Night takes place in Scotland and is celebrated elsewhere by those of Scot descent. The event celebrates the birthday of the poet Robert Burns.
If these holidays will interfere with your work in the class, send me a message with Canvas Inbox and let me know how you need me to adjust your due dates.
Objectives for this Module
After completing this introductory module, you will be able to
- Identify the course policies, schedule, and expectations.
- Describe the course grading policies and standards.
- Identify the technology requirements for the course.
- Understand what learner support services are available to you, as well as identify privacy and accessibility policies and resources.
| Event | Date | Work Effected |
|---|---|---|
| Target Due Date for Weekly Activities | By 11:59 PM on Friday, January 24, 2025 | All work: Try-Its, Student Information & Group Preferences Form, & the Check-in Survey |
| 3-Day Grace Period | By 11:59 PM on January 29, 2025 | Try-Its, the Introduce Yourself Discussion, and the Check-in Survey |
See the information on Target Due Dates and Checkpoint Deadlines for additional details on these dates. The full list of course due dates and deadlines is listed in the Technical Writing Dates and Deadlines.
Activities to Complete
📚 To Read This Week
These readings are designed to orient you to the course plan, expectations, and assessment system, as well as to provide you with information about technology requirements, learner support, and privacy. There are also two readings related to the week’s activities.
- Short Guide to Technical Writing
- Technical Writing Dates and Deadlines
- Technical Writing Course Policies
- Teamwork & Collaboration Guide
- Course Badges
- Kinds of Work in the Course
- 5 Mistakes People Make in This Course
- Making Memes Accessible
📝 To Do This Week
- Fill out the Student Information & Group Preferences Form, to provide some basic information about yourself.
- Try out strategies from the course by submitting these activities:
💬 To Ask Questions (Optional)
- Post public questions in the General Q&A Discussion in Canvas if it can be shared with the class.
- If you have a private question, send me a message with the Canvas Inbox.
- Ask a question or make a suggestion anonymously with the Anonymous Questions & Suggestions form.
📓 To Check-In This Week
- Fill out the Week 1 Check-In Survey to let me know how the week has gone for you.
Photo Credit: Typer by Caleb Roenigk on Flickr, used under a CC-BY 2.0 license.