- Time Required
- 8–10 hours, including reading time
Welcome to Week Four of the course. At this point, you should have completed and submitted the first Major Project, Survey of Website Writing In Your Field Informal Report Assignment if you’re keeping up with the Target Due Dates. If you haven’t submited it yet, the Checkpoint Deadline is Monday, February 17. See Target Due Dates and Checkpoint Deadlines for more information.
The next projects in the course focus on writing clear and concise documents. Not only does this topic deal with using plain language when you describe technical topics, but it also considers how document design contributes to creating a reader-centered document.
Holidays & Events This Week
- Thaipusam is marked on Tuesday, February 11 by Tamil Hindus. The day celebrates the defeat of the demon Surapadman by the Hindu god Murugan.
- The Lantern Festival takes place on Wednesday, February 12. This Asian holiday marks the end of Lunar New Year festivities.
- Tu Bishvat, the 15th of Shevat, is a Jewish holiday that begins at sunset on Wednesday, February 12, and lasts until nightfall on Thursday, February 13. The day celebrates ecological awareness and, in particular, trees (similar to Arbor Day in the U.S.)
- Lailat al Bara’ah is an Islamic holiday, begins at sunset on Wednesday, February 12, and lasts until nightfall on Friday, February 14. It is celebrated by Shia and Sunni Sufi Muslims. It is also known as Mid-Sha’ban.
- Māgha Pūjā, a Buddhist festival also known as Buddhist All Saints Day, takes place on Thursday, February 13.
- Valentine’s Day is celebrated Friday, February 14. It originated as a Christian holiday, but today is celebrated by many cultures.
- Parinirvana Day, celebrates the day the Buddha reached Nirvana. It takes place on Saturday, February 15.
- Black History Month in American and Canada continues through the entire month of February.
If any of these events interferes 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
By completing this week’s activities, you address the following course objectives:
- Analyze the context; determine appropriate audiences for or users of planned communications; assess needs of global audiences and people with disabilities. [CLO 2]
- Practice workplace genres related to specific fields (e.g., proposals, instructions, correspondence, reports, technical specifications and slide decks); illustrate how genre conventions can serve as heuristics and as principles of arrangement [CLO 3]
- Design and evaluate strategies for testing the usability and overall effectiveness of documents [CLO 5]
- Illustrate the ethical and human implications of research findings and workplace products on diverse audiences [CLO 6]
| Event | Date | Work Effected |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day Grace Period | By 11:59 PM on Wednesday, February 12 | Week 3 Try-Its and the Check-in Survey |
| Target Due Date for Weekly Activities | By 11:59 PM on Friday, February 14 | Week 4 Try-Its and the Check-in Survey |
| Checkpoint Deadline | By 11:59 PM on Monday, February 17 | Survey of Website Writing Assignment and the related Self-Check |
| 3-Day Grace Period | By 11:59 PM on Wednesday, February 19 | Week 4 Try-Its 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
- Week 04 Readings on Plain Language, Document Design, Instructions, Intercultural Communication
📝 To Do This Week
- Begin work on the second Major Project, User Documentation Revision & Reflection Memo, which has a Target Due Date of Friday, February 28. Use these resources:
- Try out strategies from the course by submitting these activities:
💬 To Ask Questions (Optional)
- Optional ways to discuss class issues:
- 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.
- Post public questions in the General Q&A Discussion in Canvas if it can be shared with the class.
📓 To Check-In This Week
- Fill out the Week 4 Check-In Survey to let me know how you are doing in the course.