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> >It's the end of another semester teaching tech
> writing, and I'm itching to
> >revise my syllabus.
> ><...>
> >1. a machine-readable resume
> >2. a cover letter
> >3. a personal web site
> >4. a group web site
> >5. a tri-fold brochure
> ><...>
> > Is there another assignment I should include?
>
> From my perspective, your class projects would not
> adequately prepare a
> student for many on-the-job technical writing
> assignments.
Um, unless I'm confusing 2 threads, isn't this an
intro course? I would expect that intro course to
prepare students for what they will be learning later
on, not for on-the-job anything.
> I suggest you also include discussion of how to
> organize a technical
> manual, be it a tutorial, a user guide, a reference
> guide, or an online help system.
That I *almost* agree with (swap "or" with "and").
> Two more ideas: have students study examples of
> existing documents or help
> systems and critique them to discover what works and
> what doesn't work;
> have students take on small open-source projects as
> examples of real-world
> software that needs to be documented.
Have them find these examples on their own. Get them
looking at the crap that comes with their electric
razors, their video games, and such. The best thing
you can do in an intro course is open an analytical
eye. If you do that, you set a positive direction for
the rest of the courseload.
=====
Goober Writer
(because life is too short to be inept)
"As soon as you hear the phrase "studies show",
immediately put a hand on your wallet and cover your groin."
-- Geoff Hart
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