English 319: Document Design for Technical Communicators
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Outcomes | Study Guide
Study Guide, Fall 2005
Textbooks | Assignment Schedule | Grading | Rigor | Extra Credit
Robin Williams, The Non-Designer’s Design Book, 2003, Peachpit Press (PP).
Victoria Thomas, Adobe FrameMaker [7] for Windows & Mac, 2003, (PP).
September 20 / 22
(35 - 217C)An orientation to the class, including preliminary discussion on document design and FrameMaker September 27 / 29
(35 - 217C)Read chapters 1 & 2 in Thomas; discuss single sourcing; review project ideas submitted by prospective A and B students October 4 / 6
(38 - 201)Read chapters 1 - 7 in Williams before Tuesday’s class; quiz over chapters 1 - 5; for Thursday, bring to class graphics illustrating CRAP principles; review project ideas submitted by prospective C students. October 11 / 13
(38 - 201)Read chapters 8 - 10 in Williams before Tuesday's class; quiz over chapters 8 - 10?; for Thursday, bring to class type font specimens illustrating concord, conflict, contrast, as well as type categories and contrast characteristics; discuss how to approach the "Extras" chapters (11 - 14) in the Williams text. October 18 / 20
(38 - 201)Design midterm #1 (oral); Read chapters 3 & 4 in Thomas; skim chapter 16 in Thomas and glance through the rest of her book; design discussions. October 25 / 27
(35-217C)Move permanently to the 10-128 lab (if ever we left…); read chapters 5 & 12 in Thomas; work on the project document*. November 1 / 3
(35-217C)
Play with chapters 6 & 7 in Thomas; discussions; continue work on project*; midterm #2 (only if needed) November 8 / 10
(35-217C)
Read chapters 8, 9, & 10 in Thomas; create a draft for FrameMaker résumé/digital portfolio? November 15 / 17
(35-217C)
Play with chapters 11 (& 13?) in Thomas; complete the project document and submit it for grading (in both electronic and hard copy forms); revise and refine your FrameMaker résumé or digital portfolio; discussions or lunch; to get full credit for your project, submit it, along with all your other class stuff, by 1 December. While the project due date is 1 December, try to submit it earlier. November 22 / 24
(35-217C)
Work and play as required (by your progress) on Tuesday. Enjoy Thanksgiving on Thursday
November 29 / December 1 (35-217C) Comprehensive Quiz over FrameMaker; wrap up unfinished business; review and play with design accomplishments. * The project document(s) discussed in the Assignment schedule refers to work for a class other than this one. You’ll have an opportunity to use FrameMaker to complete a project for this other class, but only if the writing assignment for your other class profits from being completed in FrameMaker. Please bring candidates (for projects) to me during the first two weeks of the quarter so we can determine which (if any) of your outside projects you’ll work on for duplicate credit in English 319. If you will not be carrying out extensive writing projects for another class this quarter (or if you fail to bring in projects for review), I’ll set up a special project for you to complete.
Although we’ll spend most of our time this quarter learning about FrameMaker, English 319 is a design class, not a FrameMaker class. Consequently, you will want to apply design principles to your work in FrameMaker.
Your grade at quarter’s end will reflect how thoroughly and effectively you have become familiar with FrameMaker and with basic principles of document design. Regular attendance is essential. Each missed class will lower your final class grade. Grade weights can fluctuate within the ranges indicated on the accompanying chart. Such fluctuating affords each student optimum credit for exemplary work.
As upper division English classes go, English 319 is not particularly rigorous. Most students characterize it as an easy class. Nonetheless, a few students wrestle each quarter with new and challenging concepts in either FrameMaker or design. As far as FrameMaker is concerned, do not let yourself get behind. As in the study of a new foreign language or challenging new math skills, incremental accrual of new principles works best when you never allow yourself to fall behind. As for design, some students grasp design concepts readily while others struggle with the unfamiliar ideas. The best procedure will be to monitor your own progress and speak with the instructor immediately if you feel you have fallen behind.
In a sense, the résumé assignment represents extra credit work. If you do not turn it in, your grade will not necessarily suffer; if you do turn it in, you enhance your chances for earning a higher grade in the class.
Additional extra credit opportunities can be arranged by speaking with the instructor during the first half of the quarter (weeks 1 - 5). Extra credit work undertaken without prior consultation on or before week 5 will not count toward your final class grade. [One exception: you'll note that design flaws appear in this web page; these design flaws result from my imperfect understanding of how to format in Dreamweaver. In the hard copy of your English 319 Study Guide, you'll find few flaws. I did build in two, however, (and there may be others that slipped by me as typos). The first English 319 student (during Fall Quarter 2005) to correctly locate, identify and "fix" each flaw appearing in the hard copy Study Guide will receive extra credit. I build in errors not only through carelessness, but to afford you additional options for getting grade credit for having fun with design. Enjoy!]
Technical and Professional Writing: A Certificate Program
If you have not yet entered Cal Poly’s Technical and Professional Writing program, you should know that this class earns you 4 units toward achieving that goal. Speak with the instructor to learn more about earning a certificate in Technical and Professional Writing; having the certificate can serve as perhaps the best job security available for anyone who works in the technical sector of today’s economy.
The Writing Proficiency Exam for the Graduation Writing Requirement
English 319 no longer serves as one of the upper division English classes through which you can satisfy the GWR. If you have yet to satisfy the GWR, please speak with your instructor.
Jim Howland, September 2005