Specifications for Project #1 (draft due today)

Here are the specs for project 1. (My page seems to be fine now, but if you need info re: project 2 and can't get it, post here, and I'll put that up too. Let me know if you have questions.

T. F.

Individual Project #1 Report on Technical Writing in your field

Project #1 has two main purposes: 1. First, it should provide the opportunity for your to learn about the kinds of technical writing and communication that will be important to you in your career. (This will also help you to become aware of the things in this class on which you should focus in order to derive the most benefit from the various projects.) 2. Secondly, it is designed to give you some practice in learning how to emulate, without copying exactly, an established format in order to convey specific information to a particular audience. The basic requirements for project #1 are as follows: 1. Following the guidelines for an investigative report (in the handbook), you are to investigate how technical writing operates in your field. Your investigation must include the tentative definition that you worked on with your partner in class, the results of your interview, some information from the readings, and other results of inquiries you decide upon for yourself. (You may also want to look at the more general guidelines for report writing in your handbook.) 2. You should assume that your audience is a committee made up of professors and students in your discipline who are designing a new course--specific to your major or discipline--that will teach technical writing as it would be most beneficial to you and students like you. Therefore, you should address the things that would be important to such a group --student preparation, the competitive workplace, the reputation of Clemson as a good school from which to hire graduates etc. 3. You should also assume that this report is to be based partially upon your experience, both as a student and as a consumer (and perhaps a producer) of technical writing. In other words, assume that part of the reason that you were asked to do this report is because of the perspective you bring to the subject. Don't be afraid to bring in personal experiences (or to use the words "I" and "mine") but don't rely entirely upon them either. 4. Because most people in the professional world operate on fairly restrictive schedules, you must produce this report in a relatively short period of time. Do the best you can under these constraints. 5. Despite the time crunch, the committee is expecting a fairly detailed report of approximately 5 pages. 6. Because of its relatively brief length and informality, you may use the memo format to report your information. (An example of this can be found in your handbook.) Note: your report should be longer than many of the examples. 7. The document you produce will be kept on file for future reference, so you will have to document your sources carefully. (You may consult or make use of any source that you wish, but you must acknowledge any information, quoted material, or work that is derived from such a source.)